Stem Cell Injections For Spinal Arthritis

Spinal arthritis, or inflammation of one or more joints in the spine, can lead to painful, even debilitating symptoms. Fortunately, the majority of cases can be managed with treatments like physical and occupation therapy and medication. For patients who don't respond to these treatments, there are a number of minimally invasive alternatives to more traditional, invasive forms of spine surgery. One such treatment is stem cell treatment for arthritis.

About Spinal Arthritis

There are a number of types of arthritis, including rheumatoid arthritis and infectious arthritis. Here, we will focus on osteoarthritis, which is the most common form. Osteoarthritis occurs when the cartilage between two vertebrae breaks down, allowing the bones to rub against one another and against the intervertebral discs. Spinal arthritis can cause pain and stiffness and may lead to further issues such as bone spurs and spinal stenosis.

Osteoarthritis of the spine is most common among people over the age of 45, in whom it is generally a result of gradual degeneration of the cartilage. Some people have a genetic predisposition towards osteoarthritis, while others may develop the condition after a traumatic injury.

What Are Stem Cells?

Many people are aware that stem cells, especially embryonic stem cells and umbilical cord stem cells, are highly valued in medical research. Stem cells are also located in the adult body, and doctors have discovered a number of medical applications for harvesting, concentrating, and injecting an adult's own stem cells into another part of the body.

Stem cells are cells in the body that have the potential to become many other types of cell. For example, stem cells located in the bone marrow divide to become different parts of the blood, such as the various types of white blood cells. Adults have stem cells in their blood, bone marrow, and fat that can be harvested for medical purposes. 

Stem Cells for Spinal Arthritis

Stem cell treatment for arthritis is a cutting-edge, minimally invasive procedure used to treat spinal arthritis that has not responded to other treatments. It is less invasive than spinal surgery such as vertebral fusion, making it a possible solution for patients who would like to avoid invasive spine surgery.

During stem cell treatment for arthritis, a specimen of body fat or blood is collected from you. The specimen is processed in the lab, so that the stem cells are isolated and concentrated. The stem cells are then injected into the joint. This provides powerful, long-lasting anti-inflammatory effects even beyond those found with steroid injections.

Dr. Sukdeb Datta would be happy to meet with you about whether stem cell treatment for arthritis is right for your case. To schedule a consultation today, please give us a call at (212) 430-0312 or click below and enter your information and we will get right back to you.