Knee pain makes it difficult for sufferers to enjoy everyday activities and even fun sports or other fun. As we age, osteoarthritis is a common issue causing knee pain, discomfort and reduced range of motion.

In most cases, patients with osteoarthritis of the knee eventually need a knee replacement to restore function and reduce pain. However, a new treatment may be available for those not wanting to get a knee replacement.

As science continues to study stem cell therapies, researchers discovered that it may be an alternative to a knee replacement for some patients. Learning more about knee pain stem cell therapy can help you decide if this treatment is worth discussing with your doctor.

How Does Stem Cell Therapy Work?

Human bodies contain all types of cells, and each cell generally has one job. However, the body has some special cells, known as stem cells, that can divide into any type of cell found in the body.

Stem cells can perform many different jobs. Scientists discovered that stem cells can help rebuild tissues and restore function in the knee.

Doctors harvest the stem cells and inject them into the damaged area. The injections cause only minor discomfort for the patient.

Where Do Doctors Get Stem Cells?

Doctors extract stem cells from the patient. Stem cells from the patient's blood, fat tissue or bone marrow are used to create injections.

Some stem cells used for injections indeed come from early-stage embryos. However, this is not the case with stem cells for knee pain stem cell treatment.

Your doctor explains the procedure with you before any treatments begin. Together, you can discuss harvesting the necessary stem cells.

What Benefits Does Stem Cell Therapy Provide?

Patients using stem cell therapy for knee pain can expect relief from pain. However, doctors warn patients not to expect a complete reversal of the joint issue or a miracle cure.

Some benefits of stem cell therapy include:

• Reduction in pain
• Less stiffness
• Less inflammation
• Improved mobility
• Reduced use of pain medications

There are also risks involved with knee pain stem cell therapy.

• Infection
• Injection site swelling and redness
• No improvement (for some patients)

Doctors advise patients to use a combination of lifestyle change and stem cell therapy together to get the most benefit.

Stem cell therapy helps patients get the relief needed to get back to life and enjoy movement again. Stem cells may also provide enough relief to put off knee replacement surgery—at least for a while.