How Stem Cell Therapy Can Help You Manage Pain

When you’re suffering from pain or injury, there are many ways to begin your relief and recovery process. The most common procedures are often surgery, pain medication, or even a combination of both. While pain medication and surgery have their uses, there is often another pain relief method that many have not considered: regenerative medicine.  

One of the biggest reasons for stem cell therapy over other pain relief methods is its non-invasive nature. There’s no anaesthesia, no operating room, and no extended downtime after the procedure. With stem cell therapy, you are able to have your procedure handled in an outpatient setting and you are free to simply walk out of the clinic immediately afterwards. Regenerative medicine such as stem cells and Platelet Rich Plasma has the ability to work with ligament injuries, back pain, joint paint, and even weakness in the muscles and joints. This is only scratching the surface of what stem cells can offer, and the potential is limitless. 

Stem cell therapy can also help you manage pain by getting rid of the pain altogether. Patients suffering from pain can be at risk of depending too heavily on regular medication to relieve the pain. However, this only works with the pain sensations and does not do anything to tackle the causes of the pain. This is what separates it from regenerative medicine, which will use stem cells to regenerate into the damaged tissue or other cells in order to help heal the affected area of the body.  

To learn more about how stem cell therapy may be the ideal pain management solution for your discomfort, contact us at Solstice Health to book a consultation today! 

 

 

5 Reasons to get an Ergonomic Desk Chair

Do you spend 8 hours a day behind a desk for work? You may think that because you are not in a manual labor job that you are not at risk for neck or back pain.  Unfortunately, this is not true. Sitting in a chair all day can have several negative effects on your body due to the stress it inflicts on your spine. An ergonomic chair might be a good solution for you.  This type of chair is specifically designed to provide rest to the main structures of your body. Check out the below 5 reasons you need an ergonomic office chair.


Good posture.

An ergonomic chair has features like a headrest and backrest to promote good posture. Good posture is one of the most important things you can do for your body. When you have good posture your muscles, bones and joints are aligned perfectly and can function as they should. If you fail to maintain good posture, you may find yourself dealing with chronic back pain, neck pain, and overall fatigue.

You can check your posture by doing the mirror test. To perform this test, you must stand in front of a full-length mirror and look to see if:

  • Your head is straight
  • Your shoulders are level and in line
  • Your hips are level and even
  • Your ankles appear straight

Comfort

Simply put, ergonomic chairs are more comfortable than your traditional office chair.  They are user-friendly and can be adjusted to fit your individual needs.

Reduces risk of back pain.

Ergonomic chairs have backrests and a reclining function that help alleviate stress on your back. This helps support the natural curve of your spine. Ergonomic chairs are tall enough to support your entire back.  Some traditional chairs are too short.

Reduces risk of neck pain.

Most traditional office chairs do not provide any neck support.  Going without neck support for an extended period of time can cause stiffness in your neck and shoulders. The ergonomic chair’s headrest allows you to stretch out and be supported.  This is a great feature for people who spend the majority o the day answering phone calls.

Reduces pressure on hips.

Ergonomic office chairs even help reduce pressure on your hips.  Normal chairs have hard surfaces to sit on which creates pressure on your hips.  The ergonomic chair is deep enough to support your hips and buttocks.

Do you suffer from aching joints? We may have a solution for you! Call Solstice Health today to schedule an appointment. 262-444-5020

You’re Never Too Old for Stem Cell Therapy

Have you been recommended to undergo surgery? Have you neglected a painful joint condition? Or perhaps you feel too old to even start a treatment that might actually help you? With stem cell therapy, although there are a few reasons that would exempt a candidate from treatment, age or being “too old” is definitely not one of them.

Stem cell therapy is an exciting medical advancement for those suffering from chronic pain conditions. The treatment is minimally-invasive, it requires little to no downtime and it uses biologics that come straight from the patient’s body. The cells at the heart of this treatment differ from other cells in the body in a few primary ways:

  1. They are immature or “new” cells with no specialized function.
  2. They can reproduce by dividing, even after being stagnant for a period of time.
  3. They can be stimulated to become specialized cells to perform certain jobs.

 

Where do Stem Cells Come from?

With such versatility and adaptable characteristics, stem cells have given rise to successful treatments for a wide variety of disorders and injuries arthritis, ACL tears, and rotator cuff injuries.

In our facility, we utilize stem cells harvested from adipose (fat) tissue. Using a quick mini-liposuction technique, we are able to extract the fat cells, usually from the abdominal region. The extraction only takes about 20 minutes and is performed under local anesthesia.

After the stem cells are extracted, the cells are then delivered back into the body via a minimally invasive precision guided injection. The entire process takes less than 2.5 hours to complete in most cases.

We also provide specialized stem cell rehab to build strength and recondition the weakened joint in order to address all the factors that contribute to the injury and lack of proper function.

 

Stem Cell Therapy

The conditions that stem cell therapy can treat are common amongst the older groups, so it only makes sense for this type of technology to be available to these folks. Although stem cells found in tissues of younger people are more “potent” in their capabilities, this does not exclude older patients from the benefits of stem cell therapy.

This state-of-the-art technology is available at our facility, and it can do more than relieve your symptoms: it can give you your life back. We provide treatments in an outpatient setting, and you can return to your normal work and activities within a few days.

Regenerative medicine and stem cell technology is the path to the future. Whatever joint pain condition affects your life, stem cell therapy can get you back on your feet and make pain and disability a problem of the past. It’s a great solution to look into at any age

 

To schedule a consultation or to see if you’re a candidate for stem cell treatments, please call Solstice Health at (262) 354-3100.

10 Conditions That Can Be Treated with Regenerative Medicine

Regenerative medicine involves using your own body’s tissue to help heal disease and injury. Solstice Health is the first center in Wisconsin and one of the few elite centers in the Midwest to offer adult mesenchymal stem cell injections for various orthopedic conditions and injuries. Before we list some conditions that can be treated by regenerative medicine, it may be helpful to know a little bit more about each treatment we offer.

What Is Platelet-Rich Plasma?

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP), or platelet concentrates, have been studied extensively since the 1990s. While similar products previously used in medicine (fibrin glue) are very expensive, PRP provides a cost-effective alternative. Plasma concentrates are a way to help the body finish the healing process and strengthen the weakened tissue. PRP is produced from a person’s own blood. It is a concentration of one type of cell, known as platelets, which circulate through the blood and are critical for blood clotting and release growth factors and mediators to aid in healing. Platelet-rich plasma can then be collected and delivered to an injured area of bone or soft tissue, such as a tendon or ligament. It is used for tendinopathies (tendon problems), in addition to problems with ligaments, muscles, meniscus, cartilage, bone, wound and intervertebral discs.

What Is Stem Cell Therapy?

Stem cell therapy focuses on delivering stem cells to parts of the body that are in need. Stem cells can be harvested from a patient’s own body from Adipose (fat) tissue or bone marrow. The tissue is processed into a stem cell concentrate and injected at the focal point of treatment in the patient’s body. Once the stem cell concentrate has entered the treatment site, the regeneration process begins. Stem cell therapy is completely safe as we are using what your body naturally produces, concentrating the desired critical components and transplanting them into the affected area for effective tissue regeneration and healing. There is no risk of rejection and very minimal overall procedural risk.

10 conditions that can be treated with regenerative medicine.

  1. COPD
  2. Type 1 Diabetes
  3. Erectile Dysfunction
  4. Multiple Sclerosis
  5. Osteoarthritis
  6. Parkinson’s Disease
  7. Rheumatoid Arthritis
  8. Spinal Cord Injuries
  9. Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
  10. Sports Injuries

Solstice Health is here to provide you with the latest adult autologous stem cell treatments. If you feel you may benefit from regenerative medicine, call us today to schedule an appointment. 262-347-3253

Stem Cell Therapy: Sorting Out The Myths From The Truths

With stem cell therapy on the rise and new information surfacing regularly, it can sometimes be hard to tell the difference between truth and myth.  Here at Solstice Health, we strive to educate and support our patients and community by providing the highest quality of care and information.  Let us help define some myths and truths of stem cell therapy.  Below you’ll find helpful clarification on some general stem cell therapy topics as well as procedure specific information.

Our body has the power to heal itself.

Truth: This is one of the foundations of regenerative medicine. Stem cells have the ability to divide and develop into many different cell types in the body. Stem cell therapy uses a patient’s own stem cells to help repair damaged tissues and repair injuries

Stem Cell Therapy is legal.

Truth: Yes, stem cell therapy is legal. The FDA only approves medical devices and drugs and does not regulate treatments provided by licensed physicians. Therefore, while the FDA may not be able to approve stem cell therapy, this does not make these practices illegal. All cellular therapies offered in our clinics are administered according to the most current published FDA guidelines.

No risk of rejection or communicable disease transmission.

Truth: Due to using biologics extracted from the patient, there is no risk of rejection. As the cells originate within your own body, there is no risk of spreading disease from or to another person.

Each case is treated with the same Stem Cell Therapy.  

Myth: There are different types of stem cell therapies. Each case should be treated as a standalone case.  The patient’s medical history and maturity of the disease should be considered.  As these factors vary amongst patients, the mode of implantation of stem cells should be specific to each case.

Recovery time is minimal.

Truth: One of the most time-consuming factors of any injury is not always the treatment itself, but actually the recovery time. With stem cell therapy, recovery time is minimal.  It is non-surgical and minimally invasive.

Effects aren’t felt until weeks after the procedure. 

Myth: Everyone is different and the healing process may take several months before results are seen. However, many patients report that they begin to experience results within a week with fuller effects felt within 4-8 weeks.

Does not require general anesthesia.

Truth: Do you get anxious at the thought of being put under? Stem cell therapy may be just what you need as it does not require the use of general anesthesia.  Instead, a local anesthetic is used and there is minimal discomfort.

Contact us today to find out if you qualify for this groundbreaking therapy. We have three convenient locations in Wisconsin: Oconomowoc, WI (262)-533-0322, New Berlin, WI (262)-505-6260, and Mequon, WI (262)-533-0322.

 

 

What Conditions Can Stem Cell Therapy Treat?

Stem cell therapy is a gentle, non-invasive treatment that provides pain relief for individuals suffering from a variety of conditions. It’s a form of regenerative medicine that not many are aware of, but has the potential to replace several conventional methods of pain relief therapy. Here are a few illnesses that respond well to stem cell therapy treatments.

 

Arthritis

Arthritis is inflammation of the joints and can be very painful. Conventional medicine used to treat this condition includes steroids and acetaminophen, or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID), like Aleve. As opposed to stem cell therapy, these medicines will help to decrease the pain, and reduce stiffness, but will not address the cause of the pain.

 

Tendonitis

Tendonitis is the inflammation of a tendon, often caused by overuse, but can also originate from rheumatic disease or infection. Doctors typically prescribe steroid injections, physical therapy, or recommend surgery to treat the condition. Stem cell therapy aids the body in eliminating inflammation of the tendons by regenerating the cells.

 

Sprains

Tearing or stretching of the ligaments is considered a sprain. This type of injury can result in extreme pain and significantly reduce mobility in the affected area. Minor sprains can be treated at home, but there are some cases where doctors will prescribe a splint or a walking boot. If it occurs more than once in the same area, surgery may be recommended to tighten the ligament. Stem cell therapy, in this case, would work to regenerate the tissue in the ligament.

 

Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is the degeneration of joint cartilage and the underlying bone. It causes pain and stiffness, particularly in the knee, hip, and joints of the thumb. Traditional treatments include medicines like steroids and narcotics to control the pain, as well as physical therapy. Stem cell therapy is a viable option for people with osteoarthritis, as it aids the body in repairing and restoring the degenerated cartilage.

 

Herniated Disc

A herniated disk refers to an injury to a disc between the separate bones that line up to make your spine. This type of injury primarily occurs in the lower back and is commonly known as a wear and tear condition. Most people experience pain in the legs or arms, numbness, tingling or muscle weakness. Stem cell therapy in this instance regenerates the disc cells.

 

These are just a few of the many conditions to which stem cell therapy can be applied. Unlike other conventional therapies for pain, stem cell treatments are noninvasive and gentler on the body. Most people prefer this medicine because it promotes natural healing and requires little downtime.

 

If you suffer from pain and would like more information about the benefits of regenerative treatments like stem cell therapy, Solstice Health is here to help. Our experienced doctors can help you choose an effective pain relief treatment that’s just right for your condition.

 

Contact us today to find out if you qualify for this groundbreaking therapy. We have three convenient locations in Wisconsin: Oconomowoc, WI (262)-354-3100, New Berlin, WI (262)-505-6260, and Mequon, WI (262)-354-3100

What is Stem Cell Therapy?

Stem cell therapy, which involves the use of stem cells to treat or prevent certain diseases or conditions, is one of a handful of alternative medical treatments gaining in popularity because it allows patients to avoid high-risk, invasive surgical techniques and long recovery times.

What Are Stem Cells?

Stem cells are highly specialized cells that are the foundation of our organs and tissues. Not only do humans grow from an initial, limited pool of stem cells that forms shortly after fertilization (embryonic stem cells), persisting stem cells (adult stem or tissue-specific stem cells) repair injured tissues and replace those cells that die off on a daily basis as a natural part of living. Stem cell treatment holds so many promises due to two rather miraculous properties of these cells: their ability to self-renew and their ability to differentiate.

For some, there are perceived ethical conflicts based on political or religious objections to our use of stem cells to treat disease and illness, but this is often due to a misunderstanding of what cells are typically used in our stem cell therapies. At Solstice Health, we only use autologous (which means “one’s own”) cells from a patient’s own adipose (fat) or bone marrow tissues. These are adult cells, and they have nothing to do with the embryonic cells that cause so much ethical concern.

How Does Stem Cell Therapy Work?

Many patients don’t realize that blood marrow transplants (which are also called hematopoietic stem cell transplants and are one of the earliest forms of stem cell therapy), have been in use for more than 40 years. Bone marrow transplants are a proven therapy for the nearly 20,000 people who are diagnosed each year with a life-threatening blood condition like leukemia or sickle cell anemia.

Although our stem cell therapies do not require donors, the process by which we use patients’ stem cells to treat injury is the same. First, we harvest the necessary adipose or bone marrow cells from a patient. Then, we use minimally invasive procedures to  introduce concentrated amounts of the harvested cells into the area of injury.

In our experience, this targeted infusion of cells promotes additional stem cell activity and recruitment, which promotes healing, growth and regeneration of damaged tissue. This is why stem cell therapy of this sort is often called regenerative stem cell therapy, because it is about literally regenerating new, healthy cells to replace damaged ones.

Is Regenerative Stem Cell Therapy Dangerous?

Although there is some level of risk associated with any medical treatment, because our therapies are minimally invasive and use autologous cells (which minimizes the risk of rejection), risk is significantly reduced for our patients. To ensure the integrity of our processes and the safety of our patients, our protocols are certified by the Institutional Review Board (IRB, which is regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

At Solstice Health, we are committed to harnessing the body’s natural ability to heal itself for the betterment of our patients. To learn more about our stem cell therapy treatments, call or visit our office today.