Stem Cell therapy has evolved over the years to become a viable alternative treatment for people suffering from Osteoarthritis, joint pain, ligament, tendon damage and other conditions. Stem cells can multiply and turn into “specialized” cells to target whatever injury or condition needs and help to heal the affected area of the body by replacing worn out or damaged tissue.
So what’s preventing some patients from taking advantage of
this revolutionary therapy?
It’s time to set the record straight. Here are some common misconceptions
about Stem Cell therapy, along with the facts you ought to know:
Myth: All stem cells are the same
False: There are many types of stem cells, but we can
separate them into two large groups: the adult and the embryonic. The
differences between the two are striking, not only at the biological level, but
also in applications of medical procedures.
Myth:
Stem Cells for treatments are harvested from embryos
False: This is probably the highest source of controversy
surrounding the use of the stem cells. Embryonic stem cell research has stirred
up great controversy and ethical concerns, but remains to be just a speck on
the broader stem cell canvas. Other types of stem cells include umbilical cord
blood and adult stem cells. For the potential treatment of joints, ligaments
and tendons, adult stem cells are used. Adult stem cells exist in every human
body throughout one’s life and are present in every tissue and organ. They
exist in adult adipose (fat) tissue and bone marrow. The largest reservoir of
adult stem cells is found in the adipose (fat) tissue and can work well on its
own or when applied in combination with bone marrow stem cells treatments with
autologous adult stem cells have been creating a staggering array of recent
medical breakthroughs.
Medica Stem Cells does not use embryonic stem cells. Adult
autologous (from your own body) stem cells are the only type of stem cells that
are used in our therapies.
Myth:
A Stem Cell treatment may be rejected (The body won’t accept the cells)
False: This myth is common because some people may correlate a Stem Cell
treatment with an organ transplant. There is a risk of rejection in organ
transplant because the organ is not from the person’s own body, it derives from
a donor. Adult stem cells, on the other hand, are the patient’s own natural
cells which are derived from his own body (such as fat tissue or bone marrow),
and therefore there is no risk of rejection. In fact, studies thus far have
indicated no safety issues with fat-derived autologous (from self) stem cells.
Because they are your own cells, the risk of rejection is eliminated.
Myth:
You can catch a disease from Stem Cells
False: As the cells originate within your own body, there is no risk of
contracting a transmittable infectious disease.
Myth:
Stem Cell therapy is unsafe
Facts: The risks of adult Stem Cell therapy are minimal when
autologous adult stem cells exclusively are used. Medica Stem Cells is
proactive in research and only applies the safest best practices. Moreover, by
using adult stem cells from your own adipose (fat) tissue and bone marrow, the
body accepts the new tissue as its own, eliminating the risk of rejection. Also,
because the stem cells are from your own body, there is no risk of contracting
a transmittable infectious disease from a donor patient.
The increased risk of heart attack, as found to be
associated with knee and hip replacement surgery, is not present in Stem Cell
therapy, either. Like any procedure, there is a minute risk of infection at the
sample collection and at the injection site. To minimize that risk the
procedure is carried out under strict sterile conditions.
Myth:
There’s no proof that Stem Cell therapy works
Facts: There are a number of studies that have been published in the Regenerative medicine demonstrating
positive results from Stem Cell therapies. Evidence is particularly strong in
the following two recent studies on treating osteoarthritis with stem cells:
Transplantion journal, PubMed.
Regenerative Therapies have now been utilised in clinical
practice to treat degenerative knees, hips and shoulders for more than five
years and are demonstrating excellent results. Patients are seeing marked
reduction in pain as well as improvement in cartilage quality. A variety of
well-founded clinical trials have been conducted on stem cell therapy for
management and treatment of chronic pain. The trials concerning stem cells are
widely published online and readily available for all to access. The use of
stem cells has proven to be both a safe and effective means of treating many
conditions. These cells allow the body to heal and regenerate in ways that were
thought impossible before. Stem cell technology provides a natural alternative
to the use of drugs and surgeries, which may be more harmful and invasive.
Regenerative therapy procedures are quickly becoming a first
line treatment for chronic pain and degenerative joint disease. It is providing
a minimally invasive option to avoid invasive surgical repair, and other
various conditions. There are numerous Medica Stem Cell patient testimonials on
our website for your review.
Myth:
Stem Cells can heal any condition or disease
Facts: Stem cell therapies are becoming as game changing to the medical
field as antibiotics were for the 20th century, but they are not a guaranteed
cure-all for all diseases or conditions.
However, several studies have shown a possibility for recovery. And
improvement of the hope and quality of life, or to reverse or make slow
progression of diseases such as musculoskeletal issues, sports injuries and
other conditions. Similarly, Stem Cell treatments may have the potential to
heal a tear in a rotator cuff tendon or ACL when the tear is partial, but not
when the tear is full. It is crucial to have the right expectations as a
patient.
Medica Stem Cells puts an emphasis on educating potential
patients and helping them make well-informed treatment decisions.
Myth:
Stem Cell therapy procedures are painful and result in a long recovery period
Facts: Stem Cell therapy is minimally invasive, which gives patients an
alternative to painful surgery and lengthy recovery. The procedure is performed
in an outpatient setting and only takes a few hours. No general anaesthesia is
required and most patients don’t need post-operative pain medication. Also,
patients typically return to work within a day or two and they resume physical
activity much faster than after invasive surgery.
Myth:
Each case is treated the same
False: There are different types of Regenerative therapies
such as Stem Cell treatment, Platelet Rich Plasma, and each case is treated as
a standalone case. The patient’s medical history and maturity of the
disease is considered. As these factors vary among patients, the mode of
implantation of stem cells are specific to each case.
After comprehensive examination and review of your case,
blood tests & radio-imaging scans are done to establish a baseline for your
pre-existing condition (all done on the same day), the Consultant will decide
which line of Regenerative Therapy is most suited to your case. In certain
cases it may be a combination of more than one treatment protocol. For some
patients however, the complete protocol is a series of injections in several
treatment sessions. The choice of treatment is at the discretion of the
Consultant and is based on your unique case.
*Regenerative Therapy is not suitable for all conditions
and all patients. Only the doctor will be able to advise if you are a suitable
candidate. The final outcome of the treatment and extent of improvement varies
from one patient to another.
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