Despite osteoarthritis affecting millions of people worldwide, there aren’t any treatment options out there that can cure it – not yet, anyway. But if you suffer from knee osteoarthritis, take heart; there have been some promising advancements in musculoskeletal medicine that can give you alternatives to just taking the whole joint out in a surgery. MSK Doctors takes a look at two of them: stem cell therapy and Arthrosamid.
An Epidemic of Disability
Knee osteoarthritis is one of the most common types of arthritis and the fastest-growing cause of disability worldwide, according to a study in the Osteoarthritis and Cartilage journal. It is characterized by the degeneration of the shock-absorbing cartilage in the knee, resulting in inflammation of the synovial tissue within the joint.
Because there have been no therapies that can delay the progression of the disease, most treatments focus on pain relief and symptom management; however, stem cell therapy and Arthrosamid injections have recently emerged as potential long-term alternatives to both surgery and other types of injections.
Stem Cell Therapy
MSK Doctors’ guide explains that for stem cell therapy, stem cells are injected into the knee, where they transform into cells that can potentially repair damaged cartilage, addressing the root cause of osteoarthritis.
Studies suggest that this treatment can reduce pain and improve knee function, but because its mechanisms are reliant on the body’s natural healing processes, results may take longer; the stem cells themselves also carry the risk of growing into the wrong cell types. It’s probably never going to be as dramatic as growing an arm out of your knee, but not having the right cells can hinder regeneration, so that’s something to keep in mind.
Arthrosamid
On the other hand, Arthrosamid involves the injection of a synthetic hydrogel into the synovial fluid, where it attaches to the joint and acts as cushioning. Because the gel is not absorbable, it will remain integrated with the synovial tissue, with clinical trials showing improved biomechanical function and pain reduction that can last for at least two years.
Moreover, Arthrosamid requires only one injection, making it more cost-effective over the long term. You’ll pay less because you won’t have to keep going back – that’s another advantage Arthrosamid has over stem cell therapy.
The Best Treatment Options For You
So, here’s the million-dollar question: which one is better? Stem cell therapy, which has the potential to reverse cartilage damage? Or Arthrosamid, which doesn’t necessarily stop disease progression but offers a long-term solution to the pain?
It really depends on your health goals and the severity of your knee pain. Generally, when considering treatment options, MSK Doctors’ guide says that patients with late-stage osteoarthritis may benefit more from stem cell therapy due to its regenerative potential, while those with moderate osteoarthritis may find the lasting relief offered by Arthrosamid to be more advantageous.
Either way, if you’re suffering from the condition but you’re still not really sure what your best option is, you should consult your physician before committing to anything.
And if you want a specialist’s advice, MSK Doctors is always willing to answer your questions. They offer Arthrosamid, stem cell therapy, and all kinds of other non-surgical treatments for knee osteoarthritis, so they’ll know best.
Visit https://mskdoctors.com/ to get started!
Comments are closed.