Could Stem Cells Be The Answer To Your Chronic Knee Pain?

If you've already been through one or more arthroscopic surgeries on a damaged knee, you may feel dismayed that your pain, stiffness, and limited range of motion seems no better--or even worse--than before your surgery. You may be reluctant to undergo yet another potentially expensive surgical procedure without any guarantee that it will improve your knee's health or slow the onset of osteoarthritis. However, one relatively new entrant into the world of knee repair, stem cell therapy, has the potential to revolutionize the way doctors and surgeons treat many of the most common knee problems, from ACL and meniscal tears to osteoarthritis. Read on to learn more about this pioneering way to regenerate cartilage and connective tissue within the knee:

How does stem cell therapy for knees work?

Stem cells are the building blocks of life, and despite their sometimes controversial nature (as most stem cells are harvested from fetal tissue), they have the unique ability to transform into just about any type of cell, helping them regenerate dying tissue or even repair damaged organs. When it comes to treating knee problems, injected stem cells can attach to the damaged cartilage or connective tissue and spur regrowth, helping strengthen the bonds that hold your knee in place and minimize the amount of weakness and pain you feel while moving. 

Unlike cortisone injections and other types of treatments that often wear off just a few months after treatment, injected stem cells can continue working for years after the initial therapy, continuing to improve your knee or slow orthopedic damage.

Should you pursue this therapy if past surgical treatments have been unsuccessful? 

This treatment is still experimental, and many insurance policies won't cover it in the same way they cover cortisone injections and surgeries to trim away torn or damaged tissue. This could mean you'll be paying for each injection out of pocket. It's important to budget this cost before you pursue this treatment to ensure that you're not surprised with an unexpected medical bill. 

You'll also want to carefully review success rates and outcomes to ensure you have a realistic idea of what to expect from these treatments. It's always disappointing to get your hopes up that your next treatment will be the last one, so having realistic expectations and knowing that improvement is a slow, not an instant process can help you avoid becoming discouraged if you don't wake up the day after your treatments feeling like a new person.

Contact a medical office like Glory Wellness Center and Weight Loss Clinic for more information and assistance. 


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