Arthritis & BMAC: Can Bone Marrow Aspirate Concentrate Reduce Joint Pain?

Managing Joint Pain

Arthritis is an autoimmune condition that causes inflammation and pain in the joints. The most common types of arthritis are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Joint pain is usually managed with conservative treatments such as medications or surgery. However, healthcare professionals always look for different and effective techniques such as bone marrow aspirate concentrate (BMAC) to treat arthritis.

Common short-term treatments

The aim of treating arthritis is to reduce pain and inflammation and improve mobility since there is no cure. Short-term treatments include medications like anti-inflammatory drugs, joint mobilization, massage, heat or cold application, acupuncture, and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation. Based on the patient’s severity, the doctor will advise on the right treatment choice.

Requiring a longer pain relief

Long-term treatments provide pain relief for a longer duration. Some of the treatments are invasive such as surgery. Others are minimally invasive such as steroid injections or hyaluronic acid therapy. Doctors may prescribe stronger medications such as disease-modifying rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) to impede the progression of the disease. Sometimes doctors may use a combination of both short and long-term therapies or even try out new ways like BMAC.

Understanding BMAC

According to various studies, BMAC is a novel and effective way to reduce joint pain. Bone marrow is a spongy substance where blood is produced. BMAC is a type of fluid consisting of bone marrow cells. BMAC has shown benefits in reducing joint pain and swelling, providing better healing, and helping in growth and repair.

The process of taking BMAC

BMAC is an outpatient procedure where the patient is put under general or local anesthesia. Once sedated, a needle is inserted into a large bone such as the pelvic bone to remove bone marrow aspirate. After collecting, the aspirate is processed in a centrifuge to produce stem cell concentration. After processing, the BMAC is injected into the joint pain area. After the procedure, do not expect quick results as the effect will take some time to appear.

Other benefits

Besides being an effective treatment for arthritis, BMAC can be helpful in other ways. This quick procedure efficiently manages bone fractures and bone death or osteonecrosis. BMAC also provides better wound healing, cartilage function, and tendon function.

Potential consequences after the procedure

After a BMAC, the chances of experiencing adverse events are rare. A few possible side effects are infection, bleeding, and pain at the site.

Managing arthritis with BMAC

There is a wide range of treatment options for reducing the symptoms of arthritis. New effective treatments such as BMAC have shown positive results in lessening joint pain. Speak to the healthcare specialist about the effectiveness of BMAC and the risks and prognosis.