So what are stem cells? Back when you were just slightly more than a twinkle in your mother's eye, you were a stem cell. As you grew, your cells divided and multiplied, ultimately forming heart, bone and many other types of cells that combined to make a complete little human. Stem cells are cells that have the ability to morph into other types of cells that have a specific function. There are several types of stem cells because hey, it's biology so it's complicated, right? The brand new little embryo has "pluripotent" stem cells that can turn into any other kid of cell. This happens in steps, progressing through hematopoietic (blood) and mesenchymal (structural tissue) stem cells. We have known about stem cells for decades, but it wasn't until more recently that we found they exist in deposits throughout our body, even when we are quite old. They lie dormant until they are needed for tissue repair.
Scientists are still working out how stem cells are activated, but we know that when platelets go to an injury to form a clot they release chemicals called growth factors that activate the stem cells to repair the tissue. Unfortunately, this repair mechanism gets less efficient as we grow older and healing slows. The excitement in the field today is that we are figuring out ways to nudge the process along, which creates an amazing number of potential new treatments for injuries and diseases that have been incurable in the past.
Hematopoietic stem cells have been used for quite some time now to treat some cancers, but it wasn't until the early 2000's that doctors first started using mesenchymal stem cells to treat structural problems like arthritis, disc degeneration and tendon ruptures. This is the field that is just now starting to be named orthobiologics (using biologic tissue to heal orthopedic problems). There is quite a bit of scientific literature in this field and some of it is quite good. For example, the data supporting the use of stem cells for knee osteoarthritis is very well established, while the data for pain relief from many orthopedic problems is getting better and better every day.
The great promise of this field has unfortunately lead to unscrupulous people trying to get rich quick off the desperation of honest people seeking help. Stem cells are a very highly technical field, so how does one avoid being parted with their hard-earned money and maybe even their health when seeking answers? Start with who is offering the treatment. Many stem cell clinics are run by health care providers that one would not normally expect to provide this kind of treatment. For example, you wouldn't go to a gynecologist for help with your rotator cuff tear in your shoulder, so if you see a gynecologist offering stem cell treatments for anything outside their normal field be very worried. Similarly, there are many ads now for chiropractors who offer stem cell treatments, but that does not fall within the usual practice of a chiropractor.
At LifeStem you can rest assured you are being treated by a board-certified medical doctor trained and experienced in painful injuries and degeneration. I have been practicing regenerative medicine for 7 years and have seen amazing success. I won't sell snake oil, but I do think I have a lot to offer as a responsible regenerative medicine doctor.
Speak Life,
Amy Pearson, MD
