Overview
Stem cell therapy is a regenerative medicine approach that aims to support the body’s natural repair processes using cells derived from your own tissue. Depending on the technique used, cells may be obtained from bone marrow or fat tissue and delivered to a targeted area such as a joint, tendon, or soft tissue structure.
The goal of stem cell therapy is to support tissue recovery and function in selected conditions where conservative care such as physiotherapy, medication, or activity modification has not provided sufficient improvement.
Not all conditions respond in the same way. Some problems are driven by advanced structural change where regenerative treatments may have limited benefit. Careful patient selection is therefore essential to ensure that treatment is appropriate and that unnecessary procedures are avoided.
Who this treatment helps
Stem cell therapy may be considered for people with:
- Persistent joint or soft tissue symptoms where a regenerative approach may be appropriate
- A clear diagnosis supported by clinical examination and imaging
- Symptoms that limit mobility or daily activity despite physiotherapy and conservative care
- Goals focused on improving function, reducing pain, and supporting activity tolerance
- Suitability for tissue collection and injection based procedures
A consultation is required to confirm eligibility, discuss the available evidence, and consider alternative treatment options where appropriate.
What is stem cell therapy
Stem cell therapy refers to treatments that use cells obtained from your own tissue to support biological repair processes.
The treatment process may involve:
- Collecting tissue from a suitable site such as bone marrow or fat tissue
- Processing the collected sample according to the clinical protocol
- Injecting the prepared product into the targeted area under clinical guidance
Your consultant will explain the method being used and the reasons it may be appropriate for your condition. Imaging guidance such as ultrasound or fluoroscopy is often used to improve accuracy and safety during the injection.
What to expect during the procedure
Your treatment plan usually includes several steps.
- Consultant assessment and review of imaging findings
- Discussion of the tissue collection method and the treatment target
- Local anaesthetic and sterile preparation
- Tissue collection from the selected site
- Processing of the collected sample
- Injection into the target area using imaging guidance where appropriate
- Short monitoring period before discharge
The procedure is typically performed as a day case depending on the protocol used.
After the procedure
After stem cell therapy you may experience soreness at the collection site and the injection site. Temporary stiffness or a mild flare of symptoms can also occur.
Improvement usually develops gradually over weeks to months rather than immediately.
Your consultant may recommend:
- A staged return to activity with appropriate load management
- Physiotherapy to guide rehabilitation and movement progression
- Avoiding heavy loading early in the recovery period
- Follow up review to assess progress and function
Benefits
- A regenerative treatment using cells from your own tissue
- May support symptom improvement in selected conditions
- Minimally invasive compared with open surgical procedures
- Can support rehabilitation when irritation and pain reduce
- May improve function and activity tolerance with appropriate selection
Possible risks and side effects
Stem cell based procedures carry risks similar to other injection and tissue collection procedures. These may include:
- Pain flare or soreness at the injection site
- Pain or bruising at the tissue collection site
- Infection which is rare
- Bleeding
- Temporary swelling or stiffness
- Lack of benefit despite appropriate treatment selection
Your consultant will explain personal risk factors and how safety is managed during treatment.
When to consider other options
If stem cell therapy is not suitable, your consultant may discuss alternatives such as PRP platelet rich plasma treatment, steroid injections where inflammation control is required, nerve blocks or radiofrequency procedures for nerve related pain, structured physiotherapy programmes, or surgical referral in advanced structural conditions.
Safety note
Please inform your consultant if you take blood thinning medication, have diabetes, immune suppression, active infection, or conditions that affect healing. Following the recommended rehabilitation plan is important, as excessive loading too early may compromise recovery.
Arrange a consultation to discuss whether stem cell therapy may be suitable for your condition.
You can also explore our regenerative medicine treatments, view related options such as PRP platelet rich plasma, or browse all pain treatments.