Can Stem Cell Therapy Help With Rheumatoid Arthritis?

There is a lot of debate and discussion among medical researchers regarding stem cells and their medicinal applications. It is considered helpful for patients suffering from chronic diseases. Many doctors worldwide already use stem cells for treating Rheumatoid arthritis, an autoimmune condition impacting the lives of nearly 54 million individuals in the United States and is the reason for persistent joint pain and inflammation.

Stem cell therapy helps manage chronic pain and slows down the progression of Rheumatoid Arthritis, improving patients’ overall health. This blog post is a comprehensive guide to stem cell therapy for Rheumatoid Arthritis and how it works to relieve arthritis pain.

Why are stem cells used in treating Rheumatoid Arthritis?

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disorder where the body’s immune system starts attacking its healthy tissues instead of protecting the body from foreign invaders and infections. In RA, the most affected areas are joints in the hands and feet, resulting in inflammation, pain, stiffness, swelling, and loss of function.

Although pain-relief medications are available for treating RA, the results are insufficient in the sense they only provide temporary relief. Therefore, introducing stem cells in medical science has brought new hopes to patients. Stem cell therapy is one of the pathbreaking advancements that showed great promise in alleviating the symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Now, the question is, “What is so special about stem cells?” Stem cells are undifferentiated cells in the human body, capable of dividing and duplicating themselves. They can differentiate into any particular cell type, such as cartilage, bone, or nerve cell. Stem cell experts and advocates believe that when the cells are delivered into affected areas, they transform to meet the body’s specific needs.

Where do the stem cells come from?

Stem cells can be isolated from various sources, such as bone marrow, fat or adipose tissues, hip bone, and umbilical cord tissue. Because of their high proliferation capacity and multipotency, mesenchymal stem cells derived from umbilical cord tissue are the most common cell type used in treating rheumatoid arthritis

The process of stem cell collection is termed harvesting. After extracting cells from their sources, they are concentrated and processed in a clinical laboratory to prepare stem cell injections.

Read Also: Healing Power Of Stem Cell Therapy: A Comprehensive Guide 

 

Who can receive stem cell therapy for Rheumatoid Arthritis?

There are no specific professional guidelines on who can or cannot receive stem cells. The decision rests on the doctors and medical professionals in charge of the treatment.

To ensure the safety of the patients, most doctors consider specific criteria before recommending cell-based therapies to their patients. For instance, they will check your age and weight and other health vitals to see whether you are physically fit for the treatment.

They may also assess your medical history, the severity of the RA symptoms, and the extent of joint damage before giving you a green signal for receiving stem cells.

Healing Mechanism of Stem Cells For Treating RA

With their unique regenerative power, stem cells promote the repair or replacement of damaged tissues in the affected joints. Most often, stem cells are administered to the patient’s body via intravenous infusions. The cells travel through the bloodstream to reach the target areas and start healing.

Rheumatoid Arthritis leads to joint degeneration due to damage or loss of cartilage tissues, bone erosion, and joint deformity. The critical goal of stem cell therapy is to reverse the damage by stimulating the production of healthy cartilage tissues and restoring joint function and mobility.

Regenerative treatment approaches like stem cell-based therapy address Rheumatoid Arthritis by targeting the root cause. Stem cells have immunomodulatory agents that regulate the immune system, preventing the self-immunological attack on its tissues.

The injected stem cells differentiate and form cartilage cells to replace the damaged tissues and aid in developing healthy cartilage. They release growth factors and cytokines that slow cartilage degeneration and prevent further loss or damage. Moreover, stem cells’ anti-inflammatory properties suppress inflammation in the joints and decrease pain.

Benefits of stem cell treatment for Rheumatoid Arthritis

Medical research and studies suggest that using mesenchymal stem cells might be beneficial in addressing the underlying mechanisms causing Rheumatoid Arthritis. Let’s see how this innovative regenerative approach aids in treating RA.

• Tissue Regeneration – RA is a degenerative disorder, and stem cell therapy could potentially reverse the damage caused to the cartilage tissues in the joints and regenerate new tissues. When MSCs reach the target areas, they signal other cells to stimulate the body’s innate healing process to renew functional cartilage-developing cells.
• Symptom Relief – Results of a clinical trial on 40 RA patients published on Stem Cells Translational Medicine in 2016 showed significant improvements in their symptoms and joint condition after the therapy.
• Immune Modulation – Stem cells help restore the immune system response and prevent its attack on the healthy body tissues with the increase in levels of T cells. It reduces pain, swelling, and inflammation by regulating the inflammatory response in the affected joints.
• Safety – Cell-based regenerative therapies are reported safe in most studies with no long-term side effects. However, there might be mild side effects after receiving stem cells, like nausea or headache, which is very common and nothing to worry about.

Related Read: Effectiveness and Safety Of Stem Cell Therapy For Arthritis

Why Are Stem Cells Better Than Traditional Treatments?

Stem cell therapy offers several advantages over conventional treatments, so most patients suffering from Rheumatoid Arthritis are considering this regenerative treatment approach.

• Stem cell infusions are minimally invasive, painless, and relatively quick.
• The recovery period is brief, and patients can be up and walking after one to two days.
• There are no side effects of stem cell therapy, unlike pain-relief medications.
• Stem cells have minimal rejection risk because the treatment harnesses your cells or young umbilical cord tissue cells.

How to know If I am fit for stem cell therapy?

The best way to know whether you are the right candidate for stem cell treatment is to speak to your healthcare professional or contact a specialist at a stem cell therapy clinic.

The concerned doctor will assess your current symptoms, medical history, and overall health before determining your eligibility for treatment. You can fill up this patient application form to find your if you are a fit candidate.

Stem Cell Center in Mexico

Mexico has been a famous destination for medical tourism, especially when it comes to stem cell therapy. The cutting-edge technology, robust healthcare system, affordable treatments, and presence of skilled and qualified healthcare professionals make Mexico the leading stop for cellular therapies. Hence, it is no surprise that Mexico has some renowned stem cell clinics.

Life Altering Stem Cell Therapy Institute is a name you can always rely on if you are in Mexico or considering coming to the country for stem cell therapy. Being a recognized institute for stem cell therapy in Mexico, we work to provide patients with high-quality treatments in our state-of-the-art facility.

We use stem cells derived from umbilical cord tissue because research indicates that these are young cells with high therapeutic potential compared to other sources. We follow all the highest safety standard protocols in our therapy procedures to ensure the complete safety of the patients.

Concluding Thoughts

Treating Rheumatoid Arthritis is complex because it is an autoimmune disorder resulting in the degeneration of cartilage tissue due to an overactive immune response. Medical scientists worldwide evaluated stem cell therapy as the most potent regenerative medicine capable of stimulating the body’s natural healing process and treating various medical conditions.

For Rheumatoid Arthritis treatment, stem cells modulate the immune system response and reduce joint pain by suppressing inflammation. With the help of therapy, patients can experience improved joint function and mobility and enjoy a better quality of life.

To know more about stem cells, their therapeutic effects in treating Rheumatoid Arthritis, and the cost of stem cell therapy in Mexico, please schedule a consultation with our medical experts.

How Stem Cell Therapy Relieves Chronic Pain: An In-depth Study

Stem cell therapy is a regenerative medicine approach for chronic pain management, offering long-lasting relief to individuals. Stem cells are versatile and reparative cells used as a promising alternative to conventional pain relief medications. After years of medical research and clinical studies, doctors and scientists believe that stem cell therapy will be a pathbreaking solution to alleviate pain associated with various conditions such as Arthritis, connective tissue injuries, joint pain, degenerative disc diseases, neuropathy pain, and others.

So, how exactly does stem cell therapy help in chronic pain management? This article highlights stem cells’ remarkable properties and benefits in reducing pain and inflammation and improving function. With regenerative capabilities, stem cells repair or replace inflamed tissues and promote healing.

Understanding The Basics Of Stem Cell Therapy For Pain Relief

Stem cells revolutionize pain management with their regenerative treatment approach. They address the root cause of the pain and offer long-lasting relief to individuals suffering from chronic painful conditions, unlike traditional treatment methods that provide temporary pain relief and also have side effects.

Cell-based therapy is a novel approach to treating chronic pain by replacing and repairing injured cells. Critical advances in stem cell research acknowledge the therapeutic potential of stem cells in easing pain caused by degenerative joint disease, neuropathy, abnormal bone decay or formation, hyperactive immune responses, etc.

Stem cell therapy using mesenchymal stem cells has shown promising results in stimulating tissue repair and reducing inflammation. Chronic pain management now seems possible with this cutting-edge medical advancement, offering hope to millions of sufferers worldwide. Once they enter the body, stem cells boost the body’s natural healing capabilities and support tissue repair and formation.

Read Also: Healing Power Of Stem Cell Therapy: A Comprehensive Guide

The Stem Cell Therapy Procedure For Chronic Pain Management

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are adult cells that are unspecialized but hold the potential to differentiate and multiply into more than 200 cell types. Their cell differentiation capability makes them ideal candidates for therapeutic applications, capable of treating various medical conditions. The stem cell treatment process for chronic pain relief and management typically involves the following steps.

• MSCs Harvesting – Acquiring stem cells is the first step before proceeding with the treatment. MSCs can be extracted from various tissues, such as the umbilical cord, bone marrow, adipose tissue, hip bone, etc. Amongst all these sources, umbilical cord tissue (Wharton’s Jelly) is most preferred because of its pluripotent nature, abundant supply, and ease of collection. They are processed in the laboratory to extract, isolate, and concentrate MSCs to treat chronic pain further.
• Cell Processing – After MSCs harvesting, the cells are processed by separating the extracted material and purifying them through filtration and centrifugation to increase their effectiveness in treatment.
• Injection Preparation – The isolated and purified concentrated cells are prepared for final injections by mixing them with an appropriate carrier solution such as saline or Platelet-rich Plasma (PRP).
• MSCs Administration – The prepared stem cell doses are injected into the affected areas such as the damaged knee joint, shoulder, back, degenerative discs, injured tissues, etc. Sometimes, healthcare providers may use ultrasound or other imaging techniques to ensure the accuracy of the placement of stem cells in the injured areas.
• Pain Management – Healing and regeneration of injured cells starts within a few weeks of receiving stem cells. The newly introduced stem cells stimulate tissue repair, reduce inflammation, and restore functions in the affected areas.
• Post-treatment Care – Stem cell therapy clinics provide post-treatment care instructions to the patients receiving stem cells, such as limited mobility and no alcohol or smoking for a specified period. Following them ensures the maximum effectiveness of the therapy. Also, follow-up sessions are held regularly to monitor the patient’s progress and assess the improvement in their condition.

Benefits of Stem Cell Therapy For Pain Relief and Management

Pain management has always been a challenge for people, which is why medical researchers focus on rigorous studies on the advantages and effectiveness of stem cells. Notably, in the quest for reliable treatment options for lasting relief from pain, attention was paid to mesenchymal stem cells for their unique regenerative properties.

Stem cell-based offer manifold therapeutic benefits that aid in pain and inflammation reduction.

• Anti-inflammatory properties – The primary cause of chronic pain stems from inflamed tissues in the joints, such as back, shoulder, hip, or knee pain. Administering stem cells in the affected joints or tissues alleviates pain by reducing inflammation. Stem cells release growth factors and cytokines that suppress inflammation by downregulating proinflammatory factors.
• Immune modulation – Stem cells possess immunomodulatory properties that regulate immune responses via immune cell interactions like T cells, B cells, monocytes, etc. They modulate the immune response through paracrine activities and cell-to-cell contacts.
• Tissue regeneration – Another crucial advantage of cell-based therapies is their power to promote tissue regeneration. They differentiate into any cell type, including muscle, bone, tendon, and cartilage cells, and replace the damaged tissues to enhance mobility and function.
• New tissue growth – Mesenchymal stem cells have an exceptional ability to support the development of new specialized tissues for performing specific functions. After entering the affected area, the stem cells release paracrine and growth factors, such as chemokines, cytokines, etc., to accelerate the repair process and promote the development of new tissues.
• Minimal recovery time – Most patients receiving stem cell therapy start feeling better and experience improvement in their conditions within a few weeks of stem cell therapy. They can typically return to work and resume daily activities after a few days.
• Safe treatment option – Stem cell therapy is generally considered safe and reliable with no potential side effects. It can bring permanent and positive health outcomes in patients with long-term relief from chronic pain.

• Treat various pain conditions – Mesenchymal stem cells effectively treat many conditions involving pain and inflammation, such as Rheumatoid Arthritis, neuropathic pain, degenerative joint disease, spinal cord injuries, etc.

Read Also: Can Stem Cell Therapy Provide Relief From Chronic Knee Pain?

Stem Cell Therapy Applications For Relieving Pain

Debilitating pain affects the daily lives of millions of people worldwide, impacting their physical activities and quality of life. Stem cell treatment offers longer-lasting results for pain-related medical conditions by addressing the underlying source of pain and promoting healthy cell regeneration. The conditions that stem cell therapy can treat are –

Arthritis

Mesenchymal stem cells utilize the regenerative power to repair damaged cartilages and stimulate tissue regeneration. Cell-based therapy is effective for treating various types of Arthritis, including Rheumatoid arthritis and Osteoarthritis. Studies demonstrate that MSCs lower inflammation in arthritis-affected joints and improve symptoms, such as alleviating pain, increasing mobility, and restoring joint function.

Neuropathic Pain

Neuropathic pain occurs when the nervous system gets damaged due to nerve injuries, complex regional pain syndrome, or diabetic neuropathy. Investigations and studies on stem cell properties indicate that they can potentially suppress inflammation and heal damaged nerves, showing positive health outcomes in patients.

Degenerative Disc Disease

Degenerative disc disease is a debilitating condition caused when the spinal discs or intervertebral discs wear down. Clinical trials and research show that stem cell treatment can be a reliable solution for degenerative disc diseases. It is a less invasive yet promising alternative to surgery, showing significant reduction in pain and enhancement in function.

Orthopedic Injuries

Stem cell therapy is also effective in repairing tissue damage and reducing inflammation caused by accidents, sports injuries, chronic pain syndromes, etc. After administration, the cells activate their innate healing and regenerative capabilities to provide relief and aid in pain management.

Stem Cell Therapy Cost For Pain Relief Treatment

Several factors influence the overall cost of stem cell therapy. These include –

• Condition to be treated – The severity of the disease, stem cell therapy procedure, and doses determine the cost.
• Patient’s physical status – The patient’s age and current physical condition are considered when determining the stem cell doses, which also impacts the cost.
• Location – The location of the stem cell treatment institutes is a significant factor for cost determination as several countries offer stem cell therapies at lower costs than others. For example, stem cell therapy cost in Mexico is quite affordable, making it a popular destination for many patients.

Stem Cell Therapy Success Rates

After years of research and trials on animal and human models, researchers consider stem cell-based therapy an effective treatment option for pain management. Various reports and surveys on patients undergoing MSC treatment have shown significant pain reduction and improvement in overall physical health.

However, patients must understand that stem cell therapy is a process that takes time to show results. It requires time to start the self-healing process and produce healthy cells. Also, every human body is different and may respond to the treatment differently. Some may experience positive outcomes within a few weeks, while others may take longer to show improvements.

Read Also: Effectiveness and Safety Of Stem Cell Therapy For Arthritis

Role of Life Altering Stem Cell Therapy Institute In Promoting High-quality Stem Cell Therapy

Life Altering Stem Cell Therapy Institute has established itself as one of the promising destinations for stem cell therapy in Mexico due to its robust healthcare system and continued commitment to safe, transparent, and reliable treatment protocols. Our health advocates, stem cell specialists, patient coordinators, and everyone else working with the medical team ensure that our stem cell center in Mexico adheres to the treatment quality standards, providing complete safety and efficacy in patients.

Wrapping Up

Dealing with chronic pain is quite challenging as traditional pain management methods offer only temporary relief by masking the symptoms. Contrary to this, stem cell therapy is a groundbreaking treatment approach that provides patients with long-term results by targeting the underlying causes of the pain. While conventional therapies focus on mitigating pain, mesenchymal stem cells repair damaged tissues and stimulate natural healing through tissue regeneration.

However, stem cell biology is still emerging, requiring more research and clinical trials to establish safety, efficacy, and other potential medical applications.

Effectiveness and Safety Of Stem Cell Therapy For Arthritis

Stem cell therapy is emerging as a breakthrough treatment for Rheumatoid Arthritis, a chronic autoimmune disorder characterized by joint pain and inflammation. Regenerative medicine has gained popularity due to its therapeutic opportunities to repair damaged tissues, ease pain, and improve immobility.

Mesenchymal stem cells can differentiate and multiply into any cell type and modulate the immune system. This property is utilized in stem cell therapy to replace damaged tissues in the joints and regenerate new cells in Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) patients.

Overview of Stem Cell Therapy For Arthritis

In stem cell treatment for Rheumatoid Arthritis, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are administered intravenously into the patient’s body to replace or repair damaged tissues and promote cartilage regeneration. The extraordinary capabilities of the MSCs to self-renew and regenerate tissues, also called cell differentiation, is attributed to the healing mechanism of the therapy, aiding in pain management.

Benefits Of The Stem Cell Treatment For Arthritis

Although recent data and numerous clinical studies show that stem cell therapy delivers promising results, it cannot be considered a “definitive cure” for arthritis. However, patients can expect significant improvements in their joint condition and symptom relief after receiving stem cells. The therapy has shown promising outcomes in RA patients in terms of reduction in pain and improvement in quality of life.

The therapeutic potential and benefits of stem cell therapy for arthritis include –

• Pain and symptom relief – RA patients have shown significant health improvement and reported reduced joint pain, swelling, inflammation, and stiffness. These are the common symptoms most patients go through, and hence, cell-based therapy has successfully managed them effectively.
• Disease Modification – Cellular healing using stem cells modifies the course of Rheumatoid Arthritis. Studies reported a notable decrease in the activity of the diseased immune cells after the treatment, leading to improved patient health.
• Immune Modulation – Human umbilical cord tissue-derived stem cells (HUCT-MSCs) are rich in immune-modulating properties that aid in regulating immune response and alleviating RA symptoms.
• Tissue Regeneration – Tissue repair and regeneration are stem cells’ primary functions, potentially reversing the damage RA causes to the joints and cartilage.
• Anti-inflammatory effects – MSCs get exposed to inflammatory agents released from the injured tissues and tone down inflammation with their pro-inflammatory properties.

Effectiveness of Stem Cell Therapy For RA Patients

Stem cell therapy has been proven to positively impact the imbalanced immune responses in patients with autoimmune diseases, and RA is one of them. Enough credible evidence is there to establish the immunosuppressive capabilities of mesenchymal stem cells, inhibiting the growth of cytotoxic T-cells. MSCs can regulate the overactive immune system and suppress inflammation that worsens RA.

The newly introduced stem cells can self-renew and regenerate into cartilage cells. At the same time, these cells release cytokines or proteins to slow cartilage degeneration, reducing pain and discomfort.

A study was conducted on 64 patients of Rheumatoid Arthritis in 2019 to understand and evaluate the effectiveness of stem cell therapy. All the patients have reported significant improvements in their physical strength, mobility, diet, and sleep after the treatment. No new signs or symptoms were detected in the patients throughout this study. In RA, rheumatic nodules form around the joints in the hands and fingers, making it impossible to keep them straight. Fortunately, the study shows that three years post-treatment, joints in the hands and fingers can be stretched freely as the nodules in the joints become soft and start fading.

The efficacy of stem cell treatment was relatively high compared to traditional drug therapy, such as anti-inflammatory and anti-rheumatic drugs. The disease recurrence rate is very high, along with long-term side effects. Most importantly, the conventional treatment approaches can neither slow the progression of RA nor promote damaged tissue repair and regeneration. However, stem cell therapy using mesenchymal stem cells derived from umbilical cord tissue positively impacts patients with stable outcomes, demonstrating its long-term efficacy.

The therapeutic effects of MSCs have significantly improved the quality of life of RA patients, stabilizing the immune system and decreasing inflammation.

Read Also: Stem Cell Therapy – What To Expect From The Treatment

Safety Of Stem Cell Therapy

Although typically reported as safe in most studies and clinical trials, patients should know that there might be some mild side effects, such as temporary swelling, pain, headache, vomiting, or nausea. The human umbilical cord tissue, or Wharton’s Jelly, is a source of newly born cells, minimizing the risk of unwanted reactions.

Further, the 2019 stem cell therapy study on 64 RA patients found the treatment safe. Their blood tests and other health vitals showed no signs of long-term abnormalities. The results of this primary research showed reduced inflammatory markers. Further, the researchers concluded that mesenchymal stem cells derived from umbilical cord tissues delivered long-term efficacy, ensuring patient safety.

Conclusion

Arthritis affects nearly 130 million individuals worldwide. Stem cell therapy is considered a promising therapy for Arthritis patients, delivering positive results in restoring joint function. By promoting new cartilage growth and tissue regeneration, it provides relief from pain and discomfort. The intrinsic properties of mesenchymal stem cells have made researchers put them in therapeutic use for potentially treating severe medical conditions.

Stem cells influence tissue regeneration through paracrine effects by communicating with existing cells, signaling them to change their behavior. When new cells are systemically introduced into the patient’s body via intravenous infusions, they migrate to the target-specific sites and differentiate into cartilage cells to replace or repair the diseased tissues.

Deciding to get stem cell therapy for Rheumatoid Arthritis?

Fill out our patient screening application form to find out if you are an eligible candidate for stem cell treatment. Life Altering Stem Cell Therapy Institute is a renowned stem cell center in Mexico that strives to improve patients’ lives by utilizing the power of regenerative medicine and providing top-notch stem cell therapies with utmost care.