Hip replacement surgery is one of the most common forms of replacement surgery performed in the United States. Due to the amount of weight and constant shifting of the body, the hips may start to break down, causing bone on bone rubbing, the deterioration of cartilage and tendons, or the destruction of the bones themselves. While hip replacement surgery has come a long way in recent years, it is still an extensive procedure, forcing you to suffer through months of painful rehabilitation. Instead, stem cell treatments offer you an alternative option, reducing the amount of time it takes to restore functionality to your hips while keeping you on your feet without the extended recovery time.
Common Hip Condition Treatments
Stem cell treatments assist in a variety of conditions. Although there are numerous issues you may run into with your hip, the most common problems include osteonecrosis, labral tear, arthritis, bursitis or tendinopathy. All of these painful problems only compound over time without proper medical treatment, so the sooner you turn to stem cells, the sooner you can stop the hip area from deteriorating while reducing the pain you suffer from.
What Are Stem Cells and How are the Cells Obtained?
Stem cells are a blank canvas cell. Every single cell in the body has a specific identity and job. Blood cells are different from muscle cells, which are different from fat cells. Stem cells on the other hand do not have any kind of pre-programming. The cells simply take on the identity of the cells around it. So, if stem cells are in contact with muscle cells, the stem cells will eventually develop into muscle cells. Every human has a collection of their own stem cells. The stem cells are found in different areas of the body, but the bone marrow is one of the best locations. A medical team is able to extract stem cells from the marrow of your bones with an incision into the iliac bone, or better known as your hip bone. The hip bone provides easiest access without going through layers of fat and muscle tissue.
Stem Cell Treatments
With stem cells holding the power to duplicate and grow any kind of cell in your body through contact, the retrieved cells are then placed in contact next to the damaged area of your hip. The exact procedure does vary slightly based on the kind of issues you are suffering from. Sometimes the stem cells are spun with red blood cells to create a super charged plasma. This allows the body to rebuild and recover faster. Other times, a direct stem cell treatment is used. Either way, the cells allow the body to regenerate and develop the cells of your damaged tendons, ligaments and other problems around your hips. With stem cell treatments, in only a matter of weeks you will start to experience a drastic improvement in your range of movement while also seeing a drop in your level of pain and discomfort.