Arthritis is all all-too-common ailments that frequently affects people over 60. The term arthritis actually applies to over 100 different conditions. Those conditions can range from joint swelling and stiffness to tenderness; more severe forms also include severe pain and loss of mobility.
The most common forms of arthritis are osteoporosis and rheumatoid arthritis.
Traditional Arthritis Treatment Options
Physicians have a number of medications that they use for treatment. Those medications include steroids, anti-inflammatory drugs, and of course pain killers.
Beyond medicine, many patients find relief by incorporating some form of occupational therapy into their routine.
Patients with the most severe cases of osteoporosis may turn to joint replacement surgery as an option for relief.
Stem Cell Therapy for Arthritis
What are stem cells? Stem cells are unique and powerful resources for the body. Stem cells are unique because they have the ability to produce a wide range of cell types for the body. This makes them an invaluable resource in regenerative medicine.
Everyone has stem cells in their body; but one of the purest sources of those cells is in umbilical cord blood.
Research is starting to demonstrate that stem cell therapy may be a viable solution to treat patients with certain forms of the disease.
Stem cell therapy for arthritis has a tremendous advantage over many other forms of treatment.
- First, the procedure to administer the cells is far less invasive than surgery. This also means lower risk of infection.
- Second, the procedure can largely be done on an outpatient basis which means you get to go home the same day.
Not a Solution for Everyone
A primary challenge in this treatment is that it does not present an alternative to a complete joint replacement. In instances where joint replacement surgery is the only option, the stem cells are simply unable to overcome the level of damage already in place.
These emerging stem cell therapies are promising; but keep in mind that it will not work for everyone. Clinical researchers are quick to point out that stem cell treatment is by no means a cure for osteoporosis, for example.
Dr. Trifonov of Oxford University has done extensive research on the topic. He expressed his opinion on the future of the treatment options with the following:
“All those findings in basic stem cell biology will likely influence the development of more advanced (in terms of cell characterization) stem cell culturing and differentiation protocols and lead to the development of a gold standard in clinical trials”
For now, stem cell treatments are best suited to aid in the healing of damaged tissue; however, patients with a diagnosis of osteoporosis may already have too much damage for the treatment to be effective.
Recognizing that this treatment is a positive step forward for people suffering from arthritis and osteoporosis.
Journal Reference:
Uth K, Trifonov D. Stem cell application for osteoarthritis in the knee joint: A minireview. World Journal of Stem Cells. 2014;6(5):629-636. doi:10.4252/wjsc.v6.i5.629.
