Austin American-Statesman

Stem cells and hand pain

- Dr. Andres Lerner Dr. Andres Lerner is board-certified by the American Board of Surgery and has been caring for patients in Austin formore than 4 years.

Q: My neighbor recently had a stem cell injection for arthritis in her elbow, and she says it feels better than ever. Can stem cells be used to treat the arthritis in my hand as well?

A: Stem cells have been used and researched for decades to treat a variety of diseases, in selective candidates and conditions. Their recent applicatio­n in hand, spine and orthopedic procedures offers an exciting option for relieving pain, modulating inflammato­ry response boosting healing process. Modern techniques allow us to take advantage of the body’s natural ability to heal itself by withdrawin­g stem cells from your own bonemarrow. After concentrat­ing the stem cells, I use live x-ray guide to ensure the cells are delivered to the exact area of need, where they boost the natural healing process and reduce pain and inflammati­on in the problem area.

Research has shown that stem cells from the bone marrow not only have the ability to grow multiple forms of tissue, but also to reduce inflammati­on, fight infection, and rescue the damaged cells around them. This makes them a great option for treating of selective cases of wrist arthritis, tendonitis, nerve conditions, chronic wounds and more.

The entire procedure takes approximat­ely 15minutes, it is done with needles only, and is outpatient. If part of an additional surgical procedure, the process just adds about 15minutes to your surgery time. Don’t continue to suffer. If you are having hand and wrist pain, call us today to determine if you’re a candidate for this advanced procedure.

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