by Stemedix | Mar 7, 2022 | Multiple Sclerosis, Stem Cell Therapy
As one of the most common neurodegenerative disorders, multiple sclerosis (MS) affects millions of patients. This progressive condition can cause everything from muscle weakness to double vision. Regenerative medicine is showing new potential when it comes to treating multiple sclerosis. Read on to learn more about how stem cells can help patients with MS.
What Happens During Multiple Sclerosis Flares?
In multiple sclerosis, a person’s immune system attacks the myelin of their nerve fibers. Myelin is a material that forms a protective layer, or sheath, around nerve fibers and shields them from damage. When the immune system attacks the myelin sheath, it causes inflammation and lesions that make it difficult for the brain to send signals throughout the rest of the body.
While there is no cure for multiple sclerosis, patients may undergo a wide variety of treatments to manage their symptoms. This may include physical therapy, immunosuppressants, steroids, and beta-blockers. Regenerative medicine, also known as stem cell therapy, is also showing great potential when it comes to managing multiple sclerosis and its symptoms.
Stem Cells and Multiple Sclerosis
Regenerative medicine works within the body at a cellular level, stimulating a healing response that can address certain symptoms of multiple sclerosis. Various types of stem cells have the potential to regenerate lost or damaged cells, including those that form the myelin sheath. This has the potential to improve the lives of MS patients, whose myelin layers have been damaged by inflammation.
The following are three types of stem cells that can be used to treat multiple sclerosis:
Haematopoietic Stem Cells (HSCs)
Haematopoietic stem cells are adult stem cells found in the blood and bone marrow. These cells play an active role in immune function.
Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs)
Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are present in umbilical cords and fat tissue. These cells help promote the function of other stem cells throughout the body.
Neural Stem Cells (NSCs)
Neural stem cells are specialized stem cells that can repair the myelin in the brain. These cells can come from other stem cells, such as mesenchymal stem cells.
How Can Stem Cell Therapy Manage MS Symptoms?
Stem cell therapy can modulate the immune system, temporarily disabling the abnormal attacks on myelin tissue. When the immune system is no longer destroying healthy myelin cells surrounding nerve fibers, it can help slow the progression of multiple sclerosis conditions and potentially improve symptoms.
When patients receive stem cell therapy to treat their multiple sclerosis, they may experience some of the following benefits:
- Reduction of muscle spasticity
- Increased energy
- Improved balance
- Enhanced concentration
- Decrease in visual disturbances
- Improved range of motion
- Reduction of muscle pain
While stem cell therapy has the potential to manage MS symptoms, it is still considered an experimental treatment and can not guarantee a cure. Although stem cell therapy is not FDA approved, there has been research to suggest it is safe and patients result in positive outcomes. Patients must have realistic expectations when choosing regenerative medicine for multiple sclerosis but it may be an option worth exploring. If you are interested in learning more about how Stem cells can help patients with MS, contact us today and speak with a care coordinator.
by admin | Mar 2, 2022 | Health Awareness, Pain Management, Rheumatoid Arthritis
Do you suffer from aches and pains due to rheumatoid arthritis (RA)? The stiffness caused by RA is a nuisance for many patients and it is especially prevalent in the morning. When you awake from even the most comfortable of sleep, your joints may feel painful and stiff for several hours. How can this be avoided?
4 Ways to Reduce Morning Stiffness for RA Patients
Most patients turn to over-the-counter pain medications to ease their RA morning stiffness, but there may be some other alternatives. The following are four ways to reduce rheumatoid arthritis stiffness and start your day off right.
1. Turn Up the Heat
Experts suggest turning your heat up about 30 minutes before you plan to start your day. This will allow time for your joints to warm up and feel less stiff while you take it easy and relax in bed or have your morning coffee. By the time you need to get ready and head out the door, your body will feel more relaxed, and stiffness may be decreased.
2. Take Medication as Soon as You Wake Up
While you’re turning up the heat, go ahead and take any of your rheumatoid arthritis medications. You want to give your medication time to kick in and take effect before you begin your morning routine. This will help ease most of the aches and pains that you may feel in your joints during morning activities.
3. Practice Gentle Movements
Once you are ready to get out of bed, practice gentle movements rather than jumping to your feet and rushing around the house. Simple range-of-motion exercises can help stretch your muscles and loosen joints in the hands, wrists, and feet.
4. Take A Hot Shower
While many people opt for nighttime showers, RA patients may benefit from taking a hot morning shower. Taking a warm shower upon waking in the morning will help loosen and relax the joints, decreasing any stiffness or aching.
If you suffer from chronic pain from your rheumatoid arthritis, you may want to explore how regenerative medicine, also known as stem cell therapy, may help manage symptoms. In addition, some patients are discovering help from peptides. These are chains of amino acids, and some may have the potential for those with chronic pain. Alternative medicine does not offer a cure, but for some, it may help improve quality of life.
by admin | Feb 23, 2022 | Health Awareness
Glutathione is a powerful antioxidant that is composed of three amino acids: glutamine, glycine, and cysteine. Every cell of the body contains glutathione, and by researching the effects that glutathione levels have on a variety of diseases, scientists continue to discover its benefits.
Functions of Glutathione
Like all antioxidants, glutathione serves many essential functions for the body. These include:
- Making DNA
- Forming sperm cells
- Breaking down some free radicals
- Supporting immunity
- Helping the liver and gallbladder process fats
- Regenerating vitamins C and E
- Transporting mercury out of the brain
Despite the body’s ability to make glutathione, levels tend to decrease as you get older. Poor nutrition, stress, and environmental toxins can also lower glutathione levels.
Benefits of Glutathione
Benefits of maintaining your glutathione levels, either through a healthy diet and exercise or through topical, oral, or intravenous supplementation include:
Antioxidant Activity
Antioxidants help counteract free radicals, which contribute to aging and some diseases. Therefore, powerful antioxidants like glutathione can protect the body from the damaging effects of free radicals.
Reducing Cell Damage from Liver Disease
Antioxidant deficiencies can worsen the fatty liver disease, contributing to further cell death. Conversely, glutathione may improve the protein, enzyme, and bilirubin levels of patients with chronic fatty liver disease.
Reduced Insulin Resistance in Older Patients
A study examining the role that glutathione plays in weight management and insulin resistance connected low glutathione levels to less fat burning and higher rates of fat storage. Increasing glutathione levels may help older patients manage symptoms of insulin resistance.
Reduced Symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease
While further research is still needed, a study connecting the effects of intravenous glutathione treatments on Parkinson’s disease symptoms, including tremors and rigidity, reported improvement for patients.
Assistance in Fighting Autoimmune Diseases
Autoimmune diseases can cause chronic inflammation and increase oxidative stress. Glutathione may help in reducing oxidative stress by eliminating free radicals and protecting cell mitochondria. Scientists are still uncovering the ways that glutathione can benefit our overall health. Meanwhile, you can work to maintain your natural glutathione levels through a healthy diet, getting enough rest, and avoiding environmental toxins.
by Stemedix | Feb 21, 2022 | Pain Management
Up to 50 million Americans suffer from chronic or long-term pain. Missing work, the inability to do recreational activities, lack of concentration, and poor mental health are all side effects of living with chronic pain. However, one of the last things pain sufferers want to do may be the most effective treatment for chronic pain: exercise, and more specifically, physical therapy. Physical therapy for pain management can increase strength, mobility, and overall wellness for those suffering from chronic pain.
Chronic Pain
Doctors consider pain present for more than 12 weeks to be chronic pain. Some of the most common conditions causing chronic pain include:
Physical therapists typically focus on building strength and mobility when treating pain patients. Additionally, a physical therapist may work with patients to find safe, functional movements that don’t aggravate their pain.
How Physical Therapy Treats Pain
Physical therapists work to treat pain and its source. A physical therapist will look for muscle weakness or stiffness in areas that contribute to chronic pain symptoms. Then, they’ll treat your pain with exercises that help you move better and ease the pain.
Most physical therapy sessions include a variety of training methods.
Low-Impact Aerobic Exercises
Your physical therapist may choose an activity like cycling, walking, or swimming to amplify your heart rate, increase your range of motion, and provide fluid to your joints.
Strengthening Exercises
Your physical therapist may use low weights, resistance bands, weight machines, and bodyweight exercises (lunges and push-ups) to strengthen foundational muscles like your core or abdominal muscles.
Pain Relief Exercises
Pain relief exercises specifically target the source of your pain. For instance, a patient with knee pain may strengthen their leg muscles to support the joint better.
Stretching
Gentle stretches are a fundamental part of physical therapy, as specific stretches can help to reduce pain, make muscle contraction more efficient, and work to release entrapped nerves.
Maintaining a consistent exercise routine can also help you retain the ability to move and function properly, rather than letting your pain render you immobile.
Further Pain Support
When meeting with your physical therapist, discuss further treatment options to mitigate your pain. These treatments may include massage, heat and cold therapy, and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), which many physical therapists offer in-office.
Lack of movement and exercise worsens chronic pain. However, you can take charge of your pain symptoms by working with a physical therapist to build strength and mobility while lessening your chronic pain. Some patients are exploring stem cell therapy for chronic pain to help manage inflammation and pain. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are one specific type of stem cell that has the ability to differentiate into different types of cells. They are essentially the raw materials used to generate new tissues. This new alternative option may help patients manage their chronic pain along with conventional methods. If you are interested in learning more about physical therapy for pain management call us today and speak with. a care coordinator.
by Stemedix | Feb 14, 2022 | Pain Management
For decades, the treatment guidelines for pain were rest and inactivity. In contrast, more recent data shows that exercise may reduce the severity of chronic pain and offer well-established benefits, like improved physical and mental health. Some activities can benefit chronic pain patients, while others can exacerbate pain symptoms. No matter what exercise regimen you choose to manage your pain, start slowly, take breaks, and stop if your pain worsens. Here we will overview exercises for pain management.
Walking
Walking is a low-impact cardiovascular exercise that can increase strength, endurance, and heart health. If walking is challenging for you, start slow, and work your way up to walking for 30 minutes, three to five times per week.
Walking increases blood circulation, bringing oxygen to muscles and relieving stiffness. If you use a walker or a cane, bring it with you for support.
Swimming or Water Aerobics
Exercising in water also provides low-impact cardiovascular benefits without creating much stress on your joints and muscles. In addition, patients suffering from mobility issues may find extra comfort in the water, as the feeling of weightlessness may provide relief.
Swimming has the potential to build stronger muscles in the back, shoulders, legs, and core while causing minimal impact to your spine. Additionally, swimming can improve coordination, balance, and posture, which may lessen the risk of further injury.
Cycling
Cycling can strengthen your heart and lungs and improve muscle function. Compared to high-impact exercises, cycling tends to produce less stress on your weight-bearing joints, like your hips, knees, and feet. It also can reduce pain and stiffness by lubricating your joints through movement.
Patients who need to work at lower intensities can go slower, coast occasionally, and use lower gears. No matter your intensity level, research shows that the benefits of cycling remain.
Yoga
Yoga is one of few activities that focus on mental and physical fitness. In addition to using movements to stretch and strengthen muscles, yoga’s holistic approach incorporates breathing exercises and meditation.
You can modify yoga poses to accommodate your level of strength, flexibility, and physical limitations. Options include:
- Chair yoga
- Using a wall for balance
- Using yoga props to make poses more accessible
Ask your instructor about your specific challenges so that they can offer appropriate modifications. Know that some soreness a day or two after an unfamiliar workout is normal and means your muscles are reacting appropriately to exercise.
Whenever you incorporate new exercises for pain management into your routine, it’s best to discuss your plans with your healthcare provider. For more health awareness blogs, please visit www.stemedix.com/blog.
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