In 2020, neck pain affected 203 million people globally.
Neck injuries can be extremely painful and significantly impact both your range of movement and quality of life. Traditional treatments often involve medication, physical therapy, or more invasive interventions like surgery.
However, in recent years, stem cell therapy has emerged as a potential alternative treatment, offering hope for regeneration and pain relief. In this blog, we explore the effectiveness and potential of stem cell therapy for neck injuries.
What causes neck injuries?
Typically, neck injuries involve the muscles, nerves, bones, or intervertebral discs and can be caused by a wide variety of issues. Some of the common reasons behind neck pain include:
- accidents
- muscle overuse
- age-related wear and tear
- degenerative conditions such as osteoarthritis and degenerative disk disease
- herniated or bulging disks
- cervical radiculopathy (pinched nerve in the neck)
- cervical spinal stenosis (where the spinal canal is too narrow for the spinal cord and nerve roots, causing damage to the spinal cord or pinched nerves)
Neck injuries can also vary in how they present. Some may be uncomfortable whereas others may cause a sudden stop in movement.
It’s thought that stem cell therapy can help to regenerate damaged tissues and reduce inflammation, supporting the overall healing of neck injuries.
How does stem cell therapy work for neck injuries?
Whatever the reason for your neck pain and however your symptoms present, stem cell therapy may be able to improve your condition.
Stem cell therapy uses the body’s own repair mechanisms to regenerate damaged tissues. Stem cells are ‘undifferentiated’ cells which have the ability to become various specialized cell types, including muscle, bone, and cartilage cells. These specialized cells are crucial to many bodily functions.
When injected into the body, stem cells can target damaged areas, like the neck, and specialize into the tissues that the area needs. These specialized cells then multiply exponentially, beginning to regenerate the area and stimulate the body’s natural healing processes.
Stem cells have other abilities which make them powerful healers. For instance, they can modulate the immune response helping the immune system to work more effectively. Stem cells also have anti-inflammatory properties, meaning they can potentially reduce inflammation in the body, which helps to reduce pain.
Is stem cell therapy for neck injuries effective?
With the ability to regenerate tissues, reduce inflammation, and regulate the immune system, stem cells may help to support the healing of neck injuries. This could deliver benefits such as a greater range of movement and mobility, decreased pain, and a better overall quality of life.
Research into the effectiveness of stem cell therapy is ongoing. A range of clinical studies have demonstrated that stem cell therapy can help improve various injuries, conditions, and illnesses, but more research is needed specifically on the neck.
Some studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of stem cell therapy on the neck. For instance, one study found that mesenchymal stem cell therapy offered clinically important pain relief in the majority of patients with neck and/or back pain. However, this study, and most other research on stem cells in the neck region, have a very small sample size and the results cannot be generalized to everyone.
While wider studies on the potential of stem cell therapy show promising results in pain reduction and enhancing quality of life, more research is needed to understand whether stem cell therapy is suitable for neck pain specifically.
Frequently asked questions
At Stemwell, we collect healthy umbilical cord stem cells from willing donors. Stem cells can be found in many places throughout the body, but the umbilical cord is rich in stem cells and these cells can be ethically, safely, and easily harvested.
Once collected and extensively analyzed by our professional team, the stem cells are then injected directly into the neck to target the source of the pain and inflammation directly. Stem cells may also be administered intravenously (through the bloodstream) so they can circulate throughout the body and signal your cells to decrease inflammation and promote healing.
Several conditions can impact the nerves in the neck. Cervical radiculopathy (or ‘pinched nerve’) is a condition caused by compression and inflammation of the nerve roots in the neck. It can cause discomfort, numbness, weakness and pain and may be caused by a herniated or degenerating disk in the neck. Cervical spinal stenosis is another condition where the spinal canal is too small for the spinal cord and nerve roots, leading to damaged or pinched nerves.
Stem cell therapy can help to support nerve issues in the neck, as the therapy can help to regenerate tissues and reduce inflammation in the body.
As stem cell therapy is non-invasive, it is often considered safer and less intense than interventions such as surgery. However, like most medical procedures, stem cell therapy still carries some risks to be aware of. Each individual is unique, so adverse reactions and infections cannot be ruled out. Stem cell therapy is also still considered an experimental treatment, so more research is needed to understand the long-term safety of the therapy.
That being said, research so far has shown that treatments using mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), the type of stem cells we use for therapy at Stemwell, are usually successful and carry minimal risks. Our experienced doctors also go above and beyond to reduce the chances of any risks and to prioritize a safe procedure. If you have any questions or concerns around the safety of stem cell therapy, make sure you talk to your doctor.
Some people may notice improvements within a few weeks, whereas for others, it may take several months. Significant healing can vary between individuals, but continuous rehabilitation and follow-ups will help the recovery process.
During an initial medical consultation our experts will get an understanding of your needs and develop a tailored treatment plan. After this we will be able to give an indication of how much stem cell therapy will cost.
Contact Stemwell today to discuss how stem cell therapy can help you
The dedicated and professional team at Stemwell work to support people with a wide range of medical issues, including neck pain. We are happy to explore with you in detail if stem cell therapy may benefit your situation.
If you would like to know more about stem cell treatment options you can contact us with any questions, or apply today to check your eligibility.
