Stem Cell Doctor

Stem cells are the pinnacle of regenerative medicine. In comparison to prolotherapy and platelet-rich plasma therapy, stem cell therapy uses healthy adult stem cells harvested from the patients own tissues and takes advantage of the ability of these cells to replace injured or degenerated cells and promote regeneration.

Adult stem cells are harvested from bone marrow or adipose tissue. When injected into injured or degenerated tissue (tendons, ligaments, spinal discs, etc), stem cells release signaling molecules. If viable surrounding tissues are still present, these signaling molecules or growth factors stimulate repair and regeneration of these tissues in a natural way.

The most common condition we treat with stem cell therapy is low back pain from degenerative disc disease (discogenic lumbar pain). This is a chronic pain condition notorious for how hard it is treated through conventional treatments like epidural steroid injections or lumbar fusion surgery. Stem cell therapy offers a new and exciting alternative to this problem.

Other conditions treated with stem cell therapy are musculoskeletal injuries and degenerative conditions of the shoulder, knee, and hip.

At this time, stem cell therapy is considered an experimental treatment. Its success also hinges on establishing a correct diagnosis with our pain-mapping techniques, and on the chronicity and severity of the condition. When successful, stem cell therapy can replace older, invasive surgical procedures that are prone to complications and liable to create additional arthritic degeneration with time.

Stem cell injections are an office-based treatment. We collect bone marrow from the hip bone (iliac wing) or adipose tissue usually from the abdomen, harvest the stem cells through a minimal manipulation process like centrifugation, and concentrate them using our custom algorithms. The cells are then injected into the affected areas using precise live radiological guidance. The procedure may last anywhere from 1-3 hours, including mandatory rest and recovery time after our lumbar disc procedures. We offer office-based sedation when necessary and close follow-up after each procedure, tailored to the individual needs of each patient.

To find out more, and to learn if you are a candidate for autologous, point-of-care stem cell therapy, contact us for an appointment.

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Stem Cell Therapy Doctor | Westlake Austin Texas