Stem Cell Therapy for Joint Pain & Soft Tissue



Find out if you are a candidate


Colorado’s ThriveMD performs stem cell therapy by injecting the patient’s own stem cells to stimulate the body to repair and replace damaged tissue in any joint or soft tissue.
Colorado stem cell therapy for joint and soft tissue pain is a groundbreaking, minimally invasive procedure.

Stem cell therapy is performed by injecting the patient’s own stem cells to stimulate the body to repair and replace damaged tissue in any joint or soft tissue structures – such as knees, shoulders, hips, wrists, ankles, elbows, tendons, ligaments and non-healing bone fractures. The therapy can also be used to treat back pain including, lumbar degenerative disc disease as well as facet joint pain throughout the spine.

Dr. Scott Brandt is one of a few physicians in Colorado and in the country trained in this same-day, in-office minimally invasive procedure.

stem cells for joints tendons ligaments

How Can Severe Pain in Your Joints, Soft Tissues and Back Be Relieved with Stem Cells?

The Method of Stem Cell Regeneration

We use adipose-derived stem cells, which are harvested from the patient’s abdominal fat reserves – our body’s richest source of mesenchymal adult stem cells. We also harvest stem cells from bone marrow to provide an additional cornucopia of regenerative cells. Although bone marrow has up to 1,000 times fewer stem cells per volume than fat, its unique growth factors and significant hematopoietic cells additional help to drive tissue regeneration.

By utilizing the combination of these biologic solutions, we maximize the healing potential from an autologous stem cell procedure. Once we have isolated the specific stem cells, they are then injected into the specific area of damage using real-time x-ray (fluoroscopic) or ultrasound guidance.

At this time, we also introduce a PRP injection (platelet-rich plasma) to further the growth and differentiation of these cells. Once there, these regenerative cells have the potential to dramatically reduce inflammation, encourage new vascularity and stimulate the body to repair and replace tissue that has deteriorated over time or been traumatized from injury or overuse.

Four weeks after the initial stem cell injection, a second injection of platelet rich plasma (PRP) or bone marrow concentrate is performed to enhance the regenerative process. For more details, please visit our page dedicated to the stem cell therapy procedure.

Whether the damaged area is the result of a traumatic sports injury or the product of daily “wear and tear” (osteoarthritis), stem cell therapy for joints and soft tissue may offer a powerful solution to resolving the ongoing discomfort. Both long standing and more newly acquired injuries have the potential to benefit from this state-of-the-art treatment.

ThriveMD’s newest biologic treatment, Alpha 2 macroglobulin (A2M), is proving to be an excellent complimentary treatment to our regenerative stem cell procedures. Scientific evidence points to A2M being the key to stopping arthritis at the molecular level. A2M is a Broad Spectrum Multi-Purpose Protease Inhibitor that captures and inactivates the three major chemicals that lead to joint breakdown and cartilage damage.

By combining A2M to our current stem cell therapies, we are capable of not only building new soft tissue, cartilage and tendon, but also halting the degenerative arthritic process and further protecting the treated joint.

Contact our Vail or Denver office to find out if you could be a candidate for stem cell therapy.

Alternative to Joint Replacement & Ligament Surgery as well as New Techniques for the Treatment of Knee Pain

Stem Cells as an Alternative to Knee and Hip Replacement Surgery

Many people put off joint replacement surgery as long as they can because they dread the long and painful recovery. Their joint pain, e.g. constant knee pain due to an old meniscus injury, keeps them thinking about it, though. Others worry about the potential for infection, increased heart attack risk following a joint replacement procedure, or surgical complications and the limited life span of artificial knees, hips and other artificial joints. Patients are often told that they are “bone on bone” and that their only viable treatment strategy is a joint replacement surgery. ThriveMD often gives a knee replacement alternative to patients who have been given a “bone on bone” diagnosis from other physicians, but are still excellent candidates for regenerative stem cell treatment.

Stem Cell Therapy for joint and soft tissue repair is a minimally invasive approach that has helped many patients avoid the difficulties and risks associated with joint replacement surgery.

Stem Cells as an Alternative to Ligament Surgery of the Knee, Shoulder & Other Joints

Ligament injuries today may often be treated with stem cells. Partially torn Achilles tendons, rotator cuffs and anterior cruciate ligaments (ACL) in the knee are among the common areas treated at ThriveMD’s offices in Vail & Denver, CO. ACL injuries of the knee and Achilles tendon injuries are particularly representative examples of how a stem cell procedure can potentially be an effective alternative to invasive surgery.

When an ACL ruptures or tears, it is often only a partial tear with the outer sheath remaining intact, or only minimally retracted, which leaves the ligament still mostly in place. When this is the case, stem cell treatment can be an excellent option for repairing the damaged ligament. This state-of-the-art procedure allows the patient to return to some forms of exercise within several weeks and back to full activity within several months. Stem cells from your own body injected into the damaged ligament are quickly changing the way we look at season ending knee injuries. This choice consists of a minimally invasive 3-hour stem cell procedure, requiring no general anesthesia and a far less painful recovery.

ACL injuries of the knee and Achilles tendon injuries are particularly representative examples of how a stem cell procedure can potentially be an effective alternative to invasive surgery.

Skiers, mountain bikers, and many other athletes with a torn knee ligament can now consider forgoing the usual choice of invasive surgical repair. Choosing a stem cell treatment for a knee injury can get you back to your passion in a fraction of the time, and with less long term risks of arthritis. Arthritis is a common long term complication of ACL surgical repairs. Learn more about the treatment from a blog post by Dr. Brandt titled Stem Cell Therapy for ACL Tears in the Knee.

Radiofrequency Lesioning as an Alternative Treatment for Knee or Back Pain

The radiofrequency procedure can be employed as excellent adjunct to stem cell therapy. It can also be used as a standalone pain relief procedure.

Along with stem cell therapy, ThriveMD’s Dr. Brandt is an expert in radiofrequency lesioning for knees. The radiofrequency procedure can be employed as excellent adjunct to stem cell therapy. It can also be used as a standalone pain relief procedure for patients who have ongoing pain and do not want to undergo a major invasive surgery. The procedure can also be an excellent means of providing postoperative pain relief in patients with ongoing pain despite having already undergone surgical repair.

Am I a Candidate for Joint & Soft Tissue Stem Cell Therapy

A suitable candidate for stem cell therapy for joints & soft tissue is someone who suffers from a painful cartilage injury from overuse, trauma, or debilitating conditions, including degenerative arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis. ThriveMD’s Autologous Adult Stem Cell Therapy can also be beneficial for patients suffering from tendonitis and ligamentous injuries. In addition, an excellent candidate for Stem Cell Therapy also has slow-healing or non-union fracture.

Much of the early work in this field has been devoted to chronic injuries.  We are also seeing dramatic improvement in recovery times for acute and sub-acute injuries. These can include new onset partial tear of ligaments (ie. ACL, MCL, PCL), tendons (ie. Superspinatous, Achilles, Biceps, Quadraceps), bones (ie. Non-Displaced Tibeal Plateau, Humoral Head, Ankle, Wrist), and cartilage (ie. Radial Meniscal tears and other meniscus injuries of the knee, traumatized joint surfaces). We have seen active Coloradans and other patients return to activity much more rapidly with greatly decreased pain and improved mobility following early intervention for the acute and sub-acute injuries.

Joints and soft tissue injuries and conditions treated with stem cell therapy:

  • Knees
  • Shoulders
  • Wrists
  • Ankles
  • Hands and Feet
  • Hips
  • Elbows
  • Achilles Tendonitis
  • Tennis and Golfers Elbow
  • Bicep Tendonitis

ThriveMD will conduct a careful history and physical examination as well as thorough review of appropriate imaging (x-ray and/or MRI) to determine whether your condition is suitable for stem cell therapy.


Much of the early work in this field has been devoted to chronic injuries.  We are also seeing dramatic improvement in recovery times for acute and sub-acute injuries.

What Stem Cell Patients Say

“I am 61 yrs old. ( Almost bone on bone both knees/had this stem-cell procedure done on both knees ) knees feel like when I was back in my twenties (pain free/and no more arthritis pain / walking UP stairs pain free ). I tell everyone that has problems with there joints about this procedure and Highly recommend having this simple procedure done for PAIN-FREE-the-rest-of-your-life joints . Because I had this procedure done: I am back at the gym going 100% two hours a day on the elipticle machine and was able to lose in three months sixty pounds. My job is very physical at times… but now I physically feel I can do my job another ten years easily and I can play golf and run again pain free. It has been a long time since I could do that. I cannot thank Dr. Brandt enough.”Tom from Arvada, Colorado, Facebook
patient testimonial stem cells for joints

During follow-ups at our premier Colorado stem cell facilities, patients commonly leave heart-warming testimonials and reviews. In the quote to the left, you can read what one of the stem cell therapy patients had to say about his complex knee pain case.

Details of this piece of patient feedback, along with many others, are listed for your reference on our page dedicated to stem cell patient testimonials & reviews.

Individual patient results may vary. Contact us today to find out if stem cell therapy may be able to help you.

Next Step

If you believe you or someone you care about could be a candidate for stem cell therapy administered by a trusted clinic, please contact us today.