Sufferers of chronic neck pain may find that they have a simple solution to their very real problem. Stem cell therapy has proven to be effective at stopping neck pain, often permanently. Better still, great strides are being made in stem cell research every day.
Stem cell therapy for neck pain is a simple, out-patient procedure that requires little more than a few minutes in the physician’s office and a lot of patience. First, stem cells are harvested from the patient him- or herself. These cells are usually removed from the patient’s adipose (fat) tissue, but may come from bone marrow or even the blood stream. Once the adult stem cells are harvested, they must be 
altered in a lab.
Adult stem cells are combined with chemicals in order to force the stem cell differentiate into the type of cell needed for the therapy. These new cells, called IPSCs, or Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells, are then available to be injected into the patient.
The physician uses an ultrasound to guide the needle into the exact location that is the origination of the patient’s pain. The patient can then go about his or her life as normal, suffering no setbacks or recovery time from the simple procedure.
Relief is not something that happens right away with stem cell therapy. Though some patients immediately feel less pain, most have to wait two or three weeks for the stem cells to heal the spinal column sufficiently to reduce pain. The pain may continue for weeks or even months, but it will lessen over time. Most patients do not have to return for a second shot. Indeed, studies have shown that this kind of therapy may be a permanent solution.
Neck pain that requires surgery can also benefit from stem cell therapy. Stem cells can be used during or after surgery to speed the healing process. Just as with standalone regenerative therapy, the cells must first be harvested and chemically altered. Patients will find that they have less pain and can resume their normal activities much more quickly when stem cell therapy is used.
If you suffer from neck pain and would like to get more information about how stem cell therapy can help you, please contact the Spine Institute Northwest at (888) 712-0318 to schedule an appointment with one of our physicians.