A meniscus is a c-shaped piece of cartilage in the knee that acts as a shock absorber between the lower leg bone (tibia) and the thigh bone (femur). There are two menisci in each knee, which, together, work to cushion the weight of our bodies as we move. Indeed, the support that meniscal tissue provides the knee joint is so vital that any trauma to or degenerative changes within a meniscus can prove catastrophic for the people experiencing it. Compounding the problem, many doctors elect to remove the meniscus in its entirety when rest and pain medication neglect to provide any lasting relief for patients with a meniscus injury, only further destabilizing the knee joint and unwittingly exposing patients to early onset osteoarthritis, a debilitating condition that frequently results in pain and severe flexibility and/or mobility loss.
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Fortunately, research indicates that surgical intervention for a meniscus tear can often be avoided with the use of stem cell therapy. Stem cell therapy for meniscus tears is a newer therapeutic option, offering patients the chance to repair damaged and/or degraded meniscal tissue, thus, reducing their pain and restoring function to the knee joint without increasing their risk of additional degenerative effects. Take a look:
What are Meniscus Tears?
A meniscus tear is a very common problem, often occurring when someone twists his or her knee while playing a sport or lifting something in the wrong way and causes damage to the cartilage within the knee. Athletes and older patients (who have experienced a natural progression of degeneration over time that has weakened their meniscus cartilage) are especially prone to knee damage and pain from a meniscus tear. Defined according to the position and type of damage inflicted, a meniscus tear can be classified as a radial tear, medial tear, horizontal tear, bucket-handle tear or flap tear (among others).
How Does Stem Cell Therapy for Meniscus Tear Work?
Stem cells are our bodies’ natural building blocks. In early development, they direct the differentiation of the body’s separate organ systems. In later development, they act to ensure homeostasis, replacing and repairing cells in our bodies that become damaged, diseased or deteriorated so that normal cell functioning continues without interruption.
Continuing research over the past few decades indicates that stem cells can be taken from adult bodies and used to create injections that offer therapeutic benefit for various conditions, especially chronic and acute orthopedic injuries like a meniscus tear. Here at ThriveMD, we harvest stem cells from a patient’s own adult stem cell reserves, use them along with other biologics, which are then injected back into the patient at the site of cellular damage — in this case, his or her meniscus. Studies provide evidence that this concentrated stem cell aspirate has the ability to reduce inflammation and repair and restore cellular function, thereby alleviating pain and helping patients avoid unnecessary surgical intervention.
Ready to Learn More?
Stem cell therapy for meniscus tears is a proven alternative to risky (and often useless) surgery. To find out if you or a loved one might be a candidate for stem cell therapy for a meniscus tear, please contact our office at ThriveMD. We review all our patients’ histories to determine the best course of treatment with the best chances for success for all kinds of orthopedic problems.