Questions to Ask Your Doctor Before Starting Stem Cell Therapy

Degenerated or injured tissues can cause pain and discomfort, affecting your mobility. Stem cell therapy aims to repair the tissues and increase your quality of life. Depending on the extent of tissue damage, your doctor might recommend stem cell injections or IV therapy. Here are several questions to ask your doctor before starting stem cell therapy:

What Are the Different Types of Stem Cells?

Depending on the severity of your tissue damage, your doctor could recommend amniotic fluid, umbilical cord, or adipose-derived stem cell therapy. Extensively damaged tissues are usually repaired using umbilical cord or amniotic fluid stem cell therapy. If tissue damage is minimal, doctors could advise adipose-derived stem cell therapy.

A stem cell’s origin determines what type of cell it can become. Amniotic stem cells may be able to become specialized cells, such as heart cells. Umbilical cord stem cells are often programmed to become white blood cells or platelets that enhance healing. Stem cell therapy may be selected based on the needed type of cell regeneration rather than the damage’s severity.

How are Stem Cells Applied?

Stem cell therapy is often completed through IV infusions or stem cell injections. Injections can be directly applied to the damaged tissue or joint for targeted healing. IV infusions are used for hard-to-reach or widespread tissue damage. Stem cell therapy is an outpatient procedure that can be completed in the clinic in a single day. Many patients return to their daily activities quickly. A doctor may also recommend exercises or habit changes to complement the therapy. When used simultaneously, healing time may shorten.

How Effective Are IV Infusion and Stem Cell Injections?

The efficacy of stem cell therapy varies from patient to patient or depending on the severity of the injury. Testimony from previous patients can often help you evaluate whether therapy is right for you. Clinic doctors may work one-on-one with patients from the initial consultation through the procedure. This helps verify that stem cell infusions or injections target a patient’s unique needs, potentially improving the therapy’s success.

How Long Does Stem Cell Therapy Last?

Most stem cell therapy sessions are completed in a single visit. Extensive tissue damage may require follow-up injections or infusions. The therapy does not require anesthesia, and you can return home immediately after the procedure. Knowing how long therapy takes can help you schedule the visit accordingly.

Does Stem Cell Therapy Have Side Effects?

Stem cell therapy may cause minimal side effects, such as nausea immediately after the procedure or soreness at the injection site. These side effects usually last only a few hours after the therapy session. Stem cell therapy does not usually create long-term side effects, making it a potential alternative to surgery or repeated pain medication use.

Start Stem Cell Therapy

Healing your degenerated, strained, or injured tissues can alleviate pain and inflammation, improving the quality of your life. Before starting stem cell therapy, ask your doctor about the type of stem cells suitable for you for targeted, long-term pain relief. Contact a stem cell therapy clinic today to schedule an appointment.