Stem Cells for Arthritis - Innovation in Technology and Medicine

AURORA, IL, UNITED STATES - Sep 24, 2016 - What is Arthritis?

More commonly found in people over 60, Arthritis is a condition that affects the joints of the body. Most often a person experiences stiffness, swelling and pain in the joints. Arthritis is one of approximately 100 different types of arthritis, with osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis being the most common ones.

It is characterized by inflammation in the joints, frequent aches and pains, tenderness, difficulty while walking and standing, weight loss and decreased flexibility. A person suffering from arthritis has great difficulty in attending to daily chores and generally must take more days off from work than other workers due to chronic pain.

Treatment

Surgery is the most common treatment for arthritis, although some medications such as steroids are also available. Occupational therapy can also help, but it depends upon your condition. Many people fear surgery and some even say that after the surgery they experienced pain and inflammation in the joints. Steroids can ultimately cause harm if used for too long.

What are stem cells?

With the progress of technology and medicine, it is now possible to treat arthritis using stem cells. Stem cells are usually procured from the amniotic sac of healthy human babies. Stem cells help in healing the damaged tissue and they also help to strengthen the immune system. Stem cells have the ability to renew themselves and generate new cells. They help to fight diseases and there is less of a chance for any side effects. Research has shown that stem cells can treat various diseases and young couples all over the world are storing their baby’s umbilical cords so that they can access the stem cells if need be.

Can stem cells treat arthritis?

Stem cell therapy for curing arthritis was already tested on animals and has been extremely successful. Doctors are now using it to treat arthritis in humans. The biggest advantage of stem cell therapy is that unlike with surgery; this procedure can be conducted within a day and there is minimal downtime. Patients can return to work within just a day or two and they are saved from taking time from work. Surgery comes with an increased risk of infection, but in case of stem cells, patients don’t have to worry about infection.

Earlier one could get stem cells only from human umbilical cord, but now stem cells can also be obtained from the bone marrow of a healthy person and used to treat arthritis. In fact, stem cells obtained the patient’s own bone marrow can be used to treat the patient’s ailment. This way, the specialized cells which function in the bones are used to cure inflammation of bones and joints. Since these cells are from the patient’s own body, the risk of getting an infection is minimal.

Read more: http://chicagolandmedical.com/blog/stem-cells-for-arthritis/

There are different ways of administering stem cells in the body, namely intravenous, intra nasal and by injecting them directly in the part of the body that needs to be repaired. Stem cells also drastically decrease the need for knee replacement surgery.

Treating arthritis by using amniotic stem cells is a non-invasive alternative to repair and rebuild broken joints. Amniotic stem cells can alleviate pain stemming from arthritis and help return normal functionality and mobility. If you are considering surgery for joint pain or injury, first consider a consultation for amniotic stem cell regenerative therapy. It may be a safer, faster and better option to repair and rebuild your joints.