Stem Cell Therapy For Knee Pain

What are the most common causes of knee pain?

Knee pain is not at all uncommon. Many of us experience it for many different reasons. Injury, for instance, can cause knee pain.

• ·         ACL injury

o   The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) connects your shinbone to your thighbone. If you are an athlete, you are familiar with ACL injuries. It happens frequently to basketball and soccer players. When the ACL is torn in your knee, it can be severe. It may require surgery to recover your knee pain.

• ·         Fracture

o   The femur (thigh bone), patella (kneecap), tibia (shine bone), and fibula come together to form your knee. Each of these has the potential to be broken. Falls and motor vehicle collisions are common ways for knee fractures to occur. However, if you have osteoarthritis, even a simple fall could cause a fracture. Depending on the severity of the fracture, you will require different treatments.

• ·         Torn meniscus

o   The cartilage of the meniscus acts as a shock absorber for the knee. This prevents your femur and tibia from rubbing together. Trauma to the meniscus can cause a tear or, as you age, you may lose your natural cartilage. Without this protection, natural movement will become painful.

• ·         Patellar tendinitis

o   Tendinitis is caused by inflammation and irritation of the tendons. This happens to athletes who do a lot of jumping.

While injuries can take an otherwise healthy knee and cause it to experience pain, sometimes there are mechanical issues causing knee pain.

• ·         Hip or foot pain

o   When your hip or foot is injured, your way of walking can be thrown off. This change in your natural gait may result in you developing knee pain.

• ·         Dislocated kneecap

o   The patella (kneecap) can slip out of place. This, of course, results in knee pain.

• ·         Loose body

o   Degradation of bone or cartilage can result in pieces breaking off. These free floating pieces can hinder knee joint movement and result in pain.

There are hundreds of different types of arthritis. They can absolutely result in knee pain.

• ·         Osteoarthritis

o   This type of arthritis is also known as degenerative arthritis. The wear-and-tear on your knee causes the cartilage to degrade. Without cartilage to cushion the joint, your knee will experience significant pain.

• ·         Rheumatoid arthritis

o   This kind of arthritis is an autoimmune condition that can impact any joint in the body, including the knees.

• ·         Gout

o   When uric acid crystals build up in a joint, it is called gout. It most commonly occurs in the big toe but it can happen in the knee.

• ·         Septic arthritis

o   An infection within the knee joint. That causes swelling, pain and redness.

When do you need to see a doctor about knee pain?

While knee pain is not uncommon, it’s also not something that you simply need to bear. We all experience minor aches and pains depending on our activity. However, when your day-to-day life is disrupted due to knee pain, then you need to seek help. More specifically, contact a doctor if you:

• ·         Feel unstable like your knee is going to “give out”
• ·         Notice an obvious deformity in your leg or knee
• ·         Cannot fully extend your knee
• ·         Have noteworthy knee swelling
• ·         Cannot bear weight on your knee
• ·         Develop a fever

All of these symptoms are serious and should not be ignored. Knee pain may not be unusual but it can become incredibly serious if not treated properly.

What are some common treatments for knee pain?

If you pain is minor, then you can treat your knees yourself. Rest, ice, compression and elevation (RICE) are useful tools for self-care. Additionally, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, etc.) can help relieve knee pain.

Will my insurance cover stem cell therapy?

Unfortunately, most stem cell treatments are not covered by health insurance. While you can check into your own personal plan, more often than not, you will have to pay for stem cell treatments yourself.

Severe cases of knee pain may require surgery. Knee replacements are not uncommon. However, as regenerative medicine evolves, there are more and more options for minimally invasive options. Stem cell injections can be used to repair and regenerate lost tissue in your knees. This can help with your knee pain by correcting the root cause.

How do I decided where to get stem cell therapy for my knee pain?

When selecting a medical team to provide you stem cell treatments, it is incredibly important to do your homework. All across the globe, there are “clinics” that claim to have medical treatments for numerous ailments, including knee pain. Stem cell therapy has great potential and there are FDA approved treatments available commercially. However, many of the stories in the news refer to theoretical applications or treatments that are still in clinical trials. These predatory clinics capitalize on the media’s love for “miracle” regenerative medicine stories to prey on desperate patients out of their money. Sadly, while going through the motions of treating the patients they are swindling, these clinics can often cause more harm than good.

This is your health! Don’t entrust it to anyone who doesn’t have the technical skills and experience to properly care for you.

If you are considering stem cell therapy for your knee pain, make sure to investigate the clinic, medical group, or doctor that you are considering using. Any legitimate organization, like the Stem Cell Institute of Texas, will be glad to explain the FDA guidelines and their personal background to you. Asking questions is your right as a patient!