Stem Cell Therapy for Shoulder Pain in Tampa Bay, Clearwater, FL

Shoulder pain can be a significant problem for anyone, especially athletes and those with physically demanding jobs.

The shoulder is used for so many daily activities it is not realized until it becomes injured, or after shoulder surgery just how limiting the pain can be.

Shoulder surgery is much more significant than knee surgery. The loss of mobility, and the effect on the simplest of activities including dressing and activities of daily living are severely restricted.

What is Stem Cell Therapy?

Your body can’t put them where they need to go to heal yourself. So stem cell therapy is taking those cells, and relocating them to areas that need healing.

Stem Cell Treatments for Shoulder Pain

Shoulder pain may persist despite surgical intervention – which is often the reason for surgery in the first place.

This has led many patients to seek alternative measures to treat their shoulder pain.

As patients strive for more innovative treatments for persistent shoulder pain, regenerative therapies are gaining more attention.

Many individuals and athletes are turning to regenerative medicine procedures such as Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) and Stem Cell Therapy as alternatives to surgery, as well as means to aid in healing and regeneration.

Both procedures are becoming popular with elite athletes.

Conditions Treated by Shoulder Stem Cells and Regenerative Therapy

Shoulder Supraspinatus Tears

A common but often misunderstood problem leading to shoulder pain is supraspinatus tears.

These tears often are not surgical, or surgery may not address the problem with partial supraspinatus tears.

Understanding supraspinatus tears is best when some anatomy is known.

The supraspinatus is one of four rotator cuff muscles. The rotator cuff is formed by the tendons of the supraspinatus, the infraspinatus, the teres minor and the subscapularis.

The tendons converge upon the humeral head to form a protective cuff that also helps with stabilization. The supraspinatus tendon passes under the subacromial arch, where it may be impinged by bone spurs. Downward sloping acromiums can predispose to this.

Frequently, bursitis is also present. The impingement effect is enhanced with overhead and externally rotated positions and motions.

Athletes who use their arm in repetitive motions or some occupations predispose to this as well.

The supraspinatus may be inflamed (tendinitis), scarred (tendinosis), impinged, partially torn, or completely torn. Complete supraspinatus tears will result in the inability to initiate shoulder abduction. Chronic problems from lack of full range of motion may result in adhesive capsulitis or frozen shoulder.

Shoulder Osteoarthritis

When the shoulder wears down the underlying structures the rotator cuff, glenoid labrum, subacromial space, and acromial-clavicular joint may all be affected adversely resulting in degeneration.

Shoulder arthroscopies have increased over the years, and long team studies have seen resultant higher incidences of shoulder joint arthritis as well as shoulder replacement similar to findings in the knee.

For these reasons, many individuals and athletes are turning to regenerative medicine procedures such as Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) and Stem Cell Therapy as alternatives to surgery, as well as means to aid in healing and regeneration. Both procedures are becoming popular with elite athletes.

Dennis M. Lox, M.D., a Sports and Regenerative Medicine Specialist, has extensive experience in the treatment of shoulder injuries with regenerative therapies including PRP and stem cells.

Dr. Lox has treated simple sprains, bursitis, and even avascular necrosis (AVN) of the shoulder. Regenerative Medicine may be an effective viable alternative to shoulder surgery.