In regenerative medicine, stem cells, platelet-rich plasma, and growth factors are used to heal damaged tissue. One of the foremost procedures at R3 Stem Cell centers that continues to increase in popularity is bone marrow-derived stem cell injections. A person’s bone marrow contains a substantial amount of the stem cells and additional biologic materials necessary for regeneration, with the added benefit of being low-risk and outpatient.

1. R3 Stem Cell Centers,
bone marrow-derived
stem cells are injected

3. What are bone
marrow derived stem
cell injections?

4. The main reason that stem cells are used as therapy for arthritis
and other conditions that experience joint pain is that they
maintain regenerative properties with the potential to repair and
reverse damaged joints.
Bone marrow is a spongy tissue contained inside one’s bones,
and makes cells that are crucial to existence including platelets,
white blood cells and red blood cells. All of these cells start in the
marrow as stem cells, which are basically a “blank slate” type of
cell. With a “blank slate”, the cell can then turn into many
different types of cells needed in the body including cartilage,
tendon or muscle. There are three types of adult stem cells in the
human body. The first type of stem cell turns into blood
components, with a second destined to become lining of the
endometrium.

5. First of all, the doctor at the center will extract bone
marrow from the patient’s hip bone at the iliac crest.
The area will be numbed considerably for pain control.
With the patient’s ability to quickly make new bone
marrow, the harvesting does not present any lasting
problem. Approximately 30 to 60 cc’s of bone marrow is
harvested, and it is immediately processed to
concentrate down the stem cells and growth factors.

6. Is the procedure
painful?

7. Harvesting bone marrow from the iliac crest may produce slight
pain.Plenty of numbing medicine will be used during the procedure
though and it is very tolerable. The discomfort may persist for a few
days to weeks and slowly subside as the area heals up. The injection
of the prepared bone marrow into the affected joint is no more
painful than a typical steroid injection. For a few days afterwards, the
joint may have slight increased pain due to the inflammatory
reaction generated. This is normal.

8. As with other types of regenerative medicine, bone
marrow derived stem cell injections work better for
some cases than for others. There have only been
small studies so far looking at bone marrow derived
stem cell injections in humans. In a 2011 study out of
the Beijing Institute of Technology, bone marrow
mesenchymal stem cells were shown to have an
excellent potential for cartilage production in
animals

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11. IBone marrow derived stem cell injections have the goal of repairing the
damaged tissue while providing pain relief too. Cortisone shots simply
provide anti-inflammatory medicine to reduce pain but no regenerative
cells or reaction that pulls in stem cells or growth factors.

12. With the procedure being outpatient and
minimally invasive, the risks are low. But there is a
minimal risk of infection, allergic reaction,
bleeding, pain at the harvest site, wound drainage
and failure to relieve a person’s pain. Risks should
be discussed with your treating doctor.

13. www.R3stemcell.com