Stem cell therapy is growing in popularity in the medical community; however, patients should be cautious of unscrupulous providers of treatments. Sadly, stem cell scams are rising in clinics. This article will outline practices to be aware of when considering stem cell therapy.
What is stem cell therapy?
As a patient, knowledge is power in these situations as it will save you time, money, and possibly detrimental side effects long term. While there are many honest and well-meaning providers in the industry, the procedures can be delicate to handle for them to be effective. Effective treatments are not very common so far; however, this is in part due to thorough research procedures for new medicines in the USA. FDA Clinical trials can take years to pass muster, but this doesn’t mean a product won´t work, only that we need time to understand and see results.
Stem cells are the cells that develop into blood, brain, bones, and all of the body’s organs. They have the potential to repair, restore, replace, and regenerate cells, and could possibly be used to treat many medical conditions and diseases.
U.S. Food and Drug administration
What can stem cells be used for?
You can take stem cells from bone marrow and blood and then inject them into various areas of the body. The most common is called a hematopoietic stem cell infusion, where the stem cells are taken from your own blood. It has also been found to be effective for bone, skin, and corneal injuries as well. These injections are usually helpful to those who have chronic joint pain.
Who is qualified to give stem cell treatments?
The main concern for patients entering stem cell therapy is finding a qualified professional to handle the procedure. The medicine itself is delicate and can be very complicated to administer. It should be performed under live imaging (like an ultrasound) by Orthopedic Surgeons, Physicians or Physician’s Assistants, who are licensed to inject into the joint space.
You should never undergo a stem cell treatment performed by a Medical Assistant or Nurse Practitioner. Be cautious of clinics offering these services and use these staff members for the treatment. Don’t waste you time or money by entrusting someone who isn’t actually qualified to inject into the joint space.
Beware of temporary or ‘pop-up’ clinics
A concerning recent trend has been for temporary clinics to set up for only a week or two in a rented location, where they claim to offer a pain-free life for several thousand of your hard-earned dollars. If it sounds too good to be true, it usually is! Legitimate stem cell therapy can be life-changing. These unscrupulous, often untraceable clinics are almost definitely not the people who will provide that and are probably running a stem cell scam.
How to spot a possible stem cell scam
- The clinic is temporary, ‘pop-up’, or the treatment team comes to you (such as a nursing home or other care facility)
Legitimate stem cell injections require very careful handling and storage. It is extremely difficult to properly handle these delicate compounds in a mobile setting. - Anyone other than a physician or physician’s assistant will be performing the service.
Nurses, nurse’s aids, CCNAs, physical therapists etc. are not qualified to inject into the joint space. If anyone other than a fully-qualified physician will be performing the procedure, you are likely looking at a stem cell scam.
What to do if you are interested in stem cell therapy
If you want to learn more about stem cell therapy and how it might benefit you, do your research. Check with your local providers to see what is offered. Ask you orthopedic team any questions that occur to you, and discuss treatment options. This technology may be the relief you’ve been seeking, so do not delay! Call our caring, expert staff to set up a consultation today.