Adipose-derived stem cell therapy to treat chronic pain
Treating the whole joint to give Adipose-derived stem cell therapy its best chance of healing success
We will discuss at length the research that supports the use of Platelet Rich Plasma and Prolotherapy in support and augmentative procedures in fat stem cell treatments. Briefly:
- In our office lipoaspirates or fat cells are combined with platelet rich plasma (PRP) from a blood draw or bone marrow retrieved from the iliac crest to augment healing.
- This primary proliferant solution is then injected into the damaged, painful joint. As part of our comprehensive treatment program, the ligament and tendon attachments of the joint are also treated with dextrose Prolotherapy.
Treatment with Prolotherapy concurrent with stem cell treatment addresses the problem that the stem cell treatment may not. That is the repair of the joint instability which caused the osteoarthritis is the first place.
- Reported treatment failures in patients receiving fat stem cell therapy and much of the medical literature describing less than anticipated or hoped for results in fat stem cell treatments ignore the underlying problems of joint instability.
- It is ligament and tendon laxity that remains after stem cell therapy that causes joint instability.
- Joint instability is what caused wear to the cartilage and subchondral bone damage to the joint in the first place.
- While stem cell treatments can repair this damage, it cannot fully address the joint instability issues.
- The repair created by stem cell therapy is now jeopardized and compromised by abnormal grinding and movement of the joint. In essence the patient never left square one.
- Prolotherapy makes stem cell treatment more effective by repairing the worn, stretched out ligaments and tendons. It stabilizes the motion in the joint and helps prevent a continuance of the wear and tear that called for stem cell treatments.
- Dextrose Prolotherapy also provides nourishment for the stem cells and helps them grow and multiple. Please see my article Dextrose Prolotherapy stimulates stem cell growth
Whole joint Lipoaspirate Prolotherapy | Same-day fat stem cell therapy
Whole joint Lipoaspirate Prolotherapy treatment begins with collected fat stem cells. Lipoaspirates are obtained from the abdomen or love handle area through a quick liposuction procedure. The gentle liposuction takes a few minutes, and the whole time in the office is an estimated 60-90 minutes.
Lipoaspirate Prolotherapy is generally used in more severe cases of joint deterioration where a very strong proliferant solution may be a factor in speeding up the healing response. The main reason to use lipoaspirates as the proliferant in Prolotherapy is that adipose (fat) tissue contains an abundant population of stem cells.
Stem cells are self-renewing cells in our bodies which repair and replace old/damaged cells. Injecting these cells directly into the damaged tissue has been shown to enhance the integrity of the tissue and reduce pain.
Prolotherapy, PRP, and Adipose-derived stem cell therapy used in combination
In our experience, where the Prolotherapy injections are given is also an important factor, not just what is injected. This means that Stem Cell Therapy or Stem Cell Prolotherapy at Caring Medical includes not just a couple of injections of stem cell proliferants, but additionally, the whole joint/painful area is treated for underlying instability, which is likely the cause of the injury in the first place. If this aspect of the patient’s condition is not treated, we find that complete healing may not occur.
The treated area is typically stiff and swollen after the treatment because the desired effect is a temporary, localized inflammation to stimulate blood flow and growth factors in the area. A patient can return to work the same or next day. Our practitioners will help athletes return to exercise, generally within the week, and discuss possible modifications to encourage healing and minimize discomfort. The average number of treatments needed to achieve full healing is four to six, and each treatment is given four to eight weeks apart.
Like all medical conditions and therapies, each person responds individually. At the initial visit, your Prolotherapy specialist discusses how many treatments he or she feels will be needed to achieve the patient’s goals. An experienced Prolotherapy physician can give a reasonably accurate estimate. Because we see a lot of tough cases in our clinic who have failed numerous other treatments, sometimes it might be known upfront that Prolotherapy treatments could be needed for a full year or longer. Though this is rare, for a patient who is adamantly against surgery, or who has already failed surgeries, he or she may consider the time, energy, and money to use Stem Cell Prolotherapy worthwhile.
The first step is simple: Have a physical exam and consultation with an experienced practitioner. This way you will know what is the right Prolotherapy solution for you! At our treatment center, we utilize many individualized solutions and would love to evaluate your case to see if it sounds like we can help you.