Connective Tissue Disorder Diagnosis? Treatment Options Include Stem Cell Joint Therapy

If you have recently been diagnosed with a connective tissue disorder such as joint hypermobility syndrome or Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, you may be wondering what treatment options are available to you. The ligament and tissue laxity of connective tissue disorders is due to defective collagen production and can cause joint pain, subluxation (partial dislocation), and dislocation. Strengthening the joints with various treatment options may help reduce the symptoms of a connective tissue disorder. Here's what you need to know. 

Defective Collagen Production 

Collagen, essentially, is the glue that binds cells together. In people who have connective tissue disorders, the production of collagen is defective. It doesn't have the glue-like properties it should have. Collagen is also what gives normal cells the ability to stretch only so far and bounce back. With defective collagen, cells can go a bit too far and not be able to easily bounce back to normal. Think of a cell as a water balloon and defective collagen as jelly in the balloon instead of water. 

As time goes on, continual over-stretching and laxity of joints can lead to joint degeneration, which in turn can lead to worsening subluxations and dislocations as well as precocious osteoarthritis. Because of connective tissue disorders being progressive in nature, it is crucial that you seek treatment to help minimize the symptoms and the progressive damage those symptoms place on your joints. 

Treatment Options 

There are a number of treatment options that you may already be familiar with ranging from lifestyle changes and behavior modification to physical therapy and pain medication. It's typical for someone with severe symptoms of a connective tissue disorder to wear splints and braces to help stabilize joints. Heat therapy is also used to increase blood circulation to the joint in order to aid in the process of cell rejuvenation. 

There is also a newer type of treatment called stem cell joint therapy. In this treatment, stem cells are harvested from your bone marrow or fat tissue and injected with a solution into the musculoskeletal tissue of your problematic joints.  Stem cell joint therapy brings on a brief inflammatory response which causes the generation of new collagen and cellular growth to give your joints the ability to handle the force and strain of daily activities. 

Stem cell therapy is a safe outpatient procedure that offers fast pain relief and provides joint stability. Speak with your primary care provider for more information and to obtain a referral to a clinic like Hiler Chiropractic & Neurology that offers stem cell joint therapy. 


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