Is stem cell therapy advised for the elderly with arthritis?

Question

Hello doctor,

My dad is 73 and suffers from severe back and joint pain due to arthritis. A friend told us about a nearby clinic that offers stem-cell therapy for joint pain, claiming it can regrow cartilage and help avoid joint replacement surgery. They charge a lot, and insurance does not cover it, so we want to make sure it is legitimate before moving forward. Are these kinds of stem-cell injections truly effective for older adults with arthritis? Is there actual science behind it, or is it still mostly experimental? We are worried about spending thousands of dollars on something that might not help or could potentially cause side effects.

Please help.

Thank you.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I understand your concern.

Stem cell therapy is used to treat patients with cancers and disorders that affect the blood and immune system. Stem cell-based therapies for all other conditions are still experimental. When they are injected into a joint, they may help relieve pain, swelling, and loss of movement.

Stem cell therapy can effectively treat knee pain and injuries, with success rates ranging from 70 to 80 percent for mild to moderate knee osteoarthritis.

Non-severe short-term adverse events such as stiffness, weakness, swelling, and pain lasting less than four weeks; non-severe long-term adverse events such as pain and swelling lasting longer than four weeks.

I hope this helps.

Kindly follow up if you have more concerns.

Thank you.