It seems that we as a society are always looking for that big, magical cure that will fix everything. For many, that cure is stem cells. Not because they can fix everything that is wrong but because their potential is just being cracked.
It’s natural, especially if you’re living with a chronic condition or something like a spinal cord injury, to feel like stem cell transplant has just popped out of nowhere. This is because big breakthroughs have only been made in the past few decades.
For example, induced pluripotent stem cells, reprogrammed cells that have been converted into their embryonic state, were only first successful in 2006. Now, you may think this has been ages, but in the world of medicine, it’s very, very new. This is because results need to be tested, effects cataloged, and long-term clinical trials need to be conducted and their results logged.
As with anything, it takes a while for anything to reach a fever pitch. That’s why you may only have recently heard about stem cells and considered it for yourself or why you may be asking yourself, why has stem cell therapy become so popular?
Of course, the fact that this regenerative medicine is relatively new is just the reason why you’re hearing about it now. To understand just why it’s causing such a buzz, we first need to delve into what stem cells and stem cell treatments are.
What are Stem Cells?
What are stem cells is an excellent question to ask. Stem cells are a master cell. Embryonic stem cells can become any of the 200+ cells in the human body, though acquiring true embryonic stem cells is very rare. Scientists can only get their hands on these cells through donated fertilized eggs from IVF clinics (with permission from the donors).
The good news is that we don’t need to use embryonic cells in treatments.
Here at Bioxcellerator we use a specific type of stem cell derived from Wharton’s jelly. This is an adult stem cell and it’s extracted from donated umbilical cords. After that, those cells are screened and stored for treatment. This type of cell is less likely to be rejected by your body. It’s also a very flexible type of stem cell, able to become a variety of cells and, therefore, a go-to choice for many different conditions.
What are Stem Cell Injections?
What are stem cell injections? How are they administered? These are great questions to ask during your consultation because the injection method will depend entirely on your condition. The treatment may be administered via an IV for those who want whole-body benefits.
For those who want targeted injury repair, for example to help soothe and heal a spinal cord injury, the treatment will be targeted (and done under anesthesia). However, a stem cell transplant is fast, largely painless, and comes with minimal side effects.
Why Has Stem Cell Therapy Become so Popular?
These are the reasons why so many are willing to try it, but why bother in the first place? It’s due to how great stem cells are at replacing damaged cells anywhere in the body. One of the most successful examples of this is the use of stem cells in treating blood cancers. Bone marrow transplants are a very common treatment option for leukemia, and that, at its core, is a stem cell transplant.
Now, treating blood cancers is the only FDA-approved use of stem cells. Therefore, it’s the only time you can get your treatment covered by your insurance. This means you’ll need to cover the stem cell therapy cost out of pocket or through a payment plan for any of these other top reasons:
Anti-Aging
One of the reasons why celebrities today are getting blood cell stem cell transplants is for anti-aging purposes. This means they get an IV transplant for all-over benefits. Some believe that they look and feel younger thanks to these treatments, but the clinical trials for anti-aging aren’t quite there yet.
Injury Recovery
Injury recovery is another reason stem cell treatments are so popular, especially among professional athletes. Now, with injury recovery plans, you may use a stem cell derived from blood or fatty tissue, depending on where and what the injury is.
Chronic Pain Management
Using stem cells to treat chronic conditions such as arthritis, slipped discs, and other chronic pain conditions are all showing promising results. This is especially true for conditions that don’t have a cure, as patients look for new, alternative paths toward pain management.
And More
There are so many conditions that stem cells could potentially help with, including:
- Autoimmune diseases
- Multiple sclerosis
- Sexual wellness
- Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
- Anti-inflammation
The full extent to which stem cell treatments can help with these conditions is still being fully investigated, so you won’t be able to get coverage for your treatment just yet. That doesn’t, however, mean that you cannot get stem cell injections for yourself.
Is Stem Cell Therapy Right for You?
Whether stem cell therapy is right for you or not is ultimately up to you. If you have been living with a chronic pain condition for years and want to try something, anything, new, then have a look at the locations we cover and get in touch.
However, just because you have a condition or want treatment does not mean you will necessarily get it. We consult every patient and only take on the ones we believe will see results. This is essential since treatment cannot be covered through insurance.
Factors that go into whether stem cell therapy is right for you include age, weight, condition, immune system, and more.
If we do determine that you’re a good fit for this treatment, then we’ll also go into the specifics of what you can expect from the treatment, the cost, and aftercare for the best recovery. Some conditions, like an acute injury, may only need one session. Chronic and degenerative conditions, however, may need regular visits for you to continue to enjoy results.
