Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine for Chronic Pain

Humans have been searching for the Fountain of Youth for millennia, from Ponce de León to Herodotus. Some people feel that regenerative medicine, a field that encompasses stem cells, growth factors, and other cell mediating proteins, is that magical fountain, while others, including some physicians, members of various regulatory committees, and some in the media, believe it is a fad. As with many emerging topics, there is curiosity and confusion. While the regenerative medicine field is relatively new to most people, there is a wide variety of treatments and technologies available. We will discuss the various stem cell and growth factors in regenerative medicine and some conditions, such as degenerative changes, osteoarthritis, tendinitis, and neurological conditions that have been treated with them. (Recorded at PAINWeek 2018)