Roughly 80% of Americans will experience back pain at some point in their lives. In most cases, back pain is temporary and resolves on its own. Sometimes, however, back pain becomes chronic, and when it does, it can have a major impact on your daily life. In fact, low back pain is the leading cause of disability.
At Dr. Stem Cell in Encino, California, orthopedic and sports medicine physician Bruce Fishman, MD, specializes in nonsurgical treatments for orthopedic conditions. Stem cell therapy is a natural, innovative treatment that can significantly improve back pain. Regenerative medicine offers a new way of treating back pain at the source.
You don’t realize how many everyday activities require you to engage your back until you experience pain doing them. Something as simple as vacuuming, walking, or bending to pick up a small item can cause excruciating pain.
Chronic back pain is the No. 1 cause of missed work days. It can have an impact on your productivity and prevent you from enjoying an active lifestyle. Dealing with the constant pain and discomfort can make it difficult to sleep, which can lead to fatigue during the day.
The impact on your day-to-day life can take a toll on your mental health, increasing the risk for depression and anxiety. Effective treatment for back pain can help you get your life back.
Stem cells are the foundation from which specialized cells are made. A stem cell is a blank slate that can divide to form new stem cells or cells with specialized functions. Stem cells are the only cells in the body capable of dividing into new types of cells.
This unique feature of stem cells makes them ideal for treating back pain, which occurs when there’s damage to the structures that make up the back. Stem cell therapy involves taking stem cells from one part of the body and injecting them into a damaged area.
When injected into target areas, stem cells can divide to generate various types of cells, including new bone, cartilage, muscle, tendon, and ligament tissue. Stem cells also aid in the body’s healing process.
Dr. Fishman performs a physical examination and orders imaging as part of a comprehensive evaluation to determine the best treatment for your back pain. The following are three back pain conditions that benefit from stem cell therapy.
Degenerative disc disease happens when the discs that provide cushion between the bones of your spine wear down. This is most often the result of age-related breakdown. As the discs dry out, crack, and weaken, the bones of the spine can rub together, cursing pain.
Stem cell therapy for degenerative disc disease reduces inflammation, promotes healing, eases pain, and slows degeneration.
When intervertebral discs break down, they can bulge, or herniate, into the spinal canal, compressing surrounding nerve roots and causing pain. Many patients with a herniated disc are referred for surgery. Stem cell therapy provides a nonsurgical alternative.
Stem cells can be injected into a herniated disc, where it helps regenerate and repair the damaged tissue. Over the course of a few months, the damaged tissue recovers, leading to a significant improvement in pain.
Facet joints are the connections where the bones in the spine come together to create a joint. They stabilize your spine so you can move and bend with ease. Like other parts of the spine, facet joints are prone to age-related breakdown.
Stem cell therapy for facet joint arthritis stimulates tissue repair and eases inflammation, which provides pain relief and improves function.
Stem cell therapy uses the body’s natural healing process to repair and rebuild damaged tissue, effectively easing back pain and treating the root cause. Stem cell treatment can improve function, mobility, and quality of life.
If you’re dealing with chronic back pain, there is hope, even if conventional treatments have failed to provide relief. To learn more, reach out to our office at 818-808-2828 to schedule a consultation with the team at Dr. Stem Cell.
