You Don't Have to Resort to Knee Surgery - Regenerative Medicine Can Help

Chronic knee problems are debilitating. They're painful. And they stop you from doing the things you love. We know that some of you have been suffering for many years, having tried absolutely everything with little to no results. And now, you feel like you've come to your last resort: A complete knee replacement surgery.

But is surgery really the only option? Is it the single route that can lead to a pain-free existence? We're here to tell you that no, it isn't. Regenerative Medicine that uses stem cells are a viable alternative that is drug free, non-surgical, and most importantly effective!

At Chronic Care of Richmond & Regenerative Medicine, we treat all types of knee problems. For many of our patients, regenerative medicine that utilizes stem cells have worked when nothing else did. We have seen patients that were told by qualified surgeons that surgery was the only option left to consider. In many cases, doctors dread treating patients with chronic knee problems due to the difficulties these represent.

Dr Snyder and his medical team, however, have successfully managed to help patients using non-drug and non-surgical treatment options. We use umbilical cord-derived stem cells (specifically Wharton's Jelly). The stem cells we use in our regenerative medicine are carefully collected from thoroughly screened full-term umbilical cord tissue. They are minimally processed to preserve what's valuable. Then they are cryogenically frozen in an FDA-registered lab. We adhere to the highest standards for handling by storing the stem cells in cryotanks in our office so that when it's time for a patient to receive them, we ensure optimal vivacity of our product.

What Do Medical Studies Say?

There are an increasing number of peer-reviewed studies that show just how effective regenerative medicine using stem cells can be. For instance, a paper published in Stem Cells Translational Medicine (December 2018) confirmed, through controlled randomized trials (registered at http://ClinicalTrials.gov), both the safety and efficacy of regenerative medicine in the treatment of osteoarthritic knee joints. Patients that received repeated MSC (Mesenchymal Stem Cells), also known as Wharton's Jelly, were observed to have seen the following results:

• No adverse effects. Some patients worry about injections or new treatment options. Multiple studies have shown that patients do not see adverse effects.
• Significant pain reduction. Patients who received MSC treatment (both single and multiple dose) enjoyed a significant reduction in pain.
• Improved function. Patients were seen to have improved movement and reduction in stiffness. .
• Continued improvement. Patients who received multiple treatment cycles saw continued improvement over time. However, even patients who only received a single treatment saw measurable benefits.

The outcomes of this medical trial were also evaluated at regular intervals (1, 4, 8, 12, 24, 36, and 52 weeks) by an orthopedic surgeon. This surgeon had no involvement with the study prior to the evaluation and he was blinded to patient allocation.

This is just one of many studies and medical journals that have been published on the topic. For those of you who wish to delve deeper, you may want to look at some of the following peer-reviewed studies:

• Study 1. Study 2. Journal 1.  

Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cells

Many people have heard of regenerative medicine that utilizes stem cells but don't know too much about it. In this discussion, we're going to give you a quick overview of what stem cells are, how the procedure works, how it's helped our patients, and why it's a viable alternative to knee surgery.

Stem cells are the precursor to almost every type of cell that exists in the body, whether muscle, skin, or blood cells. They are what we call building blocks, and their unique characteristic is that they are able to renew themselves.

In short, stem cells go where they're needed and become what your body requires to self-heal. Instead of simply masking the symptoms (which is all that NSAIDs do!), stem cells help your body repair damaged tissue and regenerate new, healthy tissue.

What is Regenerative Medicine Using Stem Cells?

Regenerative medicine using stem cells are non-surgical. Regenerative medicineis injected into the body and, in our Richmond practice, consist of human umbilical cord-derived stem cells (specifically Wharton's Jelly). The regenerative medicine that utilizes stem cells reduce inflammation, while also repairing and regenerating tissue.

The advantage of regenerative medicine using stem cells are first and foremost their efficacy. Our patients have seen great results! The other important aspect is that it's a cost efficient option in the long-run. Treatment regenerates new tissue, which means that it's a long term solution. Think about medications or shots: these need to be administered as long as you experience knee pain.

Some people worry about the treatment, which is understandable as it's relatively new (in medical terms, at least!). However, the treatment is a simple, in-office procedure.

Our Success Stories

You've read about what regenerative medicine using stem cells is and what it does. You understand the concept, but let's get to what patients really care about. Is regenerative medicine using stem cells an effective treatment option for chronic knee pain? We're happy to say that, based on our medical experience and patient feedback, regenerative medicine really does what it's supposed to.

For example, Debbie B (last name withheld for privacy reasons) had been suffering from chronic bilateral knee pain for a number of years. She found it difficult to walk long distances and even struggled to sleep. After six weeks of treatment, her condition improved tremendously, being able to walk to the supermarket without aid, cross her legs for the first time in over seven (!) years, and is finally able to have a pain-free night of sleep.

Joy B perhaps best encapsulates why we believe knee replacement surgery is a last resort. She came to see us with extreme pain in the right knee, with frequent swelling in the both the joints and her right foot. An orthopaedic surgeon had previously suggested that she was a good candidate for surgery. After just six weeks of regenerative medical procedures, however, she was able to see a significant improvement: the swelling and inflammation has subsided, she is now able to see her knee cap again (for the first time in years!), and she can walk up and down stairs without experiencing excruciating pain.

Surgery is a Last Resort, Not the Only Option

The important takeaway here is this: do not settle for chronic knee pain. It's not just part of getting older. It's not something you should just learn to live with. There are viable treatment options available to you and they don't necessarily involve surgery.

You can get back to the things you love doing using non-surgical regenerative medicine. Perhaps one of our patients, Lottie Sacks, put it best when she declared that with regenerative medicine using stem cells she feels “life is fuller!" To find out more, sign up for a free educational seminar about regenerative medicine that utilizes stem cells with Chronic Care of Richmond & Regenerative Medicine.