🌿 Bone Marrow-Derived Stem Cell Therapy

Powerful Healing from Within Your Own Bones

What Are Bone Marrow-Derived Stem Cells?

Bone marrow is a rich source of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs)—special cells that have the ability to transform into cartilage, muscle, tendon, or bone. These cells also release healing signals that reduce inflammation and encourage damaged tissue to repair itself¹.

This therapy involves collecting a small amount of bone marrow from the back of your pelvis, concentrating the stem cells, and injecting them into the area that needs healing—like a damaged joint or disc.

How the Procedure Works

  1. Bone Marrow Aspiration: Using local anesthetic, a trained provider extracts bone marrow from your pelvic bone with a specialized needle.
  2. Processing: The sample is spun in a high-speed centrifuge to separate and concentrate the stem cells.
  3. Targeted Injection: The stem cells are then injected precisely into the affected area, often under ultrasound or fluoroscopic guidance.

Once injected, these cells go to work restoring balance and promoting healing in the injured tissue².

Conditions Treated with Bone Marrow Stem Cells

At Johnson Medical Center, we use bone marrow-derived stem cells to help patients with:

  • Advanced joint arthritis (knee, hip, shoulder)
  • Disc degeneration in the spine
  • Non-healing bone fractures
  • Chronic tendon injuries
  • Sports injuries that haven’t responded to rest or therapy

This therapy is especially valuable for middle age patients or those with more severe wear-and-tear injuries.

How Does This Compare to Adipose Stem Cells?

While both types of stem cell therapy are effective, bone marrow-derived stem cells may be better suited for more advanced degeneration or complex orthopedic cases. Bone marrow contains a higher concentration of hematopoietic (blood-forming) stem cells and immune-modulating factors, which can play a role in healing chronic inflammation or immune-driven joint degeneration³.

That said, bone marrow aspiration is a bit more invasive and may result in temporary soreness at the donor site. It’s a tradeoff—but often worth it for patients with advanced conditions.

A Natural, Personalized Solution

Since these stem cells come from your own body, the treatment is autologous and biocompatible—minimizing risks and maximizing outcomes. Most patients experience gradual improvement in pain, function, and range of motion over the weeks and months following treatment.

Bone marrow stem cell therapy is a minimally invasive, drug-free option for people who want to avoid surgery or long-term medications.

🔗 Sources
  1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3430914/
  2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4292164/
  3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6769108/