Over the years, medical advancements have emerged as saviors against disease and prolonged the human lifespan. Regenerative medicine is a popular innovation that helps restore damaged tissues or organs by regenerating human cells. The process works by stimulating the body's repair mechanisms to heal the damage.
Regenerative medicine dates back to the nineties when Leland Kaiser first listed the medical technologies of the future in a scientific paper. Tissue engineering gradually gained recognition for stem cell research and skin grafting. With continuing research in the field, things look brighter. According to current estimates, the benefit of regenerative medicine could extend to one in three Americans.
As a therapeutic option, regenerative medicine can help patients with a variety of conditions, from skin wounds to brain and cardiovascular tissue repair, type-1 diabetes, immune system improvement, certain cancers, and organ transplants. While the treatment spells hope for patients, they must evaluate their suitability for the program before proceeding with it.
We will explain what makes you an ideal candidate for regenerative medicine.
You Have Orthopedic Issues
According to statistics, the regenerative medicine market in the US was valued at a staggering $11.13 billion in 2022. The numbers show the popularity of this therapy in the country. Treatments such as platelet-rich plasma, stem cell therapy, and prolotherapy are widely used for patients with orthopedic conditions and injuries, such as:
- Moderate osteoarthritis of the shoulder, knee, and hip
- Degenerative joint diseases
- Tennis and golfer's elbow
- Meniscal tears
- Shoulder pain
- Tendinitis
- Rotator cuff tears
- Chronic neck and back pain
- Non-healing fractures
- Limited range of motion with stiffness and pain in joints
- Sciatica
- Migraine headaches
The best part is that regenerative therapy is ideal for regenerating, rebuilding, and restoring damaged tendons, ligaments, and cartilage without invasive surgery. Besides these conditions, you may consider stem cell therapy for conditions like cancer, heart disease, and stroke.
You Can Easily Access Reliable Treatment
Being a candidate for ground-breaking medical therapy is also about having access to quality treatment. As of 2021, 2,754 clinics in the country were directly marketing stem cell therapies. However, not all providers are equal, and patients need to ensure seeking treatment from reliable ones. QC Kinetix recommends checking the local regulations and finding a clinic with certified professionals.
Access may be a concern in some states. Consider Tennessee, the state with a healthcare system ranking as seventh worst in the country due to fewer hospitals and healthcare professionals. But Knoxville is an exception as its largest industry is healthcare and social assistance.
You can look for a regenerative medicine clinic in Knoxville, TN, to make the most of the therapy. Living in or near the city gives you easy access, and makes you a good candidate for treatment.
You Have Realistic Expectations
Another factor determining your suitability for regenerative medicine treatment is realistic expectations. Candidates should understand aspects such as success rates and healing time. While factors such as age, severity of the condition, and adherence to post-treatment guidelines make a difference, the success rate of these therapies is 75-90%.
Healing times also vary according to the condition. An acute wound may heal within three weeks, but fractures and serious injuries often require months to improve. Whether you opt for stem cells or PRP, you have to be patient when it comes to results. You may also need to commit to adjusting your lifestyle to fulfill the precautions during the healing phase.
Your Overall Health Aligns With the Treatment
As a healthy individual, you may believe that you don’t need intervention in the first place. It isn’t necessarily the case because injuries can happen anywhere and anytime. Surveys indicate an increase in the severity of sports injuries in American schools in recent years. Likewise, countless accident victims sustain severe ones each year in the country.
The silver lining is that young people tend to recover faster than old ones, with healing being more feasible with regenerative medicine therapies like PRP. However, obese people may need more aggressive treatment like surgery because body fat may hinder circulation and optimal flow of nutrients in the bloodstream. Poor circulation limited the ability of chemical mediators linked with healing.
The Bottom Line
Regenerative medicine is a relatively safer and less aggressive treatment alternative to surgical procedures. But the success rate depends on several factors, including your suitability as a candidate for this innovative therapy.
You can visit a clinic and talk to a provider to get a comprehensive health assessment and decide whether the treatment will offer the results you expect. A seasoned professional may also answer questions and suggest ways to improve the outcome of regenerative medicine treatment in your case.
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I'm Alice and I live with a dizzying assortment of invisible disabilities, including ADHD and fibromyalgia. I write to raise awareness and end the stigma surrounding mental and chronic illnesses of all kinds.
Dr. Wilson graduated from Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science and completed her residency in Internal Medicine at Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital in Barrington, IL. Dr. Wilson specializes in providing culturally competent and trauma-informed care to patients with physical disabilities. In addition to her private practice, she works as a science communicator, teaching health literacy to middle school and high school students in her local school district.
