Stem Cells as a Knee Replacement & Surgery Alternative



Find out if you are a candidate


More than 600,000 knee replacements are performed the United States yearly. These include patients that have spent years skiing hard, running marathons, walking golf courses or just suffering from chronic arthritis. Many of these surgeries can be avoided by alternatively undergoing a minimally invasive state-of-the-art stem cell procedure.

By opting for the stem cell route in Colorado and avoiding knee replacement surgery, you may have the potential to avoid the long painful recovery, weeks of missed work, and the potential surgical risks that include infection, bleeding, blood clots and nerve injury.

You may be an excellent candidate to undergo a low-risk stem cell procedure, which is carried out without general anesthesia, minimal postoperative discomfort and virtually no recovery downtime. In addition, stem cell patients are able to return to work in 1-2 days, and sports in 4-6 weeks.

Many knee surgeries can be avoided by alternatively undergoing a minimally invasive state-of-the-art stem cell procedure.

patient testimonial stem cells to avoid knee replacement

Stem Cells to Avoid Knee Replacement – Patient Testimonial
Individual patient results may vary. Please contact us today to find out if stem cell therapy may be able to help you.

Stem Cells as a Total Knee Replacement Alternative

More than ninety percent of our stem cell patients have not gone on to knee replacement surgery.
Knee patients are frequently told that their joints are bone on bone, a statement that often over-exaggerates the extent of cartilage damage in the knee joint. Many times, there are areas of cartilage thinning that respond well to the regenerative stem cell procedure, allowing the patient’s body to naturally repair the damaged area. A surprising number of such surgical patients are excellent candidates to avoid an invasive replacement surgery and return to the sports they love without a joint replacement.

At ThriveMD, more than ninety percent of the patients that have undergone our state-of-the-art stem cell procedures have thus far not gone on to knee replacement surgery. These results are very similar for patients that have undergone hip procedures in an effort to avoid hip replacement surgery.

Sample MRI Images of Our Knee Stem Cell Therapy Patients

Stem cell patient knee sagittal MRI

Sagittal MRI  image of a knee noting moderate arthritic cartilage changes and mucoid degeneration of the ACL

Coronal MRI image of a knee with mild arthritic changes

Coronal MRI image of a knee with mild arthritic changes

stem cell patient knee axial MRI

Axial MRI image of the knee demonstrating mild retro-patellar arthritic changes

Fellow Physician Who Avoided a Knee Replacement

The benefits patients experience are often life-changing. Below is a testimonial from a fellow physician who avoided a knee replacement. For more examples of what stem cell patients are saying, please visit our page dedicated to stem cell reviews for joint pain treatment.

“I am 58 years old and had been very active. My right knee had been getting progressively worse over the previous two years. An orthopedic surgeon told me that I had significant arthritis in the medial side of my knee and my best bet was a total knee replacement. He also mentioned that I might look into stem cell treatment. After a long discussion with Dr. Brandt and my own research, I decided to go ahead with his stem cell therapy regimen. The down time was minimal (especially compared to rehab after a total knee) and the results have been better than I hoped for. In the past month I have been on several long hikes with minimal pain. I forgot my walking sticks and hardly even noticed. Previously I would not dream of going for a hike without the sticks! As a fellow physician I found him thoroughly professional and well read on the subject. I had, and still, have no second thoughts about letting him stick a needle anywhere in my body (something I would not say about many physicians). His office is comfortable, very clean and I was quite pleased with his sterile technique. His office staff is welcoming and reassuring. Would not hesitate to go back for more!”*
Herb from Evergreen, Colorado
*Individual patient results may vary. Contact us today to find out if stem cell therapy may be able to help you.

Stem Cells for Avoiding Arthroscopic Knee Surgery

The stem cell procedure for ACL tears can reduce the risk of future arthritic changes.

A minimally invasive stem cell procedure is often a better choice for you than many arthroscopic procedures. Partial ACL tears are an example of an acute injury that responds well to stem cell knee injections. By infiltrating the ligament of an intact ACL sheath, the ligament can heal to become as strong as the original ligament. This also avoids the traumatic surgery required to replace the ligament from a second surgical site, and the six months of postsurgical rehabilitation.

By repairing the original placement of the ligament and maintaining the natural motion of the joint, the stem cell procedure lowers the risk of future arthritic changes in comparison to postoperative changes following a full ligament replacement.

Many routine arthroscopic procedures can also be avoided by allowing your own cells to repair meniscus tears and other minor tissue damage in the joint. This holds true for treatment of many other joints including the hip, shoulder and lumbar discs.

stem cell therapy to avoid knee replacement

Patient from Castle Rock, CO uses stem cell procedure to avoid a knee replacement. – Patient Testimonial

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

Returning to your favorite sport in a shorter time and with much less discomfort is unforgettable. Below is a testimonial from a Vail local who used stem cells to return to skiing. For more examples of what stem cell patients are saying, please visit stem cell reviews for joint pain.

Early in the ski season I had a partial tear in my ACL and thought I would be out until the next year for sure. However after consulting with ThriveMD they informed me that I was a good candidate for stem cell therapy. I went through the procedure and went from barely being able to walk with crutches to walking comfortably and normally within three weeks! I was back at work quickly and just got back on the mountain recently. My knee feels very solid and I have ZERO issues with it. Thank you ThriveMD for saving my ski season!”*
Brad from the Vail Valley, Colorado
*Individual patient results may vary. Contact us today to find out if stem cell therapy may be able to help you.

Case Studies on Stem Cells as an Alternative to Knee Replacement

avoiding knee replacement case study

Denver Patient Uses Adult Stem Cells as a Knee Replacement Alternative

Former competitive tennis player and skier, with degeneration of soft tissue and arthritic changes in the knee, uses stem cell injections as an alternative to knee replacement surgery. Returns to golf and skiing.*

Read the patient case study by Dr. Brandt

knee replacement alternative stem cell golfer

Active Skier-Golfer from Boulder Uses Stem Cell Therapy to Avoid Knee Replacement

Colorado Avid Golfer reports on a Boulder golfer and skier who was sure knee replacement would be inevitable. The patient used stem cell therapy to avoid knee replacement and got back to his favorite sports fast.*

Read the patient case by Colorado Avid Golfer

stem cells as acl surgery option

Stem Cell Therapy for ACL Tears in the Knee

Read Dr. Brandt’s blog post about modern and traditional options for ACL repair, who may be a candidate for stem cell treatment, how the injections are prepared, and what follows after the stem cell procedure for ACL injuries or chronic pain.

Read the blog post by Dr. Brandt

Stem cell surgery alternative acl injuries women

Minimally Invasive Treatment Option for ACL Injuries of the Knee In Women

How women are more prone to ACL injuries of the knee, how the injuries can be prevented, and how stem cells can be a minimally invasive option for ACL repair in women.

Read the blog post by Dr. Brandt

Research Articles on Stem Cells for Knees

Stem cell application for osteoarthritis in the knee joint: A minireview

PUBLISHED on The World Journal of Stem Cells, 2014   AUTHORS Kristin Uth and Dimitar Trifonov

Treatment of knee osteoarthritis with autologous mesenchymal stem cells: a pilot study.

PUBLISHED on Transplantation, 2013   AUTHORS Orozco, L & Munar, A

Increased knee cartilage volume in degenerative joint disease using percutaneously implanted, autologous mesenchymal stem cells.

PUBLISHED on Pain Physician, 2008   AUTHORS Centeno, CJ & Busse, D

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.