Chronic disease is often lifelong and incurable. It can interfere with your ability to work and may make even everyday activities a challenge. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that approximately 60% of American adults suffer from at least one chronic disease, with many of these people having more than one.
Medications, lifestyle changes, and physical therapy offer some relief from chronic disease, but these standard treatments often fall short. Invasive surgeries and injections may help, but they’re hard on your body and don’t always have lasting effects.
Stem cell therapy offers an alternative to invasive procedures and standard conservative measures. At Interventional Spine and Pain Institute in Vero Beach, Florida, Dr. Michael Esposito uses this cutting-edge treatment to treat a wide array of medical conditions. Here, learn about nine ailments for which stem cell therapy shows great promise.
Stem cells are undifferentiated cells. This means they can serve any need your body requires. Many cells have special purposes — like muscle cells or heart cells. Stem cells have the ability to become any of these specialized cells, making them
indispensable in treating many chronic medical conditions.
Stem cell therapy has a wide variety of applications. Here are nine ailments that stem cells show great promise in treating:
Arthritis causes inflammation and irritation in the joints. Osteoarthritis is usually due to wear-and-tear, and it results from the breakdown of cartilage, the tissue that cushions bone-to-bone contact. Studies show that stem cell therapy repairs damaged joint cartilage in the knee and reduces inflammation that occurs in and around the joint.
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory disorder in which the immune system wrongly attacks the lining of joints. Stem cells administered via IV can find and repair damaged tissue, namely joint lining, throughout the body. This can reduce pain and increase mobility.
People with a spinal cord injury also may benefit from stem cell therapy. The treatment can patch up the injured areas of the spine to restore communication between nerves and the brain, helping restore function.
Stem cell therapy can slow the progression of neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) by repairing neural damage. Some research shows that stem cell therapy may reverse such disorders.
Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes are characterized by too little (or no) production of beta cells in the pancreas — these are the cells that produce insulin. Stem cells may help replace missing or damaged beta cells.
Fibromyalgia is a widespread musculoskeletal condition that causes fatigue, pain, and mood issues. Stem cells can be very helpful in modulating inflammatory responses, including inflammation thought to be associated with fibromyalgia, and in repairing damaged nerve cells that send errant pain signals when there is no painful stimulus.
Macular degeneration is a common eye disorder characterized by deterioration of the macula, a small area in the center of the retina in the back of your eye. Macular degeneration eventually causes vision loss. Stem cell treatment shows promise in improving vision in patients with macular degeneration.
Because stem cells can transform into different types of cells, this therapy offers groundbreaking applications for people with acute or chronic kidney disease or injury. Stem cells can replace damaged cells and spur the regrowth of lost tissue.
Treatment of heart disease with stem cells is in its infancy. Researchers are working to grow healthy heart muscle cells from stem cells in a lab that they then transplant into damaged hearts.
Dr. Esposito may recommend stem cell therapy for any number of conditions. He stays up-to-date on all regenerative medicine interventions so he can reduce your pain and help your body heal naturally.
Learn more about stem cell therapy and whether you may be a candidate. Call Interventional Spine and Pain Institute today, or use the form on this website to request a consultation.
