Stem cell therapy for hips

An Overview of Stem Cell Therapy for Hips

Scott Brandt, M.D. Stem Cell Therapy, Stem Cells for Hip

Here at ThriveMD, we believe in the efficacy of using autologous stem cells to treat a variety of degenerative conditions. Not only are stem cells proven safe — especially when harvested from and used within a patient’s own body — there is much research to support their effectiveness at stimulating tissue growth. This is important because all cells (eventually) die. While some die as a result of an injury, the vast majority of cell deaths occur via a controlled process called apoptosis. In layman’s terms, apoptosis is “cell suicide,” a process by which the body controls how and when cells die and regrow so that it can maintain optimal functioning and possibly inhibit disease manifestation and/or progression.

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Most of the time, apoptosis is considered a normal part of development; different cells have different life spans with cell deaths occurring every few days to once in many multiple years depending on the type of cell. This helps ensure that the body is constantly renewing itself and operating at maximum capacity, so to speak. However, aging is also a normal part of human development, and with it comes a natural effect: degeneration. Even with apoptosis programmed to alleviate the deterioration of cell function, as we age, the process itself can begin to slow and injuries can begin to accumulate, making it harder for new cells to replace old ones in a timely manner. When this occurs — when our bodies can no longer provide enough new cells to replace dying ones — degeneration begins to occur, potentially causing inflammation, pain and loss of functional abilities in any of our bodies’ tissues and organ systems.

If the degeneration settles in the hips, it can be especially debilitating because the hip is one of the body’s most powerful joints; it aids in multiple actions, enabling us to stand, walk, run, sit and more, and if enough healthy cells can not replace dead and dying ones in the hip area, our ability to do even the simplest of daily tasks can be severely compromised. In the past, rest, medication and/or physical therapy were often offered as a way to relieve the pain accompanying hip degeneration. But now, we also have stem cell therapy for hips as a viable treatment option. Stem cell therapy for hips not only offers pain relief, it can potentially stimulate growth of healthy tissue, something other treatment options can not provide.

In our practice, the great majority of our patients experience significant relief from hip pain following a stem cell therapy for hips treatment plan. Indeed, approximately 65% of our new patients come to us as referrals from existing ones, meaning what we do works! During a stem cell therapy for hip procedure, we harvest stem cells from a patient’s adipose (fat) and bone marrow tissues. We then combine these cells with platelet-rich plasma (also drawn from the patient’s own body) to form a concentrated aspirate rich in stem cells, growth factors and cytokines that we inject into the damaged areas of the patient’s hip. Research shows that the combination of these regenerative biologics can potentially stimulate cellular growth and aid in tissue repair by releasing paracrine signals that work to reduce inflammation and prevent cell death. These signals, combined with other biologics, work to improve blood supply; accelerate wound healing; and provide a scaffolding of fibrin that better facilitates hip tissue regeneration. In short, stem cell therapy for hips can be a life-altering procedure, possibly providing lasting pain relief for chronic hip conditions such as hip labral tears and hip arthritis. 

Want to Learn More?

If you or a loved one is experiencing hip pain, please contact our office to learn if stem cell therapy for hips could be a treatment option. Our staff carefully reviews all our patients’ histories so that they can choose the treatment best suited for success.

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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.