Musculoskeletal conditions and injuries are not only painful and troublesome, but they can also be life-limiting. Fortunately, advances are continually being made in the treatment of orthopedic conditions, and among the most cutting-edge treatments involve the use of stem cells.
It may sound like science fiction, but the continuing research being made on the use of stem cells could someday make them the standard treatment of all types of health conditions. Let’s talk about what stem cells are and what they can do in treating ailments and injuries.
What Are Stem Cells?
Stem cells are the most basic cells from which the rest of your body’s cells originate. Stem cells can go from being “unspecialized” cells to “differentiated” cells – which is helpful nomenclature, because they can indeed change from being blank, or generalized, to being a cell that is special and different.
These basic cells are important in the normal healing process; they are found throughout the body in limited quantities so the body can use them as necessary. Stem cells have a regenerative quality – which is what stem cell treatments are trying to harness.
How Do Stem Cells Work in Treatments?
Stem cell treatments can help to speed up the healing and recovery time of tendon, cartilage, and muscle injuries, and can even delay or eliminate the need for medication or surgery. There are four main types of stem cells that are currently being used in the treatment of many health conditions:
Pluripotent Stem Cells
These stem cells are most useful because they are not specialized for a specific type of cell, and so they can theoretically be used to create any type of cell in the person’s body because it has the individual’s DNA. Pluripotent stem cells were first discovered in embryonic mice during research – they are only found in embryos that are five or fewer days old. In other words, embryos that are six days old or older, post-conception, already have adult stem cells!
For treatments, these stem cells can be specialized and multiplied for specific purposes, such as to treat heart disease and spinal cord injuries. Scientists can now reprogram adult stem cells into behaving like these special stem cells, and these are called “induced pluripotent stem cells.” This is still being tested for its efficacy in humans, but it holds great promise in medical treatments.
Multipotent Stem Cells
These stem cells can morph into many different types of cells in the body, but they cannot morph into any type of cell like pluripotent cells can. Multipotent stem cells are used in the treatment of different disorders such as spinal injuries, bone fractures, and some forms of arthritis.
An excellent source of this type of stem cell is the blood from the umbilical cords of live-born babies, per the mother’s signed permission beforehand. Multipotent stem cells are even more flexible and adaptable than are mesenchymal stem cells.
Mesenchymal Stem Cells
These adult stem cells are harvested from bone marrow. They have the ability to differentiate into cells such as cartilage, bone, and muscle, and so these cells can be used for treating these areas of the body.
Hematopoietic Stem Cells
Also found in the bone marrow, hematopoietic stem cells have the special ability to transform into new blood cells. Hematopoietic stem cells are currently being used to treat patients with disorders of the blood and immune system, as well as cancers.
Stem Cell Treatments in Austin, TX
If you have chronic musculoskeletal pain or an orthopedic injury, talk to the specialists here at All-Star Orthopedics of Austin. We will evaluate your condition and determine the least-invasive treatment method possible, whether it be medication or stem cell treatments or minimally invasive, outpatient surgery.
Schedule an appointment by calling our team today at (512) 346-4933 or by filling out our appointment request form online now. We look forward to seeing you here and helping you get back to your active lifestyle.