Is Stem Cell Therapy Dangerous

Stem cell therapy is a cutting-edge treatment, and doctors are finding a growing range of uses for stem cells. Certain cancers, spinal cord injuries, blood diseases, and wounds may all respond to stem cells; more research is needed to refine techniques and identify the full range of applications. Stem cells can also be used to treat chronic pain, such as migraines.

About Stem Cell Treatments

Stem cells are cells which have the potential to become any other cell in the body as they go through the process of renewal. Stem cell therapy refers to the introduction of adult stem cells into damaged or diseased tissue, where the cells can help with healing.

Early stem cell trials relied on embryonic stem cells, but doctors have found that stem cells can also be harvested from umbilical cord blood, and from the bone marrow of adults. Treatments like stem cell therapy for migraines usually use adult stem cells, harvested from the bone marrow. If your blood is healthy, you may be able to use your own stem cells for the process.

Risks

As with any medical procedure, there are some risks associated with stem cells. Risks exist both for the patient, and for the donor if there is one. Some examples include infection at the site of the procedure; damage to nearby organs; and rejection of the transplant.

The Bottom Line

There are no choices without some level of risk, especially when it comes to medicine. The majority of patients who have stem cell therapy do not experience complications from the treatment, but it's important that all patients understand the risks as well as the benefits of their treatment, and your doctor will go over them with you before you undergo treatment.

Your doctor will not recommend stem cells if he or she does not believe that the benefits of treatment outweigh the risks. However, you are ultimately the person in deciding whether the risks and worth the benefits to you personally.

To schedule a consultation about whether or not stem cell therapy is right for you, please click below and enter your information or call the Datta Endoscopic Back Surgery and Pain Center at (646) 374-1799.