Stem Cells for Shoulder Pain

If you have shoulder arthritis, tendinitis, rotator cuff problems, or another injury that causes shoulder pain, you’re likely looking for relief. Taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory or other medications doesn’t work in the long run; they can damage your organs and have additional side effects. 

Our board-certified orthopedic surgeon Dr. Bruce Fishman at the Stem Cell Institute of Los Angeles can use stem cell therapy to ease your pain and restore your quality of life. This type of therapy can be used alone or as an adjunct to surgery, enhancing the outcome. 

Regenerative medicine may eventually alter the landscape of orthopedic surgery. Stem cell therapy is still in its infancy, and we’re proud to be leading the change in treatment of soft tissue injuries and arthritis. 

Why are stem cells beneficial in treating shoulder pain? 

You typically have pain in your shoulder from arthritis or an injury. Your cartilage — the tough tissue between the bones that connect your arm to your shoulder — may be worn out or torn, producing pain. Or you may have tendonitis and your bicep tendon is inflamed from overuse. 

Shoulder surgery requires a lengthy recovery period. Physical therapy is helpful, but it takes weeks to gain the full effect. That’s where regenerative medicine comes in. It’s an alternative or adjunct treatment that can help you feel better much sooner. 

Your body contains the seeds of its own healing. Regenerative medicine harnesses special cells in your body called mesenchymal stem cells. These stem cells are undifferentiated cells, meaning they can divide indefinitely and create all the types of cells needed to heal your injury. 

They replace old cells that die and help regenerate injured tendon, ligament, muscle, and cartilage tissue in your shoulder. 

What happens during stem cell treatment? 

You have a great supply of mesenchymal stem cells in your adipose tissue, or body fat. We gather your stem cells through a simple procedure in your abdomen that requires only local anesthesia. Then we process the sample to extract the greatest number of stem cells and inject that mixture into your shoulder using guided imagery. 

Once you receive the injection, the stem cells go to work immediately and begin to repair worn, damaged tissue. The whole process takes about two hours and is an in-office procedure. 

If other treatments haven’t worked for your shoulder pain, regenerative medicine may be the answer you’ve been looking for. Call our office in Encino, California, to get started today.