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Where do stem cells come from? Stem cells come from four places: early embryos a few days after fertilization, tissues of the adult body such as bone marrow and fat, birth tissues such as umbilical cord blood, and the laboratory, where scientists can reprogram...

Do you need surgery for a torn ankle ligament? Usually not. Most ankle sprains, including many complete tears of the outer ankle ligaments, are treated without an operation: a short period of protection, then tape or a brace combined with a structured exercise...

Are stem cells and PRP the same thing? No. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is a concentrate of platelets made from your own blood in a few minutes; it contains growth factors but no living stem cells. Stem cell therapy uses mesenchymal stem cells, which are living cells...

What are the side effects of stem cell therapy? In clinical trials the common side effects are short-lived: soreness, swelling and stiffness where the cells were injected and, after an IV infusion, a passing fever, which was the only adverse event more frequent than...

Is a stem cell clinic in Panama better than one in Colombia? Neither country is better by default. Stem Cell Institute in Panama City publishes an adult package from USD 26,900 that includes hotel and transfers, while in Medellín, Colombia, our treatment is priced per...

Can a bulging disc heal, and do stem cell injections fix it? A bulging disc is a broad, usually age-related outward spread of a spinal disc, and it often causes no pain at all: imaging studies find bulges in 30% of pain-free 20-year-olds and 84% of pain-free...

What is stem cell IV therapy, and does it work? Stem cell IV therapy is an infusion of cells, usually mesenchymal stem cells, into a vein through a drip, so they circulate through the whole body instead of being placed in one joint. Reviews of randomized trials show...

Can you increase stem cells naturally? Partly, and mostly for a short time. In human studies, exercise releases stem and progenitor cells into the bloodstream for a few hours and expands muscle stem cells for one to three days after strength training, and quitting...

How long does sciatica pain last? For most people, sciatica caused by a herniated disc eases within a few weeks without surgery: the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons estimates that about 80 to 90% of patients get better over time without an operation (AAOS)....

Can a hip labral tear heal without surgery? The torn labrum itself is not expected to knit back together, but the pain often settles. In a meta-analysis of non-surgical care for non-arthritic hip pain, including labral tears, about 54% of patients reported a...