Half of all working Americans admit to suffering from back pain. The majority of cases are not caused by natural conditions, such as inflammatory arthritis or fracture, but by stressful activities. Between the stresses of an office desk job, jobs that require long periods of standing, and jobs that require heavy lifting, it’s nearly impossible to avoid activity that does not take a toll on the spine. Back care is extremely important for all people who experience regular pain, as the causes may be more serious than you think.
Once back pain becomes inhibiting to an individual’s everyday life, it is imperative that they see a specialist. Back pain is one of the biggest reasons for missed days of work, and is the second most reason for trips to the doctor, outnumbered by upper respiratory infections. Many people assume that a severe spinal condition may result in a surgical procedure, like artificial disc replacement, which requires very strict specifications, but often surgery is not necessary.
Spine specialists are able to determine the best course of treatment for chronic back pain. Often the first courses of action are non-surgical methods, including regenerative stem cell therapy, which is conducted through a series of injections at the pain sites over an extended period of time.
Regenerative stem cell therapy uses undifferentiated stem cells to replace dying cells and rejuvenate injured tissues. Rich reserves of stem cells are collected from tissue and marrow from the hip bones, but can also be found in circulating (peripheral) blood and umbilical cord blood. While artificial disc replacement candidates must meet a prerequisite of at least six months of physical therapy, pain management medication, or back bracing without pain improvement, as well as maintaining allover good health and must have no cobalt, chromium, molybdenum, polyethylene or titanium allergies, spinal injection candidates have much higher rates of approval within the first six months.
Stem cell therapy is not only used to combat chronic back pain, but can also target deteriorated joint conditions such as tennis elbow, golfer’s elbow, tendinitis, meniscus tears, plantar fasciitis, among others.
Immediate pain relief has been reported by some patients, while others report their pain to be eased within two days. Normal activities can be returned to immediately, with the exception of heavy lifting or strenuous exercise. This procedure has a much faster recovery without the invasive qualities of surgery.
