Living with joint pain can feel like an uphill battle. Whether it’s the result of degenerative joint disease, knee osteoarthritis, or a past injury, discomfort in your knees, hips, shoulders, or other joints can impact your ability to move, work, or simply enjoy life. Fortunately, there’s a powerful and increasingly popular solution: stem cell treatment for joints.
Stem cell treatment can improve symptoms of joint pain by enhancing healing and function in damaged tissues, offering a promising alternative to traditional injections like corticosteroids.
At PointHealth, we offer advanced, research-backed stem cell therapy options that help your body repair itself—naturally. In this guide, we’ll break down how it works, what makes it different from traditional treatments, and why it’s quickly becoming one of the most effective paths to long-term relief.
Introduction to Regenerative Medicine
Regenerative medicine is a groundbreaking field that leverages advancements in cell therapy, bioengineering, and gene therapy to harness the body’s natural healing capabilities. This innovative approach has shown significant promise in treating chronic diseases such as osteoarthritis (OA), diabetes, certain cancers, and neurodegenerative disorders like Parkinson’s disease. Unlike traditional treatments that often focus on managing symptoms, regenerative medicine aims to repair or replace damaged tissue, promoting true healing and reducing the need for invasive procedures. By utilizing the body’s own cells, including stem cells, regenerative medicine represents a paradigm shift in how we approach medical treatment, offering hope for more effective and lasting solutions.
What Is Stem Cell Therapy for Joints?
Stem cell therapy is a form of regenerative medicine that uses mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) to repair damaged tissues, reduce inflammation, and stimulate cartilage regeneration. Unlike pain medicine, which only masks symptoms, stem cell treatment works by addressing the underlying issues contributing to joint degeneration.
These adult stem cells are usually harvested from the patient’s bone marrow or adipose tissue (fat). Once prepared, they are injected directly into the joint—targeting damaged cartilage, joint cartilage, inflamed tissue, and areas that have suffered from wear and tear.
Understanding Stem Cells
Stem cells are the body’s raw, original cells, possessing the remarkable ability to transform into various specialized cells, including muscle cells, bone cells, and cartilage cells. There are several types of stem cells, each with unique properties. Embryonic stem cells are derived from early-stage embryos and have the potential to become any cell type in the body. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), often harvested from a patient’s bone marrow or adipose tissue, are particularly effective in regenerative medicine due to their ability to differentiate into cartilage, bone, and muscle cells. Adult stem cells, also known as autologous stem cells, are found in a patient’s own tissues and play a crucial role in natural healing processes. These stem cells can sense the microenvironment of an injury, produce anti-inflammatory proteins, and attach to damaged tissue to stimulate a healing response, making them invaluable in treating joint-related conditions.
Types of Stem Cell Treatment
Stem cell treatment, also known as cell therapy, involves using stem cells to repair and regenerate damaged tissue. One of the most promising forms of this treatment is mesenchymal stem cell injections, which have shown significant potential in treating osteoarthritis and other degenerative joint diseases. These injections target damaged tissue, promoting regeneration and reducing inflammation. Stem cell therapy can be applied to various orthopedic conditions, including tendonitis and cartilage defects, with the goal of improving function and reducing pain. By promoting the regeneration of damaged tissue, stem cell treatments can potentially delay or even eliminate the need for joint replacement surgery, offering a less invasive and more natural approach to healing.
Sources of Stem Cells
Stem cells can be obtained from various sources, each with its own advantages. Bone marrow is a rich source of stem cells, particularly mesenchymal stem cells, but the process of obtaining them can be invasive and painful. Adipose tissue, or fat tissue, offers a more convenient and less invasive alternative, with over 500 times more stem cells than bone marrow. Stem cells can be harvested from a patient’s own fat tissue using a simple liposuction procedure, providing a natural and autologous source of cells for therapy. This method not only reduces the risk of disease transmission but also ensures that the body readily accepts the injected cells, enhancing the effectiveness of the treatment.
Role of Bone Marrow in Stem Cell Therapy
Bone marrow plays a crucial role in stem cell therapy, serving as a rich source of mesenchymal stem cells. The process of bone marrow aspiration involves extracting stem cells from the bone marrow, which are then processed and injected into the damaged tissue. While bone marrow is a valuable source of stem cells, it is not the only option. Adipose tissue is becoming increasingly popular due to its convenience and minimal invasiveness. Despite this, bone marrow-derived stem cells have shown great promise in promoting the regeneration of damaged tissue, reducing pain, and improving function in patients with osteoarthritis and other degenerative joint diseases. By offering multiple sources of stem cells, regenerative medicine can tailor treatments to the specific needs and conditions of each patient, enhancing the overall effectiveness of the therapy.
How Stem Cells Work to Support Joint Repair
When mesenchymal stem cells are introduced into a damaged joint, they:
Release growth factors and anti-inflammatory proteins
Help regrow cartilage and rebuild joint tissue
Improve blood vessel formation for better nutrient delivery
Reduce inflammation and prevent further degenerative changes
In short, injected stem cells help your body do what it was designed to do: heal and regenerate.
Common Conditions Treated with Stem Cell Injections
Stem cell therapy has shown potential in treating various joint-related conditions, including:
Knee osteoarthritis
Meniscus tears
Moderate to severe cartilage defects
Shoulder and hip joint degeneration
Chronic pain from joint overuse or injury
Degenerative joint disease
If you’ve tried physical therapy, pain medications, or even hyaluronic acid injections without lasting relief, stem cell injections may be your next step.
Stem Cell Therapy vs. PRP: Which Is Better?
You may have heard of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) as a treatment for joint pain. While PRP uses your body’s blood products to support healing, stem cell therapy offers a deeper level of regeneration.
Unlike PRP, which relies on platelets to stimulate repair, stem cell therapy uses cells that can actually become cartilage and tissue. In numerous clinical research trials, stem cells have demonstrated greater potential for improving joint function, reducing pain, and even reversing early degenerative changes. Stem cell therapy can reduce pain more effectively than PRP by regenerating cartilage tissue and restoring joint integrity.
Bottom line: If you’re looking for a treatment with greater regenerative capabilities, stem cell therapy outperforms PRP—especially for more advanced or chronic joint conditions.
What to Expect from the Procedure
Stem cell therapy is a minimally invasive procedure that typically follows this process:
Evaluation: A full review of your condition, medical history, and imaging to determine if you’re a candidate.
Harvesting: Stem cells are collected from the patient’s bone marrow or fat tissue, often in the same visit.
Processing: The cells are isolated, concentrated, and prepared for injection.
Injection: The stem cells are injected directly into the affected joint under image guidance.
Recovery: Most patients return to normal activity within days, with improvements often felt in weeks to months.
Benefits of Stem Cell Treatment for Joint Pain
Here’s why more people are choosing stem cell therapy over knee replacement or other invasive procedures:
✅ Reduced Pain – Stem cells help calm inflammation and stimulate healing, enhancing the quality of life by reducing discomfort ✅ Improved Mobility – Healthier joints mean better movement and flexibility, significantly improving the quality of life ✅ Cartilage Regeneration – Helps restore articular cartilage and damaged tissue✅ Avoid or Delay Surgery – A natural alternative to knee surgery✅ Minimal Downtime – Get back to your routine faster ✅ Natural Healing – Works with your body, not against it
What Does the Research Say?
While clinical trials are still ongoing, systematic reviews and controlled studies show:
Better results in moderate osteoarthritis patients vs. traditional treatments
High rates of patient satisfaction and pain reduction
Increasing evidence of cartilage regeneration in both animal and human studies
That said, it’s important to note that not all patients will experience the same results. Cell types, underlying conditions, and overall health all impact outcomes—which is why it’s essential to have a personalized treatment plan crafted by a qualified provider.
Is Stem Cell Therapy Right for You?
You may be a candidate for stem cell therapy if:
You have chronic joint pain that hasn’t improved with other therapies
You want to avoid surgery
You’re seeking a natural, non-drug-based approach to healing
You’ve been diagnosed with cartilage damage or degenerative joint disease
It’s important to have a full consultation to determine whether stem cell treatment is appropriate based on your unique condition.
Why Choose PointHealth?
At PointHealth, we focus on delivering the most advanced and personalized care in regenerative medicine. We combine scientific precision with a compassionate, patient-first approach—making us a trusted choice for joint pain relief.
Our providers stay updated with the latest clinical research trials, use high-quality lab protocols, and tailor each stem cell therapy plan to your goals, health history, and needs. By using a patient’s own stem cells, we address ethical concerns associated with embryonic or fetal stem cells, ensuring a safe and effective treatment option without compromising moral standards.
Schedule Your Consultation Today
If you’re ready to explore the possibility of lasting relief without surgery, we’re here to guide you every step of the way.
👉 Visit pointhealthclinic.com or call us at (855) 263-1487 to schedule your consultation.
Let’s help your joints heal naturally—so you can live pain-free and on your terms.
