In a world where healthcare constantly evolves, it’s surprising how treatments for joint and soft tissue pain have remained stagnant for so long. We’ve relied on temporary solutions like bracing, pain patches, narcotics, and steroid injections, which might ease pain but don’t address the root cause. Isn’t it time we embraced therapies that not only alleviate pain but also repair tissue damage? Enter stem cell therapy. At Atlanta Innovative Medicine, we’re at the forefront, offering cutting-edge stem cell treatments tailored for those battling persistent joint and soft tissue pain.
These choices have included:
Considering the US is a world leader in healthcare innovation and entrepreneurial spirit, it’s unfortunate that American medicine hasn’t evolved with better therapies. Especially ones that actually repair tissue damage with less side effects. Thankfully, stem cell therapy across the country, has been rapidly evolving. Stem cell treatments have now become mainstream, with Atlanta Innovative Medicine offering personalized procedures for patients suffering with joint and soft tissue pain. To learn if you may be a good candidate for stem cell therapy, or if you are ready to schedule an appointment with our doctors, please call our clinic today at 770.416.9995.
Stem cells are located throughout our bodies. These cells are extremely useful because they can duplicate, change, and become other types of cells. Also called mesenchymal stem cells, they are basically “all purpose cells” that are ready to accommodate the needs of our bodies—holding the potential to repair or replenish tissues. Our bodies are not able to send the necessary amount of stem cells to an area in need of repair—such as joint or connective tissue—as they once could have when younger.
Stem cells can be harvested from one of two different locations in the body: bone marrow tissue or adipose tissue (body fat). While both types of stem cells—adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) and bone marrow aspirate concentrate (BMAC)—are safe and effective for stem cell therapy, there are several differences that can determine which will be more effective for a particular patient.
The primary distinguisher is that adipose tissue contains a higher volume of stem cells, while bone marrow tends to yield more growth factors. For this reason, adipose is often the recommended source for patients with several different injuries, while bone marrow is common for treating more extensive but singular injuries.
Let’s look at stem cell therapy as a nonsurgical option for joint and soft tissue. Here’s how it works:
Atlanta Innovative Medicine offers bone marrow and adipose stem cell therapy performed by our Medical Director and renowned regenerative medicine physician, Farhan Malik, MD.
The patient first undergoes a minimally invasive procedure: a small incision is made for collecting the tissue.
For bone marrow, a small amount of tissue is harvested from within the hip bone, or iliac crest, using a syringe. A few points of collection are necessary to procure the necessary amount of marrow.
For adipose, approximately 60 cubic centimeters of fat is removed from the patient, which comes from either the abdominal region or buttock area. The fat extraction process takes about 30 minutes.
The patient’s tissue has an amazing amount of stem cells throughout, the number resulting between 30 and 60 million. In addition to having a large amount of useful stem cells, there is also a substantial amount of additional regenerative elements.
This includes the following components:
Once the fat is removed, Dr. Malik will then prepare the stem cells at the bedside with a kit that is not only FDA compliant, but extremely efficient at concentrating the growth factors, stem cells, cytokines and exosomes. The result is a preparation that can be referred to as a “virtual orchestra” of regenerative elements. Some providers have been known to fondly call it “Liquid Gold”.
After the preparation of the adipose or bone marrow tissue is complete, the stem cell doctors at Atlanta Innovative Medicine will perform the injection into the painful joint and/or soft tissue area using guided imaging. The entire process is completed in about ninety minutes. The injection process itself is typically done in one hour.
At Atlanta Innovative Medicine of Georgia, our experts recommend autologous stem cell therapy as a treatment option for a variety of conditions and injuries. We find that it is a safe and highly effective option for treating joint and soft tissue pain. Our patients’ results and several large-scale studies support this conclusion as well.
The top 5 benefits of adipose-derived stem cells and bone marrow aspirate include:
Adipose and bone marrow tissues contain millions of stem cells in every single cubic centimeter that is harvested, allowing our medical team to have easy access to an abundance of stem cells. Additionally, the many growth factors and other regenerative components help to very quickly and effectively heal cartilage and soft tissue.
The cells derived from adipose and bone marrow tissue maintain substantial proliferation and regenerative capabilities. Put simply, they are able to turn into the cells that your body needs for regeneration.
Both bone marrow and adipose harvesting procedures are tolerated well by the vast majority of patients. While the biopsy itself can involve mild to moderate pain, the use of a local anesthetic helps mitigate this, typically resulting in only minimal discomfort. Following bone aspiration, some patients experience soreness at the biopsy site and occasionally, mild bruising. However these side effects are generally mild and temporary. Both adipose and bone marrow biopsies can be performed at our clinic, making the procedures convenient.
Many patients who are struggling with joint pain and inflammation experience these conditions in several parts of their body. Fortunately, stem cell therapy can be applied to multiple joints in a single session.
In fact, adipose tissue especially is helpful in this way, as a single harvest of adipose tissue will produce millions of stem cells—enough for our doctors to administer stem cells to multiple joints or areas of pain.
Autologous adipose and bone marrow stem cell therapies have consistently provided outstanding patient outcomes when they are used to treat chronic joint pain (Regen Med 2019).
As part of our commitment to provide patients with the best outcomes possible, Atlanta Innovative Medicine uses autologous adipose and bone marrow aspirate procedures for stem cell harvesting.
The harvesting procedure is safe, minimally invasive, and extremely well tolerated. Based on these factors and others, autologous stem cell therapy is an ideal option for regenerative therapy.
If you are interested in speaking with one of our stem cell treatment doctors, or to schedule an appointment, please call our clinic today at 770.416.9995.
Autologous stem cell therapy is very safe. With any minimally invasive procedure, there is a rare potential for an infection or other minor adverse event. Our experienced team of doctors and nurses work to ensure each patient’s treatment is performed with precision and care.
No allergic reaction should occur from this type of procedure, as one’s own tissue is being used. The only potential allergy could be to the numbing medicine, which is very rare. No preservatives, reagents, or enzymes are used during the treatment either.
The risk is extremely low. Considering these are stem cells extracted from your own body, the DNA is an exact match. No immunologic reaction at all should be generated. However, there have been rare occurrences of adverse events reported, including infection, bleeding, nerve injury, and allergic reaction.
There is no scientific evidence to show this occurs at all. Adipose and bone marrow tissues contain many millions of mesenchymal stem cells, which are very helpful in facilitating repair of damaged joint tissue.
Thankfully, we have many studies showing that adult mesenchymal stem cells are non-tumorigenic. This means they do not cause or exacerbate any tumor formation.
When it comes to joint pain relief with autologous stem cell procedures, recent studies have shown substantial relief at both six months and twelve months in study follow-up. (Stem Cell Translational Med 2019; Regen Med 2019).
However, each patient and their body’s reaction are different. In our experience at Atlanta Innovative Medicine, over 80% of patients report that significant pain relief is experienced within weeks after a procedure.
The stem cell doctors at AIM have been performing bone marrow and adipose treatment with exceptional results for years. On average, most patients start to experience noticeable relief within six to eight weeks.
Once relief of pain begins to take effect, AIM patients typically notice a measurable increase for several months along with functional improvements. This can include noticing less pain in the morning, the ability to walk farther and to play recreational activities again.
On average, the pain relief lasts for well over a year, and in many patients, the relief can last several years. The bone marrow and adipose stem cell therapy techniques employed by AIM have been a game changer in that regard, as steroid injection relief usually fades within just a few weeks.
Atlanta Innovative Medicine is committed to providing patients with a world-class treatment experience. We provide all therapies, including bone marrow and adipose-derived stem cell injections, at our modern, clean, state-of-the-art clinic. This means that you do not have to make a trip to a shared surgical center or another facility. If you are ready to contact our clinic and schedule an appointment, call 770.416.9995.
Autologous stem cell therapy can be used to treat a wide array of ailments at our clinic. While the knee joint is a frequent treatment location, our staff can also administer injections in many other common problem areas. Patients that suffer from hip, knee, shoulder, elbow, and ankle pain have experienced relief through treatment with stem cells. It can also treat other ailments, such as chronic back pain, neck discomfort, and joint sprains. The best way to find out whether stem cells are right for your chronic pain is to consult with our experienced medical team. To get in contact with our treatment center, call 770.416.9995.
Yes, bone marrow and adipose-derived stem cells have a high success rate. The procedures are generally tolerated very well by patients, with a complication rate of less than 0.1%.
In terms of joint pain relief, several recent studies have followed up with patients 6 and 12 months after treatment. During these follow-ups, most patients reported excellent relief (Stem Cell Translational Med 2019). However, every patient is completely unique.
Certain conditions typically respond well to a single stem cell injection. This includes sports-related injuries and other acute ailments.
However, patients that are seeking relief from chronic arthritic conditions will likely need a series of injections to achieve optimal results. In addition, they may need supplemental injections approximately a year after treatment.
Every patient has unique needs based on their condition. Atlanta Innovative Medicine provides each patient with a personalized treatment care plan so that they can achieve optimal results.
Adipose-derived and bone marrow stem cell treatments are minimally invasive, and most of our patients feel fine after a therapy session. Still, we recommend that patients have someone else drive them home. This is because a small percentage of patients experience a bit of discomfort and lightheadedness immediately following stem cell treatment.
We also get asked about flying after stem cell therapy because many patients are not from the area. It is perfectly safe to board a plane after stem cell therapy.
If you would like to learn more about stem cell therapy and whether it is right for you, then it is time to contact our team. During your call, one of our experienced team members will review your options and gather more information about your condition. They will help you to decide which treatment options might be right for you and schedule your in-office appointment. To get started, simply contact our clinic now by calling 770.416.9995.
References:
Journal Cosmetic & Laser 2018
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/14764172.2017.1383615
Regen Med 2019
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31815001/
JPSM 2003
https://www.jpsmjournal.com/article/S0885-3924(03)00312-9/pdf
Stem Cell Translational Med 2019
https://stemcellsjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/21576580
Sex Med Rev 2019
https://www.smr.jsexmed.org/article/S2050-0521(19)30096-4/fulltext
Current Stem Cell Research Therapy 2017
https://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/ben/cscr/2017/00000012/00000007/art00002
Disclaimer: Neither Atlanta Innovative Medicine nor its physician affiliates promise autologous stem cell therapy as a cure for any condition, disease, or injury. Individual results will vary and are not guaranteed.
Most insurances do not cover regenerative treatments. For medical financing options, learn more here or please contact us.
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All content of this page is for informational purposes only and is not intended to serve as a substitute for the consultation, diagnosis, and/or medical treatment of a qualified physician or healthcare provider. Individual results may vary. Your medical professional can explain all the risks and potential benefits of any therapy based on your specific circumstances. At this time regenerative therapies are not FDA approved. Neither Atlanta Innovative Medicine nor its physician affiliates promise regenerative therapies as a cure for any condition, disease, or injury.
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A Closer Look at Regenerative Medicine: Comparing Your Options, you'll learn about treatments like Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP), Prolotherapy, Prolozone Therapy, and Stem Cell Therapy. Plus, you'll get treatment comparisons, links to related studies, and more.
