Stem Cell Injections: What You Should Know

When you have back pain, it can make it tough to move around and do everyday activities. This pain might keep you from work, and it can even make it hard to get a good night’s rest. All of this can impact your quality of life. Fortunately, there are several effective treatments for back pain, including modern technology that uses your own cells to help repair damage: stem cell injections.

Causes of Chronic Back Pain

While some injuries to the back or spine cause pain temporarily, it can sometimes become chronic, lasting 12 weeks or more. Some causes of chronic back pain include:

Degenerative disc disease: Spinal discs can break down, causing pain and reduced mobility.
Arthritis: Small joints, called facet joints, link your vertebrae together. They are lined with cartilage and surrounded by a fluid-filled capsule. These joints can become worn or damaged, leading to back pain and stiffness.
Sacroiliac joint (SI) dysfunction: Located at the base of the spine, SI joints support the upper body’s weight and are prone to wear, misalignment, and inflammation.
Herniated discs: When the soft, gel-like center of the disc pushes through the outer layer, pressure is put on the nerves. This can cause symptoms such as numbness, pain, and weakness.

How Can I Treat My Back Pain?

Depending on the cause, there are several ways to manage chronic back pain, including:

Over-the-counter pain relievers or prescription medications
Strengthening exercise and targeted physical therapy
Stretching routines
Lifestyle modifications such as weight loss and quitting smoking
Minimally invasive options, like stem cell injections, steroid injections, Intracept, or radiofrequency ablation
Surgery, especially if other treatments fail and structural issues are present

What Is Regenerative Medicine?

Often treatments for back pain focus on managing your symptoms rather than addressing the underlying causes for your pain.

Regenerative medicine is a branch of medicine that aims to repair, replace, or regenerate damaged cells, tissues, or organs to restore normal function.

This approach is based on using technologies and methods that encourage the body’s repair mechanisms to heal tissues or organs. One way to perform regenerative medicine is by using stem cell injections.

Stem Cell Therapy for Back Pain

Stem cells are unique cells that can change form and grow into other types of cells based on where they are located in the body.

Stem cells harness the body’s own regenerative capabilities. They offer the potential to restore function and heal injured or diseased tissues.

How Do Stem Cells Work to Relieve My Pain?

The goal is to target and naturally repair the underlying cause of your pain.

Stem cell therapy is a minimally invasive treatment that involves a several-step process:

Collecting stem cells from your own body – often the bone marrow or adipose tissue (fat)
Isolating, concentrating, and testing cells in the laboratory to prepare them for injection.
Cleaning, preparing, and numbing the site where stem cells will be injected.
Injecting the stem cells into the damaged area using specialized imaging techniques.
Once injected, stem cells will boost your body’s natural healing capabilities.

What Are the Benefits of Stem Cell Therapy?

Surgical procedures can take months to heal and medications such as corticosteroids have restrictions as to how often they can be used, creating limitations.

Stem cell therapy is a non-surgical approach that quickly promotes regeneration and offers pain relief. Some benefits of stem cell therapy include:

It is an outpatient procedure that does not require anesthesia.
It can provide enhanced pain relief and reduced inflammation.
Stem cell therapy may result in greater functionality and improved range of motion in affected areas.
Faster recovery time compared to conventional surgical treatments.

Are you interested in exploring stem cell injections?

Many people with chronic back pain may be candidates for receiving stem cell therapy. If you’re ready to start healing your back, schedule an appointment with our team today!