Stem Cell Therapy for Pain

The human body is a complex system of organs, tissues, and cells that work together to enable you to live your daily life. One miracle of this system is the production and use of stem cells. Stem cells transform into specialized cells needed to maintain and repair your body, making stem cell therapy for pain management one of the most popular and promising medical treatments today. 

What Is Stem Cell Therapy?

Stem cell therapy is an innovative medical treatment that involves extracting stem cells from a person and using them as a form of regenerative medication. The goal of regenerative medicine therapies, including stem cell and platelet-rich plasma therapy, is to heal the body naturally. 

These methods encourage the body's natural healing process by putting the body's cells to work to reduce pain and inflammation and, in some cases, even help repair damaged tissue. While it's not a cure, stem cell therapy trials for chronic pain have been extremely promising. 

Stem Cell Therapy for Pain: How It Works

If you or a loved one have considered the possibility of stem cell therapy for knee pain or chronic pain in other parts of the body, then it's essential to understand the basics. 

Stem cells inhabit nearly all of your body's tissues. Physicians often harvest stem cells from your bone marrow or blood. Once collected, the sample is processed to separate the stem cells from other blood components, such as red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets.

Once separated, the stem cells are placed into a syringe and injected into the area of the body where the pain is most intense. This process allows the stem cells to help stimulate the body's natural healing processes and begin to repair the injured tissue.

Common Use Cases for Stem Cell Therapy for Pain

Stem cell therapy has been (and constantly undergoes) studies to see how these cells help treat various health conditions and disorders. Two of the most common uses for this treatment are stem cell therapy for knee pain and hip pain. However, it's also possible to use stem cell therapy for the treatment of:

• Arthritis
• Connective tissue injuries
• Degenerative disc diseases
• Joint disorders
• Neuropathic pain
• Severe osteoarthritis

Does Stem Cell Therapy Work for Pain?

When it comes to using this therapy for pain management, stem cell therapy trials for chronic pain have proven to be extremely promising, especially when using stem cell therapy for hip pain and knee pain. 

In one study conducted in 2021, nine individuals struggled with disc degeneration resulting in low back pain. Seven out of nine stated that they had a reduction in overall pain within 12 months of treatment. While a very small study sample, it did give some initial evidence of the efficacy of stem cell therapy for pain.

Another review of stem cell therapy for osteoarthritis, a degenerative condition that causes chronic pain in the hips, knees, and other joints, found that stem cell therapy for hip pain and knee pain showed that this treatment method was promising.

Finally, in a study conducted by researchers in 2021 on the effectiveness of stem cell therapy for pain management, the team stated that "ongoing clinical trials have shown positive outcomes of stem cell therapy in treating chronic diseases" requiring pain management.

While more scientific studies are still needed to fully understand stem cell therapy's efficacy, the promise of this method of pain management has made itself very clear in the past few years.

What to Expect From Stem Cell Therapy

When performed by a licensed physician, stem cell therapy is a safe and effective treatment for chronic pain. This minimally invasive procedure is performed in-office on an outpatient basis and is done under local anesthesia. 

Once the sample is taken from the bone marrow and is processed with a centrifuge to isolate the stem cells, the physician injects the stem cells into the affected area of the body. Once completed, you'll be awoken and taken to the recovery area. In most cases, the patient can return home within the next 1–3 hours. 

Potential Effects of Stem Cell Therapy

Since the stem cells collected and injected are from your own body, there are very few risks of rejection or other adverse side effects. However, that's not to say there is no risk associated with the procedure. Patients may experience the following:

• Increased pain at the injection site
• Infection
• Injury to neighboring nerves
• Tissue damage

Post-Procedure Care for Stem Cell Therapy

You need to do very little after the stem cell therapy procedure. You'll want to rest the first day or two and avoid strenuous activity. You may also want to use cold compresses on the injection site for any post-procedure soreness or pain. 

If you experience serious complications,  it’s best to call your doctor immediately to ensure the best possible outcome.

Get Relief with Help from Chicago Stem Cell Therapy & Regenerative Medicine

At Chicago Stem Cell Therapy & Regenerative Medicine, we offer a team of highly skilled and experienced specialists who help you find relief from your pain. Our team of experts works closely with the American Hip Institute to ensure that our treatments are tailored to each patient's specific needs and goals. 

If you think stem cell therapy is the right fit for you, contact our office today to request your consultation.