At the Stanford Medical Center, successful human trials on patients with arthritic knees are taking place using a streamlined technique. Some of the patient’s own fat deposits are extracted in the operating room, the stem cells are separated from the extracted fat deposits, and then the stem cells are reinjected back into the patient in one operation. These day surgeries can virtually eliminate arthritic pain, allowing the patient to return to a normal life.
Similar trials have taken place at medical facilities in other states as well. At OrthoArkansas, a clinic that treats people suffering from chronic pain, stem cell treatments are already taking place. The procedure is like the one being used at Stanford and patients receive the same benefits. These stem cell operations aren’t just treating chronic pain – they’re actually helping the body to regenerate itself.
Why Stem Cells Are Better Than Steroids
The regenerative nature of stem cells is what makes it such a promising treatment for arthritis sufferers. A common treatment for severe arthritis is the use of steroid injections. These techniques usually have mixed results and even when they are effective, they don’t last for more than six months. That means the patient has to make frequent visits to the physician if they want relief from debilitating pain.
