Back Pain Specialist

Dr. Stem Cell

Regenerative orthopedics located in Encino, Ventura County, Calabasas and Los Angeles, CA

If you suffer from chronic back pain and conservative care doesn’t help, or if your physician suggests surgery, it’s time to consider stem cell therapy. Studies show that patients who had stem cell therapy experienced a 71% reduction in pain, and more than 81% avoided surgery. Bruce Fishman, MD, MPH, FICS, Melat Haile, FNP, and the team at Dr. Stem Cell specialize in using stem cell therapy to relieve back pain. To learn if you’re a good candidate, call the office in Encino, California, or schedule an appointment online.

Back Pain Q & A

How does  Cellular Therapy alleviate back pain?

Stem cells are uniquely designed to self-replicate and produce new cells. Adult stem cells live throughout your body. When you’re injured, they migrate to the damaged area and perform multiple tasks: They regenerate new tissues to repair the injury, regulate inflammation, and release biochemicals such as exosomes and cytokines that stimulate healing.

When you receive stem cell therapy, a concentrated number of stem cells are injected into the injured tissues in your back. The injected cells relieve your back pain as they heal the tissues.

What back conditions benefit from Cellular Therapy?

The team offers stem cell therapy to treat the following back problems:

Degenerative disc disease

Over the years, the discs between each vertebra wear out, dehydrate, and collapse. Degenerative disc disease leads to problems such as back pain, spinal instability, and pinched nerves that cause tingling and numbness.

Facet joint syndrome or osteoarthritis

The joints that connect your vertebrae, called facet joints, are susceptible to osteoarthritis, a condition that causes back pain, limited movement, inflammation, and bone spurs.

Disc injury

A slipped disc, sometimes called a herniated disc, occurs when the outer layer of the disc develops a weak spot or a tear, allowing the gel-like center of the disc to bulge or leak out. The damaged disc compresses the nerves, resulting in back pain, as well as tingling and pain that radiate along the nerve.

Discseel®

Discseel® is a minimally invasive procedure that utilizes a natural biologic, meant to heal your discs and prevent leaks by promoting regrowth of healthy tissue. This revolutionary procedure is yielding positive results for many patients around the world. This procedure introduces fibrin which incorporates into the disc to form a barrier, with the goal of ceiling any tears that reside in the outer portion of the discs. This ceiling prevents disc fluid from leaking out and inflaming the surrounding nerves that cause pain. The fibrin creates an environment where new disc tissue can grow promoting healing and tissue regrowth. The symptoms of lower back aches, reduced flexibility, increased pain with activity, and numbness and tingling in her lower extremities, are early warning signs of degenerated discs and tears within the disc. There are several different treatment options that you can pursue, and one of these is the use of fibrin.

This FDA approved substance can be injected into the discs in your spine to help seal any holes or cracks that are present within the disc. This fibrin sealant can help to maintain the proper shape of the desk, with the insertion of additional fluid, and this food also serves as a structural aid, helping to prevent the disc from breaking down again in the future. This less invasive procedure can be a great option if you suffer from chronic back pain or degenerative disc disease. It is a highly effective alternative to spinal fusion or diskectomy for chronic low back pain patients. The Discseel® procedure can be performed utilizing biologic cellular therapy, in addition to the fibrin.

The biologic portion of the injection contains mesenchymal signaling cells and several other growth factors that help generate new tissue and restore function to the damaged tissue. This portion is similar to that of simple cellular and acellular injections. The second portion is the injection of fibrin, which is protein that is naturally produced within the body after injury occurs. It helps to seal off damaged tissue and close wounds so they can heal without becoming infected. This concept is utilized with the Discseel® procedure. 21 Peptides are molecules that are a combination of two or more amino acids.

Sacroiliac joint pain

The sacroiliac (SI) joint connects your right and left hips to the bottom of your spine. When the SI joint becomes inflamed or injured, it causes lower back pain.

Where do the stem cells come from?

The team at Dr. Stem Cell uses mesenchymal stem cells and exosomes because they help regenerate tissues such as tendons, ligaments, muscles, and cartilage. Our Stem Cells are harvested from the Umbilical Cord Wharton's Jelly. We obtain them from an FDA Certified Transplant Laboratory located in Southern California. Our staff has personally toured the facility to ensure the highest quality and standards for our patients.

What should I expect before and during Cellular Therapy?

If you have back pain and you’re interested in stem cell therapy, it starts with an initial consultation at Dr. Stem Cell to determine if you’re a good candidate for stem cell treatment

Dr. Fishman performs a complete exam, including X-rays, and possibly an MRI, CT, or nerve study to evaluate the source of your back pain. If you’re approved for stem cell therapy, -

Two days before your stem cell treatment you will receive our unique IV infusion treatment containing vitamins, peptides and proteins. This will boost your cellular function and enhance your response to Stem Cell treatment. You will then be sent for Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatment to support your upcoming Stem Cell procedure. 

Dr. Fishman then uses fluoroscopic or ultrasound guidance to inject the stem cells precisely at the damaged tissues that are causing your back pain.

In some cases, Dr. Fishman may mix the stem cells with platelet-rich plasma (PRP), which supports and accelerates healing. They produce PRP  in the office from a sample of your blood.

After your Stem Cell procedure you are immediately sent for a second Hyperbaric Oxygen treatment. 

Most patients need only one treatment session, with one injection for each damaged disc or joint, to alleviate their back pain. 

You will follow up with Dr. Fishman 4 weeks after your Stem Cell procedure. At that time, you will have your first FDA approved muscle building emscult treatment if appropriate to your condition. 

You need to rest for a few days after your procedure, and you’ll notice that your back pain improves over the next few months as the stem cells rebuild tissues and rehabilitate your injury. You will have regular follow ups with your doctor at 3, 6 and 12 months to document your improvement. 

If you suffer from chronic back pain, call Dr. Stem Cell or book an initial consultation online.