If you suffer from chronic pain, it can get rather difficult to perform the simplest of chores. Several hundred people resort to narcotic pain medication to combat pain, even though they come with side effects and the risk of possible addiction without actually curing the problem.
Thankfully, with advances in the field of medicine, you can now turn to options such as stem cell treatment or regenerative medicine for help.
Regenerative Medicine for Chronic Pain
Regenerative medicine is highly effective and targets the body’s innate ability to heal as well as defend itself. However, some parts of our body are deprived of proper circulation and fail to pump in enough cells to signal and stimulate the healing process.
Several doctors and researchers claim that there has been enough proof and evidence that if these areas can be stimulated, the body will react. Hence, cutting edge techniques are used in regenerative medicine to initiate a healing response.
This form of medicines utilizes what your body already possesses – such as stem cells and puts it to use to help the body recover from disease, injury, and chronic pain.
Stem cell therapy can be very therapeutic and soothing to the sites of the body where stem cells are injected. It helps curb chronic and acute pain and heal that part of the body.
How does Stem Cell Therapy work?
Unlike cortisone injections that are known to suppress inflammation and in turn curbs the healing process, the goal of RIT is to promote healing by replacing, repairing, reprogramming or renewing injured or diseased cells. As new and healthy tissues and cells are formed, pain reduces and function returns.
Benefits of Stem Cell Therapy
Listed below are a few benefits of stem cell therapy.
No surgery and associated complications and risks: The stem cells used to treat chronic pain are harvested from your bone marrow from the iliac crest or pelvis. This is a non-surgical, minimally invasive procedure.
Minimal post-procedural recovery: Recovery time is minimal and you can be on your feet within a few minutes of the procedure.
No General Anesthesia: If you feel squeamish about anesthetics, stem cell therapy is what you need. The procedure is practically painless and doesn’t involve the use of general anesthesia.
No risk of rejection: Since the biologics are extracted from the patient itself, there is absolutely no risk of rejection.
No transmission of communicable diseases: Since the cells are harvested from within your own body, you do not stand the risk of contracting any spreading disease from another person.
What can you expect?
The best part about stem cell therapy is that it does not involve surgery, long recovery time, and undesirable side effects. It is safe and natural and is supported and approved by the National Institute of Health.
This form of therapy can be used to alleviate pain due to degenerative joint conditions, injuries to the body, and even arthritis. Patients often benefit after being diagnosed with TMJ,tendonitis, foot pain, plantar fasciitis, osteoarthritis, back pain, torn rotator cuffs, meniscal tears, and even pain in the wrist, ankle, and shoulder.
The Stem Cell Therapy (RIT) protocol is a series of three procedures, that is followed over a span of several days. It includes:
Pre-injection: Patients are injected with a dextrose solution to the painful parts of the body. This injection will stimulate the surrounding areas and soft tissue and prepares the region for the stem cell procedure.
Same Day Stem Cell Procedure: Blood and bone marrow samples are taken on the day of the procedure. Later that day, stem cells and blood platelets are introduced into the site of pain or injury.
Post Injection: The doctor will introduce additional platelet stimulants to invigorate and stimulate the stem cells and boost the healing process.
As mentioned earlier, there is no recovery time associated with this therapy and most patients can resume work the very next day. Patients will experience results that even surgery and transplants fail to provide.
The treatment will take you no more than 15 minutes at the doctor’s clinic. You can expect pain relief results in less than 48 hours. Patients who choose to continue treatment can expect complete restoration of joints with tendons, ligaments, and cartilage in about 28 days.
What can you expect one to two weeks after?
While you can return to work, limit yourself to light exercises and tasks during the first few weeks. You may feel sore, but that shouldn’t stop you from going to work (if non-physical( or doing light chores. Do not become completely sedentary.
In the early weeks following RIT, your body will use cytokines, proteins, and leukocytes to create a sort of scaffold for the cells to bind. So, it is important that you are cautious and avoid shearing, overloading or compressing the joint that has been treated. Also, do not run or do weight lifting for the first few weeks. You can manage muscle soreness with ice pads or hot compresses. Do not resort to popping any kind of NSAID. And, stay away from the pool till the injection site has healed.
It is not uncommon to feel mild to moderate pain accompanied by soreness and inflammation in the first few days. If the pain doesn’t subside contact your doctor without further delay.
Stem cell therapy (RIT) has helped several hundred patients deal with pain across the world. Apart from pain relief, this therapy can also improves mobility, boosts your self-confidence, and elevates your moods.
Contact AZ TMJ Today!
If you’re suffering from severe pain in your jaw and head, you may have TMJ. Stem cell therapy is a cutting edge technology, that can help TMJ sufferers. To find out more and see if stem cell therapy is a good fit for you call Dr. Farrell for a consultation at 480-945-3629 today.
