Bone marrow stem cells have the ability to repair and differentiate into cartilage, ligaments, and bone tissue. These stem cells are mesenchymal stem cells, which are collected in a simple aspiration procedure. The hip bone is the most common site for obtaining bone marrow stem cells.
Bone marrow is the spongy, soft tissue found in the middle of bones. For adults, bone marrow in the large bones produces the majority of white blood cells, red blood cells, and plasma components. The immature forms of all these cells are called stem cells, and they are also in the bone marrow.
Adult stem cells are not embryos, so there are no ethical considerations. Adult stem cells derived from bone marrow have no potential for becoming a new human being. They reside in the bone marrow, and exist in large quantities.
If you suffer from degenerative disease or some type of joint pain, you may benefit from bone marrow-derived stem cell therapy. Conditions treated using this therapy include:
Stem cell therapy is used for healing, regeneration, and repair of damaged or injured tissue. Bone marrow-derived stem cell treatment is used to improve performance and decrease pain at the level of injury. In addition, the injections can be given under local anesthesia in the doctor’s office, so no hospitalization and lengthy recovery are required.
When you arrive at the medical facility, you will fill out some paperwork and sign a consent form. After changing into a procedure gown, you are positioned on your side on the table. The doctor first cleans the hip region with an antiseptic before injecting the skin with a local anesthetic. The procedure needle is guided into the bone using fluoroscopy (x-ray guidance). After the marrow is aspirated, the needle is removed and the site is covered with a bandage.
The bone marrow is processed in the laboratory to concentrate the stem cells. Once the solution of stem cells is available, the doctor cleans the skin of the treatment site, and anesthetizes the tissues. Once numb, the procedure needle is inserted using fluoroscopy, and the stem cells are injected.
Before undergoing the procedure, you should stop smoking and avoid alcohol for at least one week. In addition, if you take blood-thinning agents, you should hold these for several days.
The procedure is done on an outpatient basis, which means you will not be admitted to the hospital. We recommend you rest for the remainder of the day, and return to work after 2-3 days. Depending on the treatment site, and the type of work you do, you may return to your usual activities. Ask the doctor about specifics on returning to rigorous activities or labor-type duties.
Bone marrow extractions have been around for several decades, and they are used to treat blood caners. The main components in bond marrow are used for patients who have immune-deficiency syndromes. While the skill of extracting the marrow has not changed, the use of stem cells for healing and regenerating joints, ligaments, and body tissues is fairly new. However, many successful clinical trials have been conducted with stem cells, so they are no longer considered experimental.
