If you have a joint or back problem or another type of bodily injury that is in need of some serious rehabilitation, then you may have the option of undergoing stem cell therapy. This type of therapy involves the injection of the stem cells into the affected area. There are a few steps that must occur before the injection can take place, so keep reading to learn what they are so that you are well prepared for the procedure.

Collection Of Tissues

Your own stem cells will typically be used to create the injection, which means they need to be harvested from your body first. There are a variety of different types of tissues that can be utilized and include the fat tissue, the blood plasma, and the bone marrow. The fat, or adipose, tissue is taken from the abdominal area through a liposuction procedure. Blood plasma is taken from the venous supply of your blood with the help of a special type of extraction machine, and bone marrow is removed from the hip through a type of aspiration.

Once the tissues are collected, your doctor will also collect some growth factors from your body. They are mixed with the stem cells, and the mixture is then prepared in a syringe for injection. Keep in mind that this will need to be done every time that you receive a stem cell treatment and that you will typically need to be scheduled about a few times each year. You will also need to see your doctor for checkups about one month after each treatment. This ensures that the injection site is healing properly and that the treatment is actually working to alleviate your discomfort.

Guided Imagery 

Once the tissues are collected, they will need to be inserted into the exact location of your body that requires the treatment. This means that imagery will often be used during the process to make sure that the location is correct. Ultrasounds and fluoroscopy X-ray technology may be used. Neither of these types of imagery is painful in any way. 

In addition to the imaging, the area of the injection will be numbed gently with an anesthetic. Your physician will typically wait several minutes for the anesthetic to take effect before inserting the stem cell needle. 

Once the injection is completed, you will be able to move about freely. However, you should know that it is not wise to complete all of your normal activities for a few weeks. This may include exercise and other strenuous activities. Talk with a doctor about what you can do after the treatment.