Stem cell therapy is exciting.  It’s led to a whole new field of medicine called regenerative medicine.  Some doctors are charging a lot of money for patients to have these therapies to treat back pain.  Here are some important facts about stem cell therapy:

  • A stem cell is a cell found in the human body that has the ability to transform into other types of cells. Stem cells allow the body to regenerate parts of itself.
  • Today, medicine has achieved the ability to harvest non fetal sources of stem cells. Non fetal stem cells are found in bone marrow, fat and menstrual blood.
  • Laboratory studies have shown that stem cells can improve heart function after a heart attack, brain blood flow and function after a stroke and can regenerate injured joints and cartilage.
  • Stem cell usage is still very experimental, and hence, tightly regulated. As of 2021, real stem cells are only available as part of an FDA regulated study.  To search for FDA regulated stem cell trials search clinicaltrials.gov
  • Having a doctor remove bone marrow from your bone, spinning it down and concentrating it and injecting it into your body is not stem cell therapy. The doctor is merely injecting concentrated bone marrow.  The stem cells in the bone marrow are a very minute number and they have not been shown to regenerate damaged tissue.
  • Having a doctor remove fat from your body, dissolving it with chemicals and injecting it into your body is not stem cell therapy. The doctor is merely injecting fat cells.  The stem cells in the fat are very good at generating new fat, but have not been shown to regenerate injured joints or spinal tissue.
  • Some medical businesses are marketing amniotic fluid as a source of stem cells for injections. The actual numbers and quality of stem cells in these products is extremely poor.
  • Some medical businesses are marketing fetal umbilical cord blood as a source of stem cells for injections. The actual numbers and quality of stem cells in these products is poor.
  • Medical device manufacturers are selling stem cell products to aid in spinal fusion procedures. These stem cell products are purported to help create new bone.  Not only are these products unproven as a source of stem cells, they increase the cost of surgery and have not been shown to enhance fusion rates. 
  • Moderate to high numbers of stem cells are available in fetal umbilical cord substance, the gelatinous portion of the umbilical cord. However, it is illegal for physicians to administer it to anyone who is not a first degree relative of the fetus because the FDA considers it experimental therapy.