Answering Two Common Questions About Undergoing Stem Cell Therapy For Arthritis
Posted on: 6 April 2016
Arthritis can be a painful condition that can drastically reduce your mobility and quality of life. Unfortunately, there are many patients that are unaware of the various treatment options that can be used for this condition. In particular, patients may be unaware of the presence of stem cell therapy for this progressive condition. If you have limited knowledge about this form of arthritis treatment, you may benefit from having the following couple of questions answered.
How Can Stem Cells Help Patients Suffering From Arthritis?
Arthritis is caused by a degradation of the cartilage between your joints. This cartilage acts as a form of padding, and when it wears down, the bones may start to grind against each other. Stem cells are unique cells in the fact that they have the ability to be transformed into any other type of cell. By injecting stem cells into the areas with the damaged cartilage, it may be possible to regenerate your cartilage and reduce the symptoms of your arthritis. While this can be a highly effective treatment option, it is important to note that this may not be available for all patients because it will depend on the amount of damage that has already occurred to the cartilage. Fortunately, you can consult with your arthritis care provider to determine whether or not you are a viable candidate for undergoing this type of therapy.
Where Will The Doctors Get The Stem Cells That Will Be Used For Your Treatment?
Some individuals may be hesitant about opting for stem cell therapy because they are worried that these cells will be taken from aborted fetuses. Luckily, you should be relieved to learn that your doctor will likely be able to extract stem cells from your own body for this therapy. Typically, these cells may be found in your bones, and while the extraction process for these cells can be somewhat uncomfortable, it might be a minor inconvenience for finding permanent relief from your arthritis symptoms.
Undergoing stem cell therapy can be an excellent way of providing yourself with relief from painful arthritis symptoms. Yet, it can be difficult to make a decision about receiving this type of care without the answers to some basic questions. If you have limited experience or knowledge about these treatments, understanding how stem cell treatment for arthritis can help you as well as that these cells can be obtained from your body may help you to make sound decisions when deciding to undergo this form of therapy.
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