a doctor looks at an xray and considers "can osteoarthritis be improved by stem cell therapy?"

Can Osteoarthritis Be Improved by Stem Cell Therapy?

Scott Brandt, M.D. Stem Cell Therapy, Stem Cells for Joint & Soft Tissue Pain

Degenerative joint disease — also called osteoarthritis — is the wearing away of the cartilage between any of the joints in a person’s body. Age, obesity and injury can all contribute to osteoarthritis, with symptoms ranging from intermittent discomfort and stiffness to the weakening of muscles and ligaments and erosion of bone that ultimately lead to ineffective, as well as chronically painful, joint function.  Treating osteoarthritis has traditionally relied on medication and rest and/or physical therapy aimed at strengthening the tissue surrounding the affected joint. And since cartilage does not ...
stem cell therapy for herniated disc enabled this man to climb a mountain

5 Common Questions About Stem Cell Therapy for Herniated Discs

Scott Brandt, M.D. Stem Cell Therapy, Stem Cells for Back Pain

Living with persistent pain is a reality that many people in this country unfortunately face. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), “in 2016 [alone] an estimated 20.4% of U.S. adults had chronic pain," a condition which is associated with mobility and mental health issues, opioid addiction and an overall reduced quality of life. In contrast to the acute episodes of pain we all face at one time or another, chronic pain is defined as any pain lasting longer than three months, and many issues can cause it: an ...
hip pain treatment without surgery

Stem Cells: A Hip Pain Treatment without Surgery

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

If you’ve ever experienced pain in your hips, you know how debilitating it can be. The hip joint is one of the body’s biggest and strongest joints. As such, it supports much of our body’s weight and helps us move in multiple ways. When an injury or even just advancing age threatens its structural integrity, the resulting instability, inflammation and pain can make the simplest of activities an agonizing endeavor. The good news is, today, there are more options than ever for treating hip degeneration. In addition to standard treatments ...
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 ...
History of Stem Cell Disc Regeneration

A Brief History of Stem Cell Disc Regeneration

Scott Brandt, M.D. Stem Cell Therapy, Stem Cells for Back Pain, Stem Cells for Neck Pain

The Discovery of Stem Cells –– 1960s Stem cells are a naturally occurring component of human biology. In that sense, they’ve been around forever. Stem cells are special cells within the body that have the ability to self-replicate and to develop tissue-specific functionality over time. Because of this, stem cells have been referred to as “master cells” or biological “building blocks.” Scientists Ernest McCulloch and James Till were the first researchers to identify and characterize what we have eventually come to know as stem cells.  Embryonic Stem Cells –– 1980s …

Stem Cell Therapy for the Spine

The Impact of Stem Cell Therapy for the Spine

Scott Brandt, M.D. Stem Cell Therapy, Stem Cells for Back Pain, Stem Cells for Neck Pain

What is a Stem Cell Treatment for the Spine? Every person has stem cells that are located throughout the body. Stem cells are cells that can become many (if not all) types of cells. Most of the time, cells originate in a certain type of tissue and can only make more cells of that tissue type. In this way, heart cells come from heart tissue, liver cells from liver tissue, and so on. Stem cells, however, can “transform” into a specific type of cell even if they exist in a …

Spinal Disc Regeneration

3 Things You Should Know About Spinal Disc Regeneration

Scott Brandt, M.D. Stem Cell Therapy, Stem Cells for Back Pain, Stem Cells for Neck Pain

How Does Spinal Disc Regeneration Work?  For many, back pain occurs because of damage to the structure of their spinal discs. Additionally, damaged discs inhibit mobility. As such, often the most effective way to treat back issues is to repair the spinal discs. Spinal disc regeneration is a form of stem cell therapy. Stem cells, in simple terms, are the body’s “master cells.” Unlike other cells in the body, they can take on a number of different functions based on their location. Therefore, doctors may inject stem cells into a …

How Long Does It Take for Stem Cell Therapy to Work

How Long Does It Take for Stem Cell Therapy to Work?

Scott Brandt, M.D. Stem Cell Therapy

As more and more patients become aware of the regenerative potential of stem cells, one of the most frequent questions we hear at ThriveMD is “How long will it take for stem cell therapy to work for me?” Of course, the therapeutic effects of stem cell therapy depend on a variety of factors. Here’s what you need to know about the time it takes for stem cell therapy to work: Stem Cell Therapy Can Work in as Little as 2 to 12 Weeks! As mentioned, stem cells are currently being …

Alternatives to Hip Replacement Surgery

Is There an Alternative to Hip Replacement Surgery?

thriveMD Stem Cell Therapy, Stem Cells for Hip, Stem Cells for Joint & Soft Tissue Pain

Each year, a rising number of patients around the world are undergoing hip replacement surgery. A heightened focus on physical activity, as well as improved treatment technologies, mean patients have a need — and doctors, the instruments and skills — for surgically treating hip joint damage. The result: more surgical hip replacements. Share this Post Although the hip is one of the body’s most rugged and durable joints, capable of withstanding repetitive motion for many, many years, it is not immune to the effects of trauma, disease and/or chronic overuse, ...
natural alternative to hip replacement

Minimally Invasive Alternatives to Hip Replacement

Scott Brandt, M.D. Stem Cell Therapy, Stem Cells for Hip, Stem Cells for Joint & Soft Tissue Pain

Although the hip is one of the body’s most rugged and durable joints, capable of withstanding repetitive motion for many, many years, it is not immune to the effects of trauma, disease and/or chronic overuse, making it highly likely that most adults will experience hip pain at some point in their lives. Conditions such as a pinched nerve, infection, or cancer can certainly lead to hip pain, as can traumatic injuries resulting in fractures and sprains, but one of the most common causes of chronic hip pain is the result ...