The Secret to Longevity: Banking Your Own Stem Cells
Stem cells—the most potent anti-inflammatories known to man—stimulate the body’s regeneration and repair process.
Why All Stem Cell Therapy Is Not Identical
Before we get into the why, how and what of our treatments, let’s get one important thing squared away: the term “stem cell therapy” is a big, commonly used umbrella term for many different things and, at least the way we see it, kind of a misnomer. We prefer to think of the work we do as regenerative cell therapy. We prefer the term regenerative cell therapy because it is closer to the truth of what we do here at the Goswami Clinic. Our treatments allow you to harness the regenerative properties of your own stem cells to help other “pre-programmed” (we’ll get to that in a minute) cells that might be having trouble recovering after an illness or injury. These stem cells help regrow your naturally occurring tissues so that they’re stronger and better able to heal. It sounds like something straight out of Star Trek, we know, but the reality is, regenerative medicine holds real potential for many patients. What Are Regenerative Cells? Where Do They Come From? What Do I Need to Know About Them? Phew, that’s a lot of questions all at once. Let’s break it down to help make all this easier to understand. As humans, we grow from one cell that multiplies and differentiates into various organ systems. Each organ system retains their specific stem cells, and these constantly renew that particular organ system over our lifetime. If that makes you feel kind of like a giant starfish, that’s okay because it’s kind of the same thing—but our regeneration can only happen inside ourselves. This is the fundamental basis of our existence, at least of our physical existence. These regenerative properties lead us to the possibility of treating diseases and disorders involving particular organ systems by utilizing our own stem cells present in that system. Stem Cells Sources Typically, for orthopedic and sports-related injuries, stem cells (regenerative cells) can be found in three places: bone marrow, blood, and fat. Bone marrow stem cells are of very high quality, as the function of bone marrow is to constantly produce cells. These type of stem cells contain lots of good growth factors as well as other substances that aid in cell growth and regeneration. Bone marrow stem cells have the easiest time adapting to cells in other parts of the body. When someone gets a bone marrow transplant, what they’re really getting is an intense dose of these healthy stem cells. Fat is also a good source of stem cells because they exist in high quantity in adipose (fat) tissue. The challenge with fat is the isolation process (which we’ll talk about more later). When you break down fat, it has to be done in a way that maintains an adequate amount of stem cells. Because this process can be a bit tricky, some clinics will inject pure fat, claiming that it is stem cell therapy. This approach is not only misleading but also provides inadequate benefit to patients receiving the treatment. Blood contains certain valuable cells, proteins, and growth factors that can help with the regeneration of fat and bone marrow cells. Isolating and injecting PRP (platelet-rich plasma), PPP (platelet-poor plasma), and A2M (alpha 2 macroglobulin) helps provide a very robust environment in which your stem cells can thrive and grow. When it comes to understanding the different sources of regenerative cells, here’s a good analogy. Think about bone marrow and fat stem cells as the seeds. Then, your blood cells act as a strong fertilizer. Used together, all of these sources provide an optimal environment for regeneration! Stem Cell Therapy Protocol The most important thing you need to know about stem cell therapy is that there is no standardized protocol (yet) surrounding the harvesting and use of stem cells. This means one doctor might use one type of stem cell while another doctor may choose to work with a different type. Some doctors like to combine the different types of stem cells for their treatments. At our clinic, we tailor our approach to our individual patients and harvest regenerative cells from the source(s) we believe to be best suited to their treatment. Before you panic about the idea of a bone marrow transplant, you should know that the bone marrow harvesting process has changed considerably. It is no longer the extremely painful procedure it once was. Using current techniques and tools (if done properly), bone marrow extraction should be relatively painless. Likewise, harvesting fat has become easier as well and involves a minor liposuction procedure. However, it is important to understand that the techniques and tools are very different from those used in cosmetic and plastic surgery. Your fat stem cells are precious and need to be obtained with as little trauma as possible. If you’re thinking about undergoing a stem cell treatment, don’t move forward unless the prescribed protocol includes stem cell cells in a high concentration from all three sources mentioned above. Otherwise, you may not see the desired results. How Is Regenerative Cell Therapy Performed? There are three important aspects involved in the procedure of regenerative cell therapies: harvesting, isolation, and delivery. Harvesting is the collection of tissue from the part of your body where the stem cells are located. It’s critically important during this process that (1) enough stem cells are collected and (2) they aren’t damaged when being harvested. Isolation is the breaking down of that harvested tissue to isolate the stem cells. The methods used to isolate your cells will determine the quantity and quality. If performed incorrectly, your stem cells’ viability will be impacted. It’s vital that the isolation process is done according to good tissue practices and FDA guidelines. Delivery is exactly what it sounds like. After your stem cells are isolated, they are delivered into your body via injection. However, in order to achieve the results you are hoping for, the precise delivery of cells is extremely important. If the stem cells don’t reach the area of disease or injury, you will obviously not
Top 10 Reasons Why Patients Say Our Treatment Is The Best
We know you have a lot of options when it comes to choosing a stem cell clinic. However, we truly believe our stringent stem cell therapy protocol is one of the best around. Here’s why: 1. Multiple sources of stem cells are used. Stem cells, also known as regenerative cells, can be harvested from various places in your body: bone marrow, blood, fat and a few others. However, these different sources contain varying amounts of growth factors, as well as varying volumes of regenerative cells. In order to create the optimal environment for regeneration, our protocol leverages your own stem cells from a variety of sources. This approach also helps us create a customized treatment protocol for your specific condition. To learn more about the sources of stem cells and their corresponding isolation processes, click here. 2. We have an outpatient procedure, all completed in one sitting. Our stem cell treatment does not require a visit to a hospital. In fact, the procedure is done in one sitting…it typically takes a few hours, from start to finish. Plus, under mild sedation, you are comfortable through the entire procedure. 3. Our stem cell treatment is minimally invasive. This is not an open surgery. Quite the opposite in fact! Because the Goswami Clinic’s cell therapy is minimally invasive, there are no scars or stitches. 4. Injections occur with imaging guidance for precise delivery. In order to ensure that your own stem cells reach the site of your injury or disease, we perform the injections under imaging guidance. Precise delivery is an extremely important aspect to a successful outcome. Think of it this way…if your regenerative cells don’t reach your diseased joint, how will they help it heal? 5. Cells used are fresh, not frozen or cultured. Because we perform all aspects of this procedure (harvesting, isolation and delivery) within one sitting, your own cells are fresh so that you get the maximum benefit. 6. There’s no risk of cell rejection, disease transmission or cancer. Our protocol uses adult stem cells from your own body. Consider organ transplants—there are risks of disease transmission or rejection. In this case, because we are using your own cells, these risks don’t exist. 7. Up to 3 joints can be treated in one sitting. Imagine being able to treat your knee, shoulder and hip pain all within a few hours! With the Goswami Clinic’s cell therapy, this is possible. 8. The recovery is quick. You may be a little sore immediately following the procedure. However, you’ll be able to return to your normal, daily activities within a week. Peak improvement takes time and typically occurs between 2-8 months, depending on your individual condition and your compliance with the post-procedure instructions. However, most patients feel a little better every day after their treatment! 9. The procedure is cost-effective. Even though health insurance carriers have yet to embrace this procedure, the out-of-pocket costs are more than well compensated by the quick recovery and return to activities with practically zero downtime! Plus, you continue to maintain a high quality of life given the risk of complications is negligible. 10. Your own stem cells are not manipulated or artificially induced. When stem cells are manipulated or artificially induced, not only is it less likely that you will get a successful outcome, but this approach also holds a number of risks. While we are not the only stem cell clinic in Southern California, we believe we are one of the best. Every aspect of our procedure has been perfected and refined in order to maximize your chance of success. Plus, our preparatory protocol further ensures the optimal performance of your regenerative cells so that you’ll have better tissue regrowth. Most importantly, we have a high patient satisfaction rate and have helped many people overcome their pain so they can reclaim their lives. In fact, we commonly hear our patients describe our stem cell treatment as the best thing they have done for themselves! If you’re considering stem cell therapy as a possible treatment option for your sports injury, joint pain or arthritis, schedule a 1:1 consultation with Dr. Goswami. We’d love to demonstrate why we are the best stem cell clinic to help you. [activecampaign form=10] Or call 949-734-9696 to request additional information.
Amniotic Stem Cells Facts vs. Fiction
Like the search for the Holy Grail, a symbolic quest for the meaning of life and eternal youth, discussions in the stem cell medical industry about the most potent stem cells available have created an ongoing buzz around amniotic stem cells. What are amniotic stem cells, and what’s the intrigue around them? Amniotic stem cells are a mixture of stem cells that can be obtained from the amniotic fluid of a baby fetus in its sac. There are few cells in the amniotic fluid or as some call it “fetal urine.” Though rich in growth factors and certain other anti-inflammatory agents, their regenerative capacity is limited when compared to mesenchymal stem cells. However, many commercially available amniotic products are being used as regenerative treatments, specifically in orthopedics. The use of amniotic stem cells to reverse anti-aging has no scientific or medical backing, yet it is being marketed as a “beauty trend” to combat aging. Furthermore, the question becomes, as a foreign source added to your body, are amniotic products safe and effective? How does this compare with using your own stem cells to restore and naturally regenerate? We don’t have definitive answers to these questions yet. The hype around amniotic stem cells can be a dangerous claim. It’s often assumed that as you get older your own cells may not be as strong as needed to effectively repair, although there is no scientific basis to that argument. Currently, stem cell treatments, especially in orthopedics, can help repair and regenerate, but they do not turn the clock back by many years as some may assume. Sorry, no “fountain of youth” yet! Another reason patients may look toward an outside source is that they are apprehensive about the harvesting process. Though again, harvesting your own cells is a very short, minimally invasive procedure and leaves absolutely no footprint or scars. Some practices may not harvest your own cells for reasons of convenience and lack of familiarity or experience. For most of us, it’s easier to pull something out of a prepared vial and inject rather than performing a laborious process of preparing your own cells. These vials of amniotic fluid/cells become like “shelf products” and are used on as-needed basis with no real evidence of their efficacy and very little understanding of the potential risks involved. Right now, there are more questions than answers when it comes to amniotic products. Hopefully in time we will learn more about them. A more effective and promising, non-surgical treatment is regenerative cell therapy. Regenerative cell therapy or “stem cell therapy” in mainstream terms, utilizes your own regenerative cells to heal and restore your damaged ligaments, cartilage or menisci, whether it’s a knee, shoulder, hip or any painful joint in your body. Give your body a chance to heal itself naturally with your own cells rather than relying on an outside source. To learn more about regenerative treatments for your knee, shoulder or hip, call 949-734-9696 to request additional information or to learn more schedule an initial 1:1 evaluation. [activecampaign form=10] Based in Newport Beach, CA, the Goswami Clinic is an innovative sports medicine clinic lead by Dr. Gaurav Goswami who treats sports injury, joint pain, arthritis, declining performance and more. Known for his non-conventional methods, Dr. Goswami specializes in regenerative sports medicine, providing advanced minimally invasive, non-surgical treatments to athletes of all ages and levels with the goal of returning them to optimal performance.
Plantar Fasciitis: How To Treat This Terrible Heel Pain
Everybody experiences foot pain from time to time. Our feet ache after standing or walking around for long periods of time. They hurt if we wear the wrong shoes. Usually, foot pain is caused by external circumstances—high heels, we’re looking at you!—but sometimes, like with plantar fasciitis, it is an internal issue. What Is Plantar Fasciitis? The plantar fascia is a thick band of tissue that runs along the bottom of your foot and connects your toes to your heel bone. It acts sort of like a shock absorber and a support for your foot’s arch. When the plantar fascia gets inflamed (or somehow torn), that inflammation (or injury) is called plantar fasciitis. In other words: plantar fasciitis is medical speak for heel pain. What Causes Plantar Fasciitis? This is going to sound weird, but typically plantar fasciitis is caused by the overworking of your foot (or feet). The condition, for example, is common in runners and in people who spend a lot of time on their feet. It is important to understand, though, that “use” doesn’t necessarily mean frequent running, standing, or walking, so don’t use this as an excuse to spend all day every day on the couch! Other factors like age, the structure, and mechanics of your feet, your weight and even your job functions can figure into your plantar fasciitis. How Do You Know If You Have Plantar Fasciitis? The biggest symptom of plantar fasciitis is the pain. But not all painful feet suffer from plantar fasciitis. This condition typically presents in the mornings or after you’ve been off your feet or have been standing still for a while. When you stand up or start walking again, you’ll feel a sort of stabbing pain through your foot. Once you start walking you might be able to “walk it off”, but the pain doesn’t ever truly disappear. What’s The Prognosis For A Plantar Fasciitis Patient? Good! Great, even! While plantar fasciitis hurts, it can be treated and you can recover from it. Until now, with or without treatment, it has a tendency to linger on with periods of quiescence and exacerbation. Overall, it certainly interferes with the quality of your daily life. My Foot Hurts! What Do I Do? First, don’t panic. Not all foot pain is the result of an inflamed or torn plantar fascia. Sometimes our feet just get sore. If you notice that the pain is particularly bad or if it keeps coming back, you need to make an appointment with your doctor. Your doctor will do an exam and you’ll likely have to have some imaging tests done before an official diagnosis can be made. The Diagnosis Is Official. Now What? Treatment and recovery are going to depend primarily on how severe your plantar fasciitis has become. If your pain is mild and you are still getting around okay, you might be told to wear a brace or special orthotics, and you’ll be able to get some pain relief using ibuprofen and other over the counter anti-inflammatories. If the injury/inflammation is severe, you might need medical treatment and possibly even surgery to correct the issue. Before you panic, though, you should know that surgery for plantar fasciitis is very uncommon and rarely solves the problem. Most of the time, injections like steroids will be recommended. While these may provide temporary relief, with repeated injections their efficacy decreases. Are There Alternatives? Since traditional treatments have had less than satisfying outcomes, it is always a good idea to explore newer options. There is a treatment called Platelet-Rich Plasma Therapy (PRP). This is where your doctor takes a sample of your blood and removes its red and white cells. This leaves behind a plasma that is rich in platelets. This plasma is then injected at the site of injury…in this case, your heels. PRP contains almost 10 different agents that help your body respond to injury and promote repair. It also acts as an anti-inflammatory, which will help to relieve your pain. You can think of it as your body’s own version of Advil! Why Consider PRP For Plantar Fasciitis? Unlike steroids which can cause damage at the cellular level, PRP is completely natural and uses your body’s own materials so there’s no risk of side-effects. Plus, it is faster and far less invasive than surgery. And, unlike traditional treatments, PRP rarely needs to be repeated. When prepared correctly, one injection is usually enough. It is important to know that not all PRP treatments are the same. Besides the method used to prepare PRP, there are several factors that the practitioner must consider, like platelet count, your health, etc. If you’re considering PRP, you may want to meet with a specialist who can help you figure out whether it is your best option. Frequently Asked Questions Q: Can I exercise with plantar fasciitis? Yes! But it might hurt, so you’ll need to give your feet some extra care. Q: Can I run with plantar fasciitis? Yes, though you might have to shorten your run and/or run at a slower pace. You may also need to wear special shoes. Q: Can massage help plantar fasciitis? There’s no scientific evidence proving that massage is an effective treatment but if it eases your pain, go for it. Q: Can plantar fasciitis be seen on an X-ray? No, but your doctor will usually order one anyway to rule out other problems like bone spurs. An ultrasound or MRI can be more helpful. Q: Can plantar fasciitis cause leg pain? Yes. Sometimes the pain radiates upward. Also, problems with the Achilles tendon can lead to plantar fasciitis. Q: Can you cure plantar fasciitis? Sort of. There are tools and techniques you can use to alleviate the pain and keep it from returning so it can certainly feel like it. Q: Can plantar fasciitis cause knee pain? No. If you are experiencing knee pain, something else is going on there (though you might still have plantar fasciitis). Call your doctor ASAP