Stem Cell Treatment FAQs

Just like any new or innovative medical treatment, patients have a lot of questions around stem cell treatment for issues like back, knee, shoulder and joint pain. At Twin Cities Pain and Regenerative Medicine we are leaders in the field, and we take great care in answering our patients’ questions as completely and transparently as we can.

Because we often receive some of the same questions from a great number of our patients, we thought we would take a few moments to provide some answers.

What is stem cell therapy?

Stem cell therapy is an innovative minimally invasive treatment that is part of the growing field known as regenerative medicine. Many musculoskeletal conditions caused by sports injuries and overuse can be treated with all-natural adult stem cell procedures.

What are stem cells?

Stem cells are the construction workers of the body’s repair mechanism. The primary role of stem cells is to maintain and initiate the healing of damaged tissue and replenish dying or damaged cells. Stem cells find the damaged tissue and have the potential to initiate its repair or regeneration.

Who can receive stem cell treatment?

At Twin Cities Pain & Regenerative Medicine we treat the following conditions with stem cell therapy:

Osteoarthritis of the joints including knee, hip, shoulder, and ankle joints
Chronic partial rotator cuff tears
Persistent partial tendon tears, such as tennis elbow, plantar fasciitis, quadriceps and patellar tendon tears
Muscular tears
Meniscal (cartilage) tears in the knee
Discogenic back pain
Spinal facet pain
Chronic radiculopathy (pinched nerve)
Sacroiliac joint pain

Ideal patients are in generally good health, at least somewhat physically active and under the age of 75.

From where are stem cells taken for treatment?

For stem cell treatment for back, knee, shoulder or joint pain, adult stem cells are harvested from the patient’s own bone marrow. We have discovered that obtaining stem cells from the hip bone (iliac bone) is easily performed within minutes and, in most cases, is a fairly painless procedure for the patient.

What are the side effects/risks of stem cell treatment?

Stem cell treatment for knee, back, shoulder or joint pain does come with some possible side effects and or risks. Infection in the injection site is the most common of the side effects we see, but is very rare. Nerve damage and bleeding are also possible complications.

Does stem cell treatment require a hospital visit?

Typically no. The entire procedure is accomplished in our Edina, Minnesota offices.

Can I drive myself home after stem cell treatment?

Even though stem cell treatment sessions are fairly pain and worry free, we recommend you have someone who is able to drive you to your appointment and take you home afterward.

What is the stem cell treatment success rate?

Even though stem cell treatment sessions are fairly pain and worry free, we recommend you have someone who is able to drive you to your appointment and take you home afterward.

How long does stem cell treatment last?

We don’t make unrealistic promises about how long stem cell treatment for knee, back, shoulder and joint pain will last. However, clinical studies have shown pain relief can last for several year

How long is the stem cell treatment session?

A typical stem cell treatment lasts about 90 minutes. It involves the harvesting of your healthy stem cells, spinning them in a centrifuge to separate out the needed cells and reinjecting those cells into the treatment area.

How long does it take to see results from stem cell treatment?

The speed of results from stem cell treatment varies from patient to patient. Some patients report feeling better in as little as a couple of days. More typical results have our patients back to full physical activity in four to six weeks.

How much does stem cell treatment cost?

Stem cell treatment cost is dependent on the level of care needed to treat each individual patient. A transparent cost structure will be determined after a physical evaluation is conducted and full medical history is received.

Is stem cell treatment covered by my insurance?

The short answer is no. Stem cell treatment is not yet covered by insurance. However, in some cases, insurance may cover costs associated with stem cell treatment. Patients who suffer from certain types of accidents may also find their insurance may cover some of the costs.