Imitola says he isn’t trying to throw cold water on the subject, but that, as a doctor, he needs peer-reviewed evidence in order to endorse a therapy. People need to understand that, just because it’s in the news, it doesn’t mean it’s applicable to them.” But right now it’s not for people who have back pain and want stem cell therapy just because Jack Nicklaus did it. “When you have that evidence, it could be approved and everybody will want to do it. “If there’s a clinical trial where cells are injected into the space between the bones, and it alleviates the pain and inflammation associated with facet joint syndrome, then it most likely will become an approved therapy, because there’s proof of concept and a clinical trial,” said Imitola. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).īut this doesn’t change the fact that it’s an experimental therapy that’s garnering attention. ![]() The therapy will reportedly undergo clinical trials at some point with an aim for eventual approval from the U.S. There are many different strategies to get rid of back pain, and stem cells are not at the top of the list.”Īlt’s work shows new potential applications for stem cells. That means going to the doctor to better understand where their back pain is coming from. “When people have back pain, the best thing to do for themselves is to look for the best advice that they can get. It could be something completely different,” said Imitola. Your back pain may not be the same back pain that Mr. “Back pain can be produced by multiple different things. While facet joint syndrome is a common culprit for lower back pain, there are an array of factors - from slight inflammation to cancerous tumors - that can cause back pain.Īs always, says Imitola, it’s best to consult a physician to get the most accurate assessment possible. They injected cells, but did they inject steroids, too? Because steroids, per se, will improve the inflammation that’s there.” “People with facet joint syndrome often inject steroids,” he said. ![]() Imitola notes that because the stem cell procedure hasn’t been peer-reviewed, there are many unknowns. This treatment offered Nicklaus some level of relief before he underwent the stem cell procedure. ![]() If these measures don’t work, a slightly more invasive option is cortisone steroid injections. Typical treatment involves anti-inflammatory drugs and physiotherapy. The ailment often causes severe pain in the lower back. Nicklaus’ specific ailment was facet joint syndrome, a condition in which the joints that help articulate and move the spine deteriorate. “These types of unapproved therapies are happening more and more often, but the difference here is that Jack Nicklaus is a public figure whose opinion will sway a lot of people into doing things like this,” Imitola added. Jaime Imitola, director of the Progressive Multiple Sclerosis Multidisciplinary Clinic and Translational Research Program in the Department of Neuroscience at The Ohio State University’s Wexner Medical Center. “This is not an approved therapy,” said Dr. It’s an intriguing use of stem cells, but an expert interviewed by Healthline says that, considering the wide range of reasons for back pain and the unproven nature of the therapy, it simply can’t be recommended to the general public at this point. Once isolated, the stem cells are injected back into the body, on either side of the spine in the lower back and neck regions. Blood vessels that contain stem cells come from this fat. The process involves liposuction to harvest fat from the abdomen. ![]() The surgery, under the guidance of German scientist and physician Eckhard Alt, was performed two years ago in Munich. Now the 78-year-old is touting an experimental stem cell surgery that he says is more effective than anything else he’s tried. Cortisone shots provided some level of immediate relief, but the long-term pain persisted. Golfer Jack Nicklaus is a legend of his sport, winning 18 major championships throughout an illustrious career that spanned more than a quarter century.ĭuring this time, Nicklaus experienced severe back pain.
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