14 Oct Stem Cell Therapy for Osteoarthritis Patients
Osteoarthritis affects more than 30 million people in the US.
Osteoarthritis is the result of wearing out of the articular cartilage (cartilage surrounding a joint). Over time, the bones at the joint start rubbing against one another, causing inflammation and pain. The hips and knees carry the bulk of our body’s weight and that puts them at great risk of developing osteoarthritis. However, other joints can be affected too. Osteoarthritis is progressive which means the symptoms worsen over time.
Some common signs of osteoarthritis include –
- Pain
- Stiffness
- Swelling
- Loss of movement
- Bone spurs
Over time, the cartilage protecting the bones in the joints begins to deteriorate. When the cartilage wears down completely, bones start rubbing together, causing a grating sensation. The following factors can increase your risk of developing osteoarthritis –
- Age
- Being overweight or obese
- Joint injury
- Genetics
- Bone deformities
- Certain metabolic diseases
Current treatment options for severe osteoarthritis are limited to medication, physical therapy, steroid injections and surgery. While other treatments only provide symptomatic relief that doesn’t last long, surgery is potentially risky and involves long periods of hospitalization and rehabilitation.
However, regenerative medicine provides the option for natural healing and recovery. Regenerative treatments, such as stem cell therapy, provide patients with an effective alternative to unnecessary surgeries and other conventional treatments.
Studies have shown that mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) have the potential to even help patients with severe knee osteoarthritis. Stem cell treatments help osteoarthritis patients by –
- reducing inflammation and pain
- protecting existing cartilage
- declining progression
- allowing repair and regeneration of cartilage cells
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