Our bodies have an absolutely remarkable ability to simply heal. Many things heal without an issue, and we don’t even consider it. Scratches, broken bones, cuts, bruises, and even more serious damage – all of it, our body can heal.
Of course, as we age, our ability to heal just about anything diminishes. There are also, of course, some conditions, injuries, and diseases that our bodies just can’t fight off on their own and heal from. That’s why more people are looking into regenerative medicines.
Two of the most promising treatment options today are stem cell therapy and Platelet-Rich Plasma or PRP therapies. You may be wondering, is PRP and stem cell therapy the same thing? The short answer is, no. Both of these treatments do work to boost your body’s ability to heal, but they are two entirely different techniques, using two different sources.
To help you understand the full difference between PRP therapies and stem cell treatments, we’ve put together a full guide on what sets them apart and what you need to know to choose the right treatment option for you:
PRP Therapies
Platelets are found in the blood and play a critical role in clotting. If you’re injured, it’s platelets that work to boost wound healing and slow, eventually stopping, the bleeding from happening. Of course, they aren’t just worker cells. Platelets are full of proteins – proteins that specifically signal your body to repair damaged tissue.
PRP injections work by taking your blood, and then placing it in a centrifuge. This machine then spins at rapidly high speeds to separate the plasma (which is where the platelet is found) from the other components in your blood. Once separated, patients are given PRP injections to the injured area to boost the healing response.
Benefits of PRP Therapy
There are several reasons why people choose PRP therapy for their injury and chronic pain conditions:
- Minimally invasive
- Minimal risk involved
- May boost healing times
- May reduce inflammation and pain
- More affordable than stem cell therapy
Since it’s used to boost the healing response, this type of treatment is used predominantly for tendinitis, sprains in your ligaments, muscle tear injuries, osteoarthritis, as well as other types of sports injuries.
Limits of PRP Therapy
There are, of course, limits to PRP therapy. While they can both help with issues like on-site healing and inflammation reduction, stem cells are better suited to help treat those with chronic conditions – particularly if there are no cures, like with arthritis. PRP therapy is best suited for acute, short-term injuries like muscle tears.
Stem Cell Therapy
Stem cell therapy also uses existing cells to promote healing in the body, which is why many ask is PRP and stem cell therapy the same thing. The difference between the two types of treatments, however, is the cells taken for the treatment.
What are Stem Cells?
The first question that needs to be answered is what are stem cells, exactly? The short answer is they’re the building blocks for your cells. Stem cells themselves self-replicate, but they can also change to become any other type of cell. This means they can replace damaged cells in the musculature system, nervous system, or even in your blood.
When it comes to stem cell injections, however, there are two main types of stem cells used:
- Adult stem cells: these are found throughout the body. Growth factors over time, however, mean that these types of stem cells can only become a limited number of other cells. Typically, adult stem cells come from blood, fatty tissue, or bone marrow samples.
- After-birth stem cells: These are also adult stem cells (from the mother). WJ-MSCs, which are what Bioxcellerator use, are found on the Wharton’s Jelly surrounding the umbilical cord. They’re of particular use thanks to the fact that they don’t have a protein on their surface. Without that protein, patients’ bodies are less likely to reject the new cells.
Now, technically, there are also embryonic stem cells. These require destruction of an embryo, however, and are therefore not available. Thankfully there is something known as induced pluripotent stem cells, which are cells that have been reprogrammed back to their embryonic state. This is very new technology however, but watch out for advancements in this field.
How Stem Cell Therapy Works
One of the important questions to ask when you book a consultation is what are stem cell injections. You’ll also want to know what types of stem cells are being used and how many sessions are needed. Some conditions require more stem cells, others less. You may have the entirety of the stem cells injected at once, and in other cases, it may be spread over a few days.
It works simply by taking donated stem cells and then injecting them where you need most. If your body accepts them, those stem cells can then start transforming into the tissue your body needs most, accelerating healing and reducing symptoms in a matter of weeks (though some conditions take months or even up to a year for effects to be felt).
Stem Cell Therapy Limits
Stem cell therapy can technically be used for all types of injuries, from acute to chronic. The only limiting factor is that, because it’s not widely covered by insurance companies, you will have to pay the stem cell therapy cost yourself. There are payment plans, yes, but due to the technology, screening, and storage required, stem cell treatments are simply far more expensive than PRP therapy.
How to Choose Between PRP and Stem Cell Therapy
While they both seem to do similar things on the surface, the fact is that PRP therapy is best for sports injuries and other acute problems, like a muscle tear. If you have arthritis, a slipped disc, or other chronic problems (especially if there isn’t a cure), however, then stem cell therapy is the way to go.
If you have a chronic condition that you want relief from, stem cells may be the answer. To learn more, have a look at the locations we cover, and book a consultation. We’ll overview your case, let you know if stem cell injections are a good fit, and be there to answer any and all questions you have.
