After decades of research it has been proven recently that the stem cells that are normally available in bone marrow and adipose tissue along with the amniotic fluid that is normally discarded after birth can actually hold the answers to finding new treatments for injuries and diseases.

The reason for this is because a majority of the time, injuries and arthritis persist because the body’s natural immune system is too weak to counter the threat that they pose. However, the content of the amniotic, bone marrow and adipose stem cells contain regenerative abilities, which makes it easier for the body to jump start the regeneration process where resources had been depleted initially.

While it has taken decades for stem cell therapy to become mainstream, it is now widely available and it is in a person’s best interest to learn everything possible.

In their initial state, stem cells may not be able to be of any help to the body. They have the capacity to differentiate into many kinds of cells – tendon, cartilage, ligament and bone.

When stem cells are maintained in an appropriate enabling environment, they are able to develop into any of the types of cells that the body needs, such as liver, tendon, ligament, blood vessel, muscle and brain cells too. It comes down to a “signal”, and that’s what the injury provides to the stem cells which start as a blank slate.

Human amniotic fluid stem cells have been transplanted into the brain of special laboratory mice, and when this happened, they eventually evolved and transformed into fully functional brain cells. Some of the cells also transformed and turned into bones in the mice.

Outside the confines of the lab, amniotic, bone marrow and adipose stem cells have already found use in so many areas. Their regenerative capacity is one of the top reasons why the cells have been in use for opthalmology, wound care, plastic surgery and other specialties for so many years.

This is because when the cells are placed into the body areas where cell and tissue degeneration has taken place, they replace the necessary tissues and cells where they are needed. This explains why regenerative treatments have also come highly recommended for patient that have arthritis.

There are a lot of indications for this treatment. For those individuals who have degenerative or rheumatoid arthritis of the knee and are facing the potential for surgery, stem cell therapy may help prevent the need, or at the very least delay it.

Apart from arthritis repair, there are a lot of soft tissue indications as well. This may include tendon tears, ligament sprains, tendonits, and ligament tears. This either occurs during auto accidents, sports injuries, overuse injuries and the like.

Very few complications exist with stem cell therapy. The fluid is immunologically privileged when it’s amniotic or one’s own tissue with bone marrow and adipose, meaning it does not cause a host versus graft situation. In addition, amniotic fluid actually contains antimicrobial fluid so infection is rare.

There are no huge studies published for stem cell therapy for knees. However, there are quite a few smaller studies displaying the benefits for individuals for arthritis and soft tissue conditions.

Typically, the entire process takes less than an hour. The longest part is the decision making process between the patient and the doctor because of the exam and imaging review. The actual procedure takes 20 – 30 minutes.

Usually, within 2 to 5 days there is no pain over the injection site, no residual swelling and no significant limitations.

Stem cell treatments facilitate the growth and repair of connective tissues, which requires time. Usually, people notice improvement after a few weeks and continue to notice gradual improvement months afterwards.

Usually, we do from one to several regenerative injections per joint or tendon. This may vary depending on the complexity and severity of the knee’s condition.

The procedure is a same-day outpatient procedure. People are typically sore during the first few days after the injection. People can return to work the next day, depending on the site of the treatment and the physical activity that is required from the patient at their jobs.

The biggest advantage of a non-surgical R3 Stem Cell procedure is, under the right circumstances, avoiding surgery and achieving the return to pain free living and getting back to your life as you knew it.