Can You Avoid Knee Replacement Surgery?

Recently, Motus Biologics owner Leslie Michaud invited questions from online users from around the world interested in stem cells and alternative medicine.

Not surprisingly, one of the most common questions we received was how to avoid joint replacement surgery due to arthritis, specifically knee replacement surgery.

Joint replacement surgery, whether it’s your hip, knee, shoulder, or wrist, can be expensive, time-consuming, and painful.

What your doctor should have discussed with you during your conversation about your knee replacement surgery is that once you get a joint replacement, many alternative treatments such as stem cell treatments are no longer an option.

This is because stem cells rely on healthy cells to be effective. It cannot fix or heal an inorganic substance, such as the metal, plastic, or ceramic prosthesis used in most knee replacement surgeries.

While replacement may be inevitable, stem cell treatments can help many patients “kick the can” down the road and successfully delay surgery.

Are stem cells an effective alternative to knee replacement?

In the average population of patients who are deemed candidates, stem cell treatment is effective in 86% of patients. Many times we find that either you respond to stem cells, or you don’t.

The risks and downtime of stem cell treatments are very low. About 5% of patients are what we call “non-responders” and will report no improvement in pain, stiffness, or function 6 months after treatment.

The remaining 9% are what we call “suboptimal-responders”—meaning that they will have improvement, but it is not good enough. This is when patients should consider joint replacement.

Overall, it is important to understand that stem cell treatment for knee replacement is not a permanent solution.

At Motus Biologics, we hope to provide our patients with anywhere from 4-6 years of improvement.

Many of these patients are trying to hold off having a knee replacement for time or financial reasons; they may also have medical conditions (such as a metal allergy, clotting disorder, or heart disease) that would make them ineligible for surgery at all.

Also, if you’re looking for a one-time permanent solution, knee replacement surgery (given there are no complications) done later in life can sometimes last you forever. Some of our patients see stem cell treatment at a disadvantage in this regard, as they will most likely need multiple treatments over the years.

However, if you’re looking for pain relief without the complications or strains of knee replacement surgery, stem cells may be an effective alternative for you.

What other questions do you have about knee replacement alternatives?

We’re here to be your online resource for all-things regenerative medicine. Please don’t hesitate to contact us and we’ll be happy to discuss your options with you.

You can also use our free Virtual Consultation tool to determine the best treatment for your pain points.

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