The Spectrum of Regenerative Treatments
Sports medicine, or regenerative medicine, is a specialized branch of medicine that deals with physical fitness and offers an array of treatments and prevention of injuries related to exercise and sports. There is a wide spectrum of regenerative treatments that help people recover and return to their active lifestyles after an injury. Unfortunately, none of these treatments are FDA approved yet. The goal of regenerative medicine is to help you heal and give you a higher quality of life. It is best to assess the various types of regenerative treatments to determine which type is most suitable for your condition. Not all regenerative treatments are equal in value and effectiveness. Each regenerative treatment has its pros and cons based on scientific evidence. The concept of regenerative medicine is regenerating damaged areas and repairing the cells. It’s a revolutionary approach that will change the way medicine is practiced. In many ways it’s similar to the discovery of penicillin in the last century. Our bodies are full of regenerative cells. It’s a matter of knowing how to apply this concept in a non-invasive, natural treatment and in the safest and most effective way. With anything new, lack of standardization can make it confusing to the patients as to what treatment they are exactly getting. It is becoming more and more common now for mushrooming stem cell clinics to use so-called external sources such as amniotic fluid, placenta tissues, and umbilical cords cells. Some even mis-label or call them baby cells; this gives a false impression that these cells may be more potent than one’s own cells. Currently, a whole host of companies are providing an array of stem cells that are being grown in laboratories that sterilize, harvest and package the cells with added stimulants, which are chemicals that can biologically alter the cells. How much efficacy is present in these cells after package and production is an important question to ask. Sterilization does not guarantee a foreign disease from entering your body because it is introducing cells from someone else’s body. This can be risky. Regenerative cells from your own body can be extremely safe provided they are harvested and isolated in a proper manner. Otherwise, they can be equally ineffective and even harmful. It’s high time the FDA regulates this industry before people lose faith in this wonderful discovery all due to the greed of a few snake oil salesman practices. Stem cell therapies have great potential. Let’s not over-sell their promise without proper research and evaluation. Let’s establish standardized protocols and safety standards that can assure some uniformity for treatments. The general intent of regenerative treatments is to regenerate and repair, not just provide symptomatic relief. Manipulation of cells such as adding chemicals or storing cells is neither safe nor effective. There is a risk of introducing foreign sources into your body. A metaphor to illustrate a current array of regenerative treatments is to compare it to that of consuming fruit juice. You can get fresh pressed juice from fruit itself, or you can get juice reconstituted from a concentrate, or you can drink something that is fruit flavored, mixed with other chemicals. Similarly in regenerative treatments, depending on the source of cells and concentration of application, it will determine great results or no results from that particular regenerative treatment. Make an informed decision by understanding the spectrum of regenerative treatments. Based in Newport Beach, CA, the Goswami Clinic is an innovative practice lead by Dr. Gaurav Goswami who treats sports injury, joint pain, back 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. 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.
What’s Wrong with My Knee?
With all our daily activities, sports, and mobile lives, our knees are our most prized assets for getting us around. We sometimes do not realize the pressure and strain we put on our knees and take it for granted until something gives.
Recovering from Injury: What You Need to Know to Heal Quicker
Let’s not sugarcoat this: you got hurt. Maybe it was your fault. Perhaps you let your pride get the better of you, and you agreed to play tackle football with the teenagers in the neighborhood after one of them called you “old.” Maybe it was an honest accident that wasn’t your fault at all. What matters today isn’t how you got hurt, but what you’re doing to recover from that injury. Before you say “eh, it’s nothing. I’m fine” and try to go about your day like usual . . . stop! Pushing through the pain is only admirable when women are giving birth or when an actor pretends to be a superhero in a movie. In real life, pushing through—aka ignoring—the pain could exacerbate your injury and make things worse. You might even cause permanent damage! What You Need to Know for a Healthy Recovery The most important thing you need to know for a healthy recovery is that every injury is unique because every person is unique. So even if your sister-in-law had this exact same injury last year, what worked for her might not work for you. This is why it is important to see a doctor and get your injury checked out. Your doctor can help you put together a plan that will work for you. What Are Your Treatment Options? When it comes to joint and muscle-based injuries, there are three basic options: 1. Ignore it and do nothing We’ve already talked about this a little bit. Pretending that you didn’t get hurt is only temporarily good for your ego. That said, there are some injuries in which time and taking it easy is the only thing you can do. Sprains are a good example of this. Even if you’re pretty sure this is going to be the way to go, you should confirm with your doctor. 2. Surgery For tears and certain types of joint injuries, repairing the injured tissues and cartilage with surgery is often the go-to. Most of these surgeries add a few weeks or even months onto your recovery timeframe. While it’s normal to feel freaked out when your doctor tells you that you are likely going to need surgery, know that this isn’t always the only option available to you. 3. Regenerative medicine Regenerative medicine is a newer technique in which a doctor uses stem cell therapy, sometimes in conjunction with a process called PRP (platelet-rich plasma).These processes use your body’s own stem cells and platelets to help “jump start” your body’s ability to repair itself. There are pros and cons for each of the treatment options above. Let’s break them down. Doing Nothing: Well, it’s certainly cheaper—at least in the beginning. And it can make you look super tough, which might help you earn some street cred. On the downside, though, you will probably just exacerbate the injury, which means it will be harder to fix and the recovery process will be longer and more complicated (and likely more painful). Surgery: This type of treatment is painful and has a long recovery time. It’s also the riskiest as even surgeries deemed routine carry some risk of complications. Even during recovery, surgery carries with it a risk of infection and other post-op complications (like blood clots). Still, for certain injuries, it’s the medically sound choice. Regenerative Medicine: This treatment offers the shortest and simplest recovery process. Patients are often able to walk out of the clinic the same day as their treatments and report a notable improvement in just a few weeks. And because the procedure consists of injections, there aren’t any surgical complications to worry about. Will You Need Rehab? Probably. Rehabilitation and physical therapy are a good idea for joint and muscle injuries, especially for those that require medical intervention. This is something that many people forget to consider when evaluating their treatment options. Working with professionals to rehabilitate your body after these injuries is of critical importance. In addition to helping ensure that your injury heals properly, your rehab will help build up your body’s strength and endurance, which can help prevent the injury from recurring. Diet & Exercise What you eat while in recovery will play a direct role in the recovery itself. It’s true! In fact, you likely already know this. It’s why you drink Gatorade and chow down on a protein bar after you finish a workout—you want to replace your electrolytes and give your muscles a shot of protein to kick-start the healing process. When you are recovering from an injury, it is important to eat foods that will help speed up that process. And no, Doritos do not count. Aim for foods that are rich in Omega-3s, antioxidants, vitamins A and C and protein. Reduce your intake of carbs and fatty foods. And remember: just because someone told you that you need to rest and take it easy, doesn’t mean that you need to be completely still (unless your doctor says so). Low impact exercise like yoga and Pilates are good ways to keep your body fit while you recover. Even if you’re laid up on the couch, there are stretches and movements you can do that don’t require standing and can be done while keeping your injured area immobile. Despite what you might have read on social media, there is more to self-care than simply pampering yourself and giving yourself excuses to indulge. Self-care is also about doing what you need to do to make sure that you stay healthy—physically, emotionally and mentally. Good examples of self-care include: Making sure to get enough sleep at night Taking your vitamins Maintaining personal hygiene: daily bathing, teeth brushing, skincare, etc. Spending time with people you care about and enjoy Taking time to yourself when you need it Remember, every injury is unique. Get your injury checked out by a doctor and create a treatment and recovery plan together. Ask your doctor to recommend some diet and exercise tips so you can stay active
Stem Cell Therapy: A Controversy or Breakthrough?
With the emergence of stem cell treatments and clinics around the world, it is reasonable to question is stem cell a medical trend, a fad, or a legitimate medical breakthrough in regenerating and restoring our bodies?