Is Nagging Heel Pain Holding You Back? It Could Be a Heel Spur
Several foot problems can cause heel pain, and heel spurs are among the most common culprits. Here’s what you need to know about heel spurs and how to treat them.
Regenerative Medicine for Feet: Could Stem Cell Therapy Be for You?
If you have a serious foot or ankle condition, you might be considering getting surgery. Surgery is the best option for some foot problems, but other times, a new option called regenerative medicine can fix the problem with no incisions required.
When conservative care hasn’t worked, podiatrists Thomas Rambacher, DPM, FACFAS, FAPWCA, and Amber O’Connor, DPM, based at Podiatry Hotline Foot & Ankle in Mission Viejo, California, often recommend stem cell therapy, a type of regenerative medicine, for various foot and ankle conditions. Keep reading to learn more about stem cell therapy and whether it’s right for you.
What is regenerative medicine?
Regenerative medicine is a revolutionary new therapy that helps your body heal from within. Instead of treating only the symptoms of your foot or ankle problem, regenerative medicine harnesses your body’s ability to repair its own tissues, ultimately healing and eliminating the problem.
Regenerative medicine is noninvasive and doesn’t carry the same risks as surgical repair of your foot or ankle. Procedures can be performed quickly in the office, with your body using regenerative medicine to heal itself afterward.
What is stem cell therapy?
Stem cell therapy is an incredibly promising form of regenerative medicine. This technique involves taking healthy stem cells and injecting them into the injured area.
Our team can get stem cells from a few sources. These include:
- Amniotic or placental tissues
- Umbilical cord blood
- Donated adult stem cells
- Your own stem cells from a healthy part of your body
- Laboratory-grown stem cells
You can be assured that all forms of stem cells are collected safely and ethically. Our team selects the most appropriate stem cell therapy for your condition and needs.
Once injected, you can expect your body to regenerate new, healthy tissues or cartilage.
What can stem cell therapy treat?
Stem cell therapy is an effective regenerative medicine treatment for many foot and ankle issues. Some conditions where we might recommend using stem cells as part of your treatment include:
- Ankle or foot arthritis
- Plantar fasciitis
- Diabetic wounds
- Achilles tendonitis
- Ankle sprains
Additionally, stem cell therapy can be used on many tendon, ligament, or cartilage injuries. It is a particularly helpful intervention when you have an injury that isn’t responding to traditional conservative care and needs additional support to kickstart the healing process.
What can I expect from stem cell therapy treatment?
Getting stem cell therapy is usually straightforward. If our team is using your own tissues, they start by harvesting cells from your body via a catheter. If using other sources for the stem cells, our team has the cells ready for your appointment.
Using a machine, the stem cells are processed to ensure they’re as concentrated and potent as possible. Our team injects the stem cells into the area where you have an injury or symptoms.
You might experience minor irritation or soreness at the injection sites or where stem cells were extracted. You can return to all your usual activities within a day or two.
Over the next few weeks, you’ll start to notice improvement as your body heals. Some people need multiple stem cell treatments for maximum effectiveness. Our team determines the right number of treatments for you.
If you have a nagging foot or ankle injury and want fast healing without surgery, stem cell therapy could be right for you. Contact us to learn more about this incredible new treatment.
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