Symptom Management for Knee Pain

Knee osteoarthritis strikes millions, slowly destroying the protecting cartilage in the joint and endowing it with chronic pain, stiffness and immobility.

The standard treatment for many years has been to control the symptoms with painkillers, quick corticosteroid injections, or, eventually, complete knee replacement.

While these techniques can be helpful, they don’t get to the root the heart of the matter: the damaged tissue itself.

Regenerative medicine heralds a new era.

Rather than merely hiding pain, therapies such as stem cell therapy seek to employ the body’s own ability to heal, repairing tissue, lowering inflammation and restoring function.

This guide examines the science and philosophy of this innovative non-surgical alternative, and why a rising number of overseas patients are selecting world-class clinics in Medellín, Colombia, to obtain this advanced intervention.

The Science: How Does Stem Cells Work for Osteoarthritis?

What makes this therapy so powerful, though, is that it employs distinctive cells called Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs) — tasking cells that serve as a natural “repair crew” in the body.

At Elixcella, our strategy is to use high-quality, active MSCs to orchestrate the healing response within the knee joint directly.

How they work:

• Strong anti-inflammatory action. This chronic inflammation causes pain and cartilage breakdown. MSC release anti-inflammatory molecules, calming the “fire” in the joint and creating an amenable environment for healing, that is often the first sign patients realize its importance.
• Tissue-regeneration signals. Although MSCs can differentiate into cartilage cells, their key role is paracrine signaling — they release growth factors and proteins that tell your own cells to fix bad tissue and to slow or even reverse damage.
• Modulation and protection. MSCs help “balance the joint ecosystem, protect remaining healthy cartilage and stimulate recovery.”

The Elixcella Treatment Process: When it’s Time’s Right for You

Now we have been able to optimize our process to make the treatment process safer, faster, and more patient-centered.

An average course of knee osteoarthritis treatment in Medellín is:

1. Consultation. Medical history and imaging (MRI/X-ray) to confirm diagnosis and confirm candidacy for regenerative therapy.
2. Cellular preparation. Viable, pure, potency testing of ethically sourced, laboratory-expanded MSCs.
3. Precision injection. Minimally invasive outpatient procedure: Doctors inject concentrated cells with millimeter-level accuracy in the knee joint capsule under ultrasound guidance.
4. Personalized recovery protocol. Minimal downtime. A brief reduction in activity in combination with targeted physical therapy to get the most results.

The Evidence: What Do Clinical Studies Show?

Knee OA is the one of the most studied MSC indications.

A 2021 meta-analysis in the Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery and Research (26 randomized controlled trials; >1,300 patients) found that intra-articular MSC injections provided statistically significant improvements in pain and function versus comparators (e.g., hyaluronic acid or placebo), with effects lasting up to two years.

We believe, in light of our aim at Elixcella, that there’s no way for us not only to have that for a period of time, and temporary alleviation, but meaningful and lasting functional improvement.

Common Questions Asked About Knee Stem Cell Therapy

Are I a good candidate for this particular K-SCT?
Most promising candidates usually have mild to moderate knee OA and wish to prevent or delay knee replacement. Imaging is useful to evaluate joint space and candidacy.
In cases of severe “bone, on bone” these results are usually quite limited.

How is a knee stem cell injection different from a systemic IV treatment?
An intra-articular knee injection delivers cells to the damaged site so that local repair or anti-inflammation can take place. IV is for systemic inflammation/wellness. Direct injection is the standard and most targeted treatment for knee OA.

How after a knee stem cell injection recovery is going to be?
The recovery is minimal. Exclude high-impact activities (running/jumping) for a couple of weeks. Almost everyone returns to daily life quickly. It is usually best to recommend a personalised physical therapy plan.

Why Medellín, Colombia for My Knee Rehabilitation?

Medellín has facilities accredited internationally, trained professionals and lower costs.

Patients at Elixcella get care that meets or exceeds international standards in a modern, welcoming environment.

Sources

1. de la Portilla, M. J., et al. (2013). Immunomodulatory properties of mesenchymal stem cells. Google Scholar.
2. Caplan, A. I. (2017). Mesenchymal stem cells: time to change the name! Stem Cells Translational Medicine. PMCID: PMC5442625.
3. Li, C. H. Y., et al. (2021). Intra-articular injections of mesenchymal stem cells for knee osteoarthritis… Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery and Research. PMCID: PMC8425785.