Lower back pain, muscle weakness, sciatica, and struggles with balance can all serve as symptoms of spinal stenosis. Unfortunately, while the condition has several causes, its treatment options are limited.
Those with spinal stenosis often work through a series of medications, exercises, and procedures before turning to surgeries that offer limited results. However, a recent study examining the potential for stem cell therapy to treat spinal stenosis provides promising results for those suffering from this progressive condition.
What Is Spinal Stenosis?
Spinal stenosis occurs when the spaces within the spine narrow. When the spinal areas close in, the spinal cord and nerves that offshoot from the spinal cord become irritated, pinched, or compressed, leading to back pain and sciatica.
Typically, spinal stenosis progresses slowly, and its development comes from osteoarthritis or changes in the spine that develop over time.
The symptoms of spinal stenosis change depending on where the spinal narrowing occurs and how severe it is.
What Does Regenerative Medicine Therapy Do?
Also known as stem cell therapy, the stem cells have the unique power to repair and replace specialized cells in the body. When most cells divide to create new cells, they make two daughter cells identical to the original cell and each other.
When stem cells divide, they can create two daughter cells or differentiate into two specialized cells, such as nerve cells or muscle cells. They are the only cells with this capability. In addition, stem cells have the ability to repair degenerated areas when cells are damaged.
Scientists discovered they could extract stem cells from a patient’s bone marrow or adipose (fat) tissue and administer those cells into areas that incurred damage. The stem cells work to help repair damaged tissue and regenerate new cells.
How Have Stem Cells Helped Spinal Stenosis?
Stem cell therapies targeting lumbar spinal stenosis showed that the treatment enhanced stability and reduced pain. Using concentrated stem cells, the therapy regenerated tissue to relieve pressure in the spinal nerves and alleviate discomfort.
Case studies examining stem cell treatments for spinal stenosis are validating. In one, a 77-year-old woman with varying degrees of narrowing in her spine underwent regenerative medicine injections and reported a 90% improvement in her pain within weeks.
In another, a 56-year-old male underwent regenerative medicine injections, and throughout his therapy, he first experienced a 75% improvement. After an 18-month follow-up injection, he reported a 90% improvement.
While all patients won’t experience the same results, stem cell therapy is emerging as a potential option for treating spinal stenosis than most surgical procedures, which have limited benefits. Patients suffering from spinal stenosis may benefit from pursuing regenerative medicine options before resorting to surgical procedures.
This post was written by a medical professional at Stemedix Inc. At Stemedix we provide access to Regenerative Medicine for spinal stenosis, also known as stem cell for spinal stenosis. Regenerative medicine has the natural potential to help improve symptoms sometimes lost from the progression of many conditions.
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