Almost every one of us knows someone in the family who is suffering from arthritis, correct? We see them enduring the pain when they have to get up or even do a chore. Well, arthritis is a crippling condition! Here are some stats from the World Health Organization’s 2019 report. In 2019, there were 528 million people worldwide who were suffering from arthritis. Moreover, the number of patients will reach 1 billion by 2050. What does that mean? It means a large section of our population will be in constant pain while doing everyday work in the near future.
There are traditional treatment options available that require the individual to undergo physical therapy with pain medications. That said, if the condition worsens further, joint replacement treatments are the major treatment options. In order to provide relief to individuals and not require expensive surgeries, doctors are looking for a solution in regenerative medicine. Within the last two decades, we have seen the rise of stem cell treatment for osteoarthritis. Today we will discuss how this innovative approach is revolutionizing the way we address osteoarthritis.
What is osteoarthritis?
Many of us are familiar with arthritis. But what is this osteoarthritis? Let’s start by defining arthritis itself. It’s a condition that leads to swelling and tenderness in the joints, affecting any of the 350 joints in an adult’s body.
We are now focusing on osteoarthritis, which is the most common type of arthritis. In this condition, what happens is that the protective cartilage layer covering our bones starts to wear down due to the use of that joint. As this protective layer degrades, the bones begin to rub against each other, resulting in pain and inflammation.
While all 350 joints of an adult body can be targeted by arthritis, So why does it typically manifest in the hands, hips, or knees? The reason lies in the pressure. These particular joints endure strain as part of daily movements.
Understanding stem cell treatment for osteoarthritis
In order to effectively manage or treat the condition, researchers are exploring the use of regenerative medicine. This regenerative medicine is based on the use of stem cells. These cells are unique, undifferentiated cells that carry the potential to transform (medical term: differentiate) into cells like cartilage, bone, and muscle cells. What it means is that the stem cell treatment for osteoarthritis holds promise to repair the damaged tissue.
At the moment, there isn’t a cure for the condition. The last ditch efforts include joint replacement surgery. Stem cells are providing optimism for numerous patients globally. However, do doctors only leverage stem cells for their capacity to regenerate impaired tissues or cells? The answer is a mix of yes and no! Indeed, doctors harness the potential of stem cells to address existing damage. Their roles extend beyond that. Stem cells also release molecules that exert a paracrine influence.
Note: The paracrine effect is a scientific term for the process by which nearby cells communicate with each other to change the behavior of cells.
The paracrine effect plays a role in establishing a microenvironment for healing and renewal. Stem cells contribute to diminishing inflammation, easing discomfort, and notably supporting the restoration of injured cartilage. Through this process, stem cells facilitate the body’s healing mechanisms to operate effectively without any concerns.
It is like a manager giving all the information to their workers and letting them work in a stress free environment. The results are as you have guessed. The joint condition starts to improve first by providing symptomatic relief and then by tackling the underlying pathology of osteoarthritis. It helps to provide a long-term solution for the patient, free from their dependency on medications that provide short term relief.
Famous celebrities that have undergone stem cell treatment for osteoarthritis
We did discuss the technicalities of osteoarthritis and how stem cell treatment can help effectively treat it. But does it even produce any results? Well, we will share a few individual cases that have shown significant results post-stem cell therapy.
First on our list is C.J. Nitkowski, who is a left-handed pitcher who played baseball in the US. In 2011, at the age of 38, he experienced a tear in his left shoulder rotator cuff that led to swelling. Being a pitcher, he was keen on prolonging his career without losing time to surgery and rehabilitation. Therefore, he decided to opt for stem cell therapy for his shoulder. This involved the extraction of stem cells from his bone marrow and their injection into the area. Over the months, Nitkowski noticed improvement and eventually secured a contract with the New York Mets in 2012.
Second on our list is Kobe Bryant, the legendary shooting guard of the Lakers. In 2013, he was struggling with arthritis in his knee, and it has a looming shadow on his court time. In order to support his team, Kobe traveled to Germany for the treatment of his knee arthritis. The results were good, enabling him to spend significantly more time on the court if he hadn’t undergone the treatment.
There are other sports athletes who have taken the step forward to embrace the positive effects of stem cell treatment for sports injuries. Still, a very small number of these players have come forward and advocated for the use of the treatment options. It may be due to the contract they have signed, but only a handful of athletes have made the use of stem cells in their treatment publicly known.
Even though they have not revered stem cell treatment, the results they showed in their game speak for their effectiveness. For instance, Kobe Bryant’s career would have had less court time if he had not gone to Germany for the treatment. But their return to the game serves as proof that stem cell treatment for osteoarthritis works!
Research on Stem Cell Treatment for Osteoarthritis
We have shared a few examples of celebrities taking stem cell therapy. Does the scientific background support what they saw? That is what we will be sharing with you in this section. There are numerous clinical studies available for us, and we have picked a few of them to help explain the effect of stem cell treatment for osteoarthritis.
- A meta-analysis conducted by Gupta et al. (2020) has explored the effect of stem cell therapy on pain reduction in individuals with osteoarthritis. The group was able to show that the patients who underwent stem cell therapy reported a reduction in pain scores compared to those who received placebo. The mechanism of pain reduction is multifaceted. It is a complex interplay between the stem cell’s regenerative and paracrine effects.
- A randomized study conducted in 2015 on the patients found osteoarthritis in the knee, hip, and ankle. It showed that using mesenchymal stem cells has given them improved functionality. The patients have reported enhanced mobility, reduced stiffness in their joints, and increased range of motion. Emadedin et al.’s (2015 study has shown a positive impact on improving the functionality of joints after stem cell treatment.
- Another study utilized the power of magnetic resonance imaging to study the regeneration of cartilage tissue after stem cell therapy. They were able to provide evidence for cartilage regeneration post treatment with bone marrow-derived stem cells. The group of Centeno et al. (2014) showed that both the volume and thickness of cartilage increased in patients who received stem cell therapy.
These findings provide a deeper understanding of how stem cells can offer a holistic treatment approach, addressing both symptoms and the root causes of osteoarthritis.
Conclusion
As more research confirms the effectiveness of stem cell treatment for osteoarthritis, it is on track to become a choice for managing the condition. The reason is straightforward: stem cells can repair damaged cartilage and offer lasting relief from pain. This approach positions stem cell therapy as a game changing option for individuals dealing with osteoarthritis. Furthermore, its non invasive nature makes it an appealing alternative to procedures.
That said, it is vital to understand that while stem cell therapy shows promise it’s not a solution. Its success can vary among individuals due to factors including the source of stem cells, and even foods to eat for osteoarthritis. Therefore, ongoing research plays a role, in tuning treatment methods and identifying those who are most likely to benefit from it.
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