There is an opioid epidemic killing the nation. Back pain affects roughly twenty-eight
million people in the United States. The
stem cell treatment discussed in this article could bring relief millions of people
and the best part is that it would not require individuals to take opioids. Unfortunately, opioid overdose has increased
about four times since 1999; they account for 33,000 deaths in 2015 alone. A leading cause to overdose is from getting a
serious injury that requires the individual injured to rely on opioids. Sometimes these individuals become addicted
to the opioids. However, stem cell
treatment aims to stop this epidemic.
In this stem cell treatment, stem cells are injected into
the damaged discs between the vertebrae of the spine. Each dose or stem cell contains about six
million cells called mesenchymal precursor cells. These cells decrease inflammation and secrete
factors which help rebuild the damaged tissue in the spine. The stem cells being used for these injections
are being tested for treating degenerative disc diseases. The discs between vertebrae act as cushions that
absorb the shock from the normal wear and tear of every day life. When these discs wear down and become thinner,
they loose their ability to cushion the vertebrae. This then leads individuals to seek relief
from opioids. Studies done with stem
cell treatment show that one injection of stem cells helped individuals become
mobile again and did not experience back pain for two years.
I have always been fascinated with the diversity and adaptability of stem cells. I think stem cell research can provide many informative answers to needs in the medical field, especially chronic back pain. The intervertebral discs go through a lot of use throughout life, and the injection of stem cells to this affected area can definitely rebuild lost tissue and in turn, help alleviate pain! Awesome job!
ReplyDeleteCourtney,
ReplyDeleteThe title of your submission caught my attention right away since I've been dealing with back pain for a while. I have read many articles on the subject, yet I never came across an article discussing how stem cell treatment can be used as a "pain killer" for back pain. What I found especially fascinating was how only one injection of stem cells can "do the trick" for two years in place of people having to become vulnerable to the horrible opioid epidemic we are currently facing.
As someone who works in the emergency room of a hospital, I see many patients that rely on opioids and seek it for pain. Some are addicts that maliciously try to get painkillers, while others are elderly affected by chronic pain and have difficulty managing it. Stem cell treatment is an innovative approach to combat the opioid epidemic and further alleviate the symptoms of chronic pain that people suffer daily.
ReplyDeleteYes, you are absolutely right. FDA also approves Stem Cell Therapy and it is surgery free treatment.
ReplyDeleteStem Cell is on the leading edge of regenerative medicine. which includes stem cell therapy for all types of joint pain, arthritis, tendonitis and cosmetic purposes.
Treatments are offered with FDA regulated materials, including amniotic fluid and umbilical cord tissue. The biologics have third party assays showing an extensive amount of regenerative cells.
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ReplyDelete