REGENERATIVE
MEDICINE
Local injection into the knee joint (stem cell culture supernatant)
ABOUT
About Local Knee Joint Injection
Stem cell culture supernatant treatment
for knee pain.
Joint pain arises from friction between bone and joint and other causes, and results in chronic discomfort.
It can appear in the knees and shoulders as we age.
Usual treatments for joint pain include compresses, oral medication, rehabilitation, surgery, and injections of hyaluronic acid or steroids into the joint. For chronic pain that persists despite these, local injection of stem cell culture supernatant is expected to be effective.
This treatment does not replace the joint. Rather, it is thought to promote tissue repair and regeneration and to ease pain through its effect on the nerves.
Our clinic has a Specified Cell-Processing Facility on site. Under a certified regenerative medicine physician with clinical experience among the best in Japan, dedicated technologists trained in the necessary techniques take responsibility for the culture through to the final cell testing, so we can work with stem cell culture supernatant of high quality.
RECOMMENDED
Who It Is For
If conventional treatment has not given you the results you want
Painkillers and hyaluronic acid injections are only temporary, symptomatic measures, and their effect can fade when continued over a long period. Have you found that something which worked at first has gradually become less effective? For people in that situation, stem cell treatment often gives good results.
If you would rather avoid treatment involving a hospital stay or surgery
Where symptoms have progressed and pain is severe, surgery may be considered, and that usually means a hospital stay. Stem cell culture supernatant treatment, by contrast, can be received on an outpatient basis, which is particularly convenient for those for whom a hospital stay is difficult because of family or work.
If you want to keep your own knee
Stem cell culture supernatant treatment is a form of regenerative medicine that makes use of your own tissue, drawing out the body's inherent capacity for self-repair. It offers valuable support to those who would rather live on their own knees for as long as possible, without relying on artificial replacements.
FEATURES
Features of the Treatment
Easing inflammation and pain
The action of the stem cells eases symptoms such as inflammation and pain in the knee.
No hospital stay
It involves only an injection into the knee joint, so the impact on daily life is very small.
Consistent quality
Stem cell culture is carried out at a Specified Cell-Processing Facility attached to the clinic, for which notification has been filed with the national government, allowing high quality to be maintained.
DIFFERENCE
Compared with Stem Cell Transplantation
Compared with stem cell transplantation, local knee joint injection offers the following advantages.
◎ No surgical harvesting of stem cells, cell culture or advance testing of any kind is required
◎ The sterilized, frozen injection solution is held in cryogenic storage, so treatment is possible on the day you visit
◎ At less than a tenth of the cost of a stem cell transplant, it is affordable and safe
Treatment time: about 15 to 30 minutes depending on the area (excluding consultation)
Visits: one to three times a month as a guide (three is ideal). Regular treatment is recommended.
Notes: showering, bathing and light exercise are possible from the same day.
STEM CELLS
An Effective Supernatant
Among mesenchymal stem cell culture supernatants, this treatment uses adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cell culture supernatant growth factors, which are expected to benefit the knee joint.
The standard is a course of three sessions over one month, and the total cost is about half that of treatment using adipose-derived autologous stem cells.
Adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells
Adipose tissue contains 500 times more stem cells than the same volume of bone marrow tissue, with strong proliferative capacity and excellent secretion of bone, cartilage and humoral factors.
It is expected to find application in joint disorders including osteoarthritis of the knee, easing inflammation and pain and supporting the repair of worn tissue.
FLOW
The Process
Get in touch
Contact us by phone or through the form.
Free consultation with a medical advisor
We cannot advise on whether a treatment is suitable for you at this stage, but we will explain the process and the costs involved.
Examination by a doctor
We confirm the final treatment plan.
Treatment begins
Treatment is tailored to each patient. The injection is made directly into the knee joint and takes about 15 minutes.
VOICE
Patient Voices
Woman in her fiftiesStanding upright for long periods brought on an inflammatory pain in my knee, and long hours on my feet at work were difficult. The needle is thick, which made me nervous, but the treatment took about five minutes, I felt no pain at all during the injection, and it was over in no time. There was a slight foreign-body sensation for about 30 minutes while the solution settled into the knee. The knee pain was gone soon after the injection, and there has been no pain since. I no longer feel pain in my knee even standing upright for long periods.
Man in his thirtiesMy knee had been creaking for several years. There was no pain at first, but the joint began to hurt on cold days, when I was tired, and going up and down stairs. I had an injection into the knee joint; it was over in an instant and painless. There was slight discomfort in the knee for a few days from the day of treatment, but I was surprised when the symptoms disappeared around the third day. Where I used to have pain in cold weather, I have been fine ever since.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
PatientWhat is stem cell culture supernatant?
PhysicianCulture supernatant refers to what is contained in the clear liquid drawn from the medium in which stem cells have been cultured, after sterilization and other processing. It is rich in components important to cell activity, known as cytokines.
PatientWhat is involved in receiving stem cell culture supernatant?
PhysicianBefore treatment you have a consultation and examination with a doctor, at which the details of the treatment, points to note and the cost are explained. The treatment itself then follows, by IV drip or injection. The whole visit takes about one to two hours.
PatientIs there any pain or are there side effects?
PhysicianBecause stem cell culture supernatant is given by injection or IV drip using a needle, you may feel pain as the needle goes in. Redness, itching or swelling can also occur at the puncture site. With an IV drip there is a possibility of hypoglycemic symptoms (cold sweats, yawning, hunger, trembling), so we recommend eating properly before your visit.
PatientHow many sessions should I have?
PhysicianThe effect varies from person to person, but one to three sessions is generally said to be enough to feel a clear benefit. Some people notice an effect after the first session, while others continue over several sessions to build on it. Because the frequency and number of sessions depend on your condition and your goals, it is important to work out the best plan with your doctor during consultation.