Can Osteoarthritis be Treated by Stem Cell Therapy?

17 Jan 2019 Health & Wellness

Understanding whether or not osteoarthritis can be treated by stem cell therapy can help you make an informed decision about your treatment options. At Waterfront Health & Wellness, they want to help you choose the best treatment plan for your specific needs. That is why they offer a range of different services and procedures that our team would be more than happy to go over with you.

What is Osteoarthritis?

Osteoarthritis, the most common form of degenerative joint disease, is a result of the rubbery cartilage between the ends of your bones wearing down and causing the bones to rub against each other. While the erosion that leads to osteoarthritis can occur in almost any joint, it is most commonly found in knees, hips, hands, and spines. As of yet, there is no cure for osteoarthritis; however, there are treatments that can be used to lessen the discomfort and pain for the disease.

How Do Stem Cells Treat Osteoarthritis?

Injecting stem cells into a joint that has osteoarthritis may sometimes help relieve symptoms, including pain, swelling, and loss of movement. Stem cells can also be used to create an artificial tissue in a lab that can then be injected into the joint. Doing so may also help repair damaged bone, ligaments, and cartilage.

While many clinics offer stem cell treatments for osteoarthritis, treating osteoarthritis with stem cells is still experimental and may not work for every patient. In most cases, doctors will suggest that you first try other ways to manage the disease, such as a change of diet, exercise, physiotherapy, orthotics, anti-inflammatory medications, or non-cell joint injections like prolotherapy, before trying stem cell therapy.

What is Prolotherapy?

Prolotherapy is an injection procedure that can be used to treat connective tissue injuries and to provide pain management. Almost all joints in the body can be treated with prolotherapy, providing relief in as little as a few days after treatment.

Before receiving prolotherapy, an accurate diagnosis must be made to identify the trouble areas, where the connective tissue in the joint is damaged. Once the injection of dextrose and an anesthetic is administered into the joint, the injection will work to promote a healing response that will help alleviate pain, restoring mobility and function.

If you would like to learn more about whether or not osteoarthritis can be treated by stem cell therapy, or if you are interested in one of their services or procedures, please contact Waterfront Health & Wellness at 1-360-306-8554 or by filling out a contact form on their website. They are a health and wellness clinic that is proud to provide services to clients throughout Vancouver and the surrounding areas.