STEM CELL THERAPY
Harnessing the body’s own healing power to
promote cartilage restoration.
The human body contains a truly remarkable
capacity for healing. Stem cell therapy
continues to be one of the most promising
ways to harness that power. With stem cell therapy,
we introduce healthy adaptive cells into diseased
or damaged parts of the body to promote healing
and to decrease inflammation and pain. Medical
researchers continue to discover new ways to
use stem cells where needed.
Recent studies show that stem cells can
actually regrow articular cartilage. Stem
cells work by responding to neighboring
cells and transforming themselves into
the type of cell most needed in their surrounding
environment. Researchers have
found that stem cells introduced into a
damaged joint can become a chondrocyte,
the type of cell that builds cartilage.
We currently use stem cell therapy at
West Florida Pain Management for cartilage
restoration in adults. Dr. Trimble has
seen very encouraging results in patients
with cartilage damage, primarily of the
knee. Many patients report less pain and
an increased ability to do more activities.
Preliminary findings suggest that damaged
joints are actually being restored.
This is very exciting, as all other forms
of injection and medication decrease
inflammation but do not restore tissues.
Stem cells can come from various sources,
but the most widely used are drawn
from bone marrow. However, adult
bone marrow contains a relatively small
amount of stem cells and the process of
harvesting the cells is long and painful.
Dr. Trimble currently advises his patients
to utilize allogeneic stem cells taken
from amniotic tissue. At the time of
elective Caesarean birth, the layer that
surrounds the baby (amniotic tissue) is
now being tissue banked, rather than
discarded as was historically the case.
This tissue and these cells are then very
specially tested and processed for subsequent
injection and usage in patients.
To see if you are a candidate for stem
cell therapy, please call Dr. Trimble
at 727-553-7313 to schedule an
evaluation.
For more information, contact Dr. Gerald E. Trimble, M.D.:
603 7th St. S., Ste 320, St. Petersburg, FL 33701 • 1831 N. Belcher Rd., Ste A-2, Clearwater, FL 33759
727-553-7313 • www.westflpainmanagement.com
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