Summary: Stem cell therapy is revolutionizing the way we treat severe disease, joint problems, and more. If you are planning this treatment, it’s natural to feel curious or even anxious about the process. In this blog, we’ll explore what you can expect before, during, and after stem cell therapy, helping you feel less worried and more prepared on your journey.
We understand that living with constantly irritating joint pain, recurring sports injuries, or arthritis flare-ups can feel exhausting. Most patients try different types of therapies like physiotherapy, medications, and multiple visits to doctors, yet they still don’t find any long-term relief. Although surgery often feels too risky or like a last resort.
This is where stem cell therapy comes as a more natural, minimally invasive, and better option, which focuses on repairing and restoring damaged tissue instead of just managing pain. However, it is normal to feel overwhelmed when you don’t know what the process involves. Let’s try to answer all of the questions a patient might have to give a clear path towards a healthy tomorrow.
Before Stem Cell Therapy: How to Prepare for the Treatment?
Being prepared is always a good idea, as it plays a vital role in the success of the treatment. Here’s what you can expect before the treatment:
Initial Consultation and Evaluation Profile: Your physician will review your medical history, assess your current condition, and outline the reasons for pursuing treatment to ensure stem cell therapy is suitable and appropriate for you.
Diagnostic Tests: Imaging (e.g., MRI or X-ray) and lab tests may be ordered to determine the extent of injury and help direct appropriate treatment planning.
Lifestyle Modifications: You may be required to avoid certain medications like blood thinners, consume healthy food, and stay ambulatory and active with low-intensity exercises.
Travel and Logistics: Being an international patient flying to India, it is essential that accommodations, visa travel arrangements, and local transport are prebooked and planned. Clinics like Global Stem Cell Care offer inclusive services for international patients so that the process and procedure can be hassle-free and time-efficient.
Mental Preparation: Knowing the process and what to expect will give you the confidence that will lead you to treatment.
During Stem Cell Therapy: The Process Explained
The therapy is less invasive and can be completed within the same day. Here is the step-by-step process explained:
Treatment Setting: Many processes are done in an outpatient facility, which means that the patient can return home on the same day.
Cell Extraction: Stem cells are often collected from your own body, and from bone marrow, fat tissue, with the help of a simple and safe procedure.
Processing: Then, the extracted cells are processed in the sterile lab to concentrate and prepare them for the injection.
Targeted Injection: These processed cells are injected into the damaged area, such as the knee joint or spine, with the help of imaging for accuracy.
Comfort and Safety: Local anesthesia may be used to minimize discomfort, and the entire process typically takes just a few hours.
After Stem Cell Therapy: Recovery and Results
As you know, recovering from an injury takes time, and each patient heals at a different pace. Here’s what you can expect after your treatment:
Immediate Care: There may be tenderness or swelling at the site of the injection, which will resolve within a few days. You may want to perform a modified activity level, and if need be, take over-the-counter anti-inflammatories or pain relief medication, but rest as recommended by your medical doctor is also generally encouraged.
Rehabilitation: Rest is recommended along with rehabilitation exercises with a physiotherapist to rebuild muscle strength and return to mobility, ideally for improved long-term outcomes.
Healing Time: Some people may heal relatively quickly in weeks, while others may take a few months, as stem cells are rebuilding their tissues continuously.
Lifestyle Instructions: During the healing phase, avoid heavy exercise, smoking, and alcohol in the recovery period for successful healing and recovery.
Follow-up Visits: Regular visits to your doctor will also help your doctor track your progress and see that the treatment is providing favorable outcomes than what is available without the treatment.
The Bottom Line
Stem cell therapy is essentially a natural healing and recovery mechanism, not just a one-off procedure. When you understand what is recommended to happen during, prior to, and after the procedure, you may feel better prepared and knowledgeable.
If you are looking at stem cell treatment in India, reach out to Global Stem Cell Care individually for expert recommendations and state-of-the-art treatment for total care along the journey of recovery. Their expertise means you will have the care you require every step of the way.
Some Common Questions and Answers About Stem Cell Therapy
Q1. How much is the pain of stem cell therapy?
Ans. The majority of patients feel little or no discomfort, like a regular injection. Local anesthesia is applied to maintain comfort during the procedure.
Q2. How much time does it take to fully recover?
Ans. Recovery is variable, but patients have improvement in pain and mobility in a few weeks to months.
Q3. Can I travel right away after the procedure?
Ans. Yes, the majority of patients are okay to travel the same or the following day. International patients should rest for a minimum of 24–48 hours before extended flights.
Q4. Are there any side effects I should be aware of?
Ans. Mild swelling, tenderness, or stiffness where the injection was made is common and typically resolves in days. Severe complications are uncommon.