Back pain affects over 28 million people in the United States alone. Drugs like oxycodone, hydrocodone and methadone are often prescribed for patients suffering from back pain, even though they are some of the most addictive prescribed drugs on the market. According to research, there has been a 400 percent increase in overdoses due to prescribed opioid drugs since 1999.
Because the source of the pain is often overlooked in exchange for simply masking the pain with prescription drugs, it’s no surprise how many become addicted with no forward-thinking treatment plan in place. Even those who are offered treatment alternatives such as steroid injections or complicated, invasive surgeries often find themselves back on pain medications either during recovery or as a result of failed treatment.
Offering a new solution for back pain that is non-invasive and doesn’t require the use of dangerously addictive pain killers is one of the many things that sparked Dr. Herskowtiz’s passion for stem cell therapy research. In addition to back pain, Dr. Herskowtiz offers treatment for many other orthopedic conditions and diseases with the use of stem cells.
The stem cells, mesenchymal precursor cells, may help reduce inflammation and stimulate the repair of the damaged and degenerating areas. The cells are extracted from the patient’s own body and then spun in a centrifuge to separate the less useful cells from the more effective and valuable ones. Then, the concentration of stem cells is injected into the lower back at the source of the problem.
Dr. Herskowitz is currently studying these stem cell treatments for lower back pain at the San Francisco Stem Cell Treatment Center. To find out if you’re a candidate for treatment, call our office at 1-800-318-6006 or email us at info@sfstemcellcenter.com.