What are stem cells?
When it comes to
stem cell treatments
, there are a few different varieties. Mesenchymal stem cells are found in certain biologic material that is used in regenerative medicine, namely adipose and bone marrow. We refer to these treatments as biologic cell therapy. There are many clinics claiming to treat patients with stem cells, but if they are not being harvested from these sources they are not truly stem cells.
Do you use stem cells from human embryos?
Absolutely not. Some describe products that are obtained from amniotic or umbilical sources as stem cells. These products may be helpful in some cases but they are not stem cells and should not be described as such, as there are no viable cells that survive the cryopreservation and subsequent thawing. All of the cells our orthopedic office near Oakley uses for treatment purposes come directly from a patient’s own body fat and/or bone marrow.
Do you use ultrasound to guide musculoskeletal injections?
Yes! With ultrasound, patients won’t have to worry about “blind” injections. Dr. Pinkston can see
exactly where the needle is beneath the skin and ensure that the substance, he’s injecting reaches
the intended target. This leads to much more predictable treatment outcomes – no guesswork required.
Is Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) better than prolotherapy?
It depends! While both
Platelet Rich Plasma Therapy
and
prolotherapy
have the same end goal in mind for patients (a life free of chronic pain), they work in different ways. They also have different price points, so the right choice for one patient may not be feasible for another. Dr. Pinkston will be happy to help you choose the right approach.
Does regenerative medicine restore full mobility/function?
Regenerative medicine is an exciting and quickly growing field of study. Stem cell treatments show
promise for musculoskeletal applications as an alternative to invasive surgical techniques. To learn
more about what kinds of results are feasible or expected for your specific condition, schedule a
one-on-one consultation with Dr. Pinkston.