Elbow

The elbow is one of the most used joints in the human body. While it does not withstand as much direct weight pressure as the knees, the elbow may instead be used for much more sudden, even violent movements. Tennis elbow remains a medical condition people of all ages suffer from, but other problems can develop over extended periods of time. Tendonitis is one of the conditions that can result in the break down of important tendons and ligaments around the joint. When these conditions begin, it starts as a mild discomfort but, over time, it develops into something much more extreme. Eventually, people who suffer from these different elbow conditions may find it both difficult and painful to do anything with the affected elbow, including opening doors, raising their hand or even sleeping on their side. However, instead of the more traditional joint replacement surgery, stem cell treatments is a better alternative.

Why Stem Cell Treatment Over Replacement Surgery

Replacement surgery is a tried and tested method for repairing a damaged joint such as the elbow. It can restore the functionality of the elbow but it often takes months of painful rehabilitation following surgery, during which time the patient may not be able to perform routine tasks or even work. Some  complications can develop from replacement surgery as well, such as nerve damage or additional fine tuning needed once the elbow has healed. With stem cell treatment, none of these issues occur.

With stem cell treatment, an injection is made using the stem cells. It is a minor procedure and the patient remains awake for the entire process. The injection of the stem cells occurs at the problem area with the entire procedure only taking a few minutes, without any long winded rehabilitation periods. Now, different procedures are required for different conditions and different
patients. Sometimes bone or tissue that has broken off needs to be removed from the elbow , in which case a minor surgery is needed, although it still doesnt need the extensive rehabilitation.

What are Stem Cells and Where do they Come From?

Stem cells are blank cells found naturally in the body. Stem cells take on the form of other cells it comes in contact with. So, when healthy, living stem cells are injected next to a damaged tendon, the stem cells can begin to grow as brand new tendon cells, filling in the damaged area. It doesnt occur overnight and it may take several months to experience the full improvement of the stem cells, but as time goes by, patients report an improvement in movement and a reduction in pain.

Stem cells are created naturally in every body. While the stem cells can be located in different locations on the body, the easiest extraction point is the hip bone. With the aid of a small incision, stem cells found in the bone marrow are removed from the patient to be used later during the stem cell treatments.