When signing up for a new procedure, you want to not only get the best results possible but also want the most out of your money. A good medical team wants that for you, too! Especially with stem cell therapy treatments!
If you don’t know what to expect when getting stem cell therapy for injuries or you’re nervous about accidentally doing something wrong before or after the procedure, we want to help. Whole-body wellness is possible! We don’t want anything to get in the way of your full recovery.
Our goal is to help each patient who comes to our Salt Lake injury clinic to achieve whole-body wellness with confidence that they made the right choice.
Experience since 2007 in advanced regenerative orthopedics has equipped Dr. Joseph Albano and his team at the Albano Clinic in Salt Lake City, Utah to make sure you have the best and most effective preparation, care, and recovery possible. When choosing a regenerative procedure, you want a team that is committed to walking with you every step of the way, answering any questions with expertise, and encouraging you along your journey. That’s exactly what the Albano Clinic takes pride in offering to you as our patient.
Here are some guidelines on how to get the most out of your procedure and recovery.
1.Read over our easy-to-understand instructions when scheduling your Stem Cell Therapy procedure.
Never fear, we want you to understand and feel prepared for your exciting procedure! A medical assistant will go over our procedure instructions with you. This will help answer any questions you may have and will provide you with your own copy.
When scheduling your procedure, we’ll give you a shortlist specific to your procedure, but here are some things to expect.
Be prepared the day of your procedure to have someone drive you home. Patients should be alert after the treatment, but may also be groggy. We prefer to minimize the risk to yourself and others by ensuring you have a ride home from the appointment.
Do not take NSAIDs (Non-Steroidal Anti Inflammatories) for one week prior to and three months after your procedure. This will help ensure the best results. NSAIDS include Ibuprofen, Motrin, Naprosyn, and Aleve. Our team will prescribe appropriate medications for your recovery.
Let us know of any medications you take on a consistent basis. This allows us to assess how your individual medications may affect the procedure, so we can counsel and prepare you accordingly.
Fuel your body with nutrition. Staying hydrating and drinking lots of fluids the day prior to your procedure helps us obtain the right amount of blood during blood draws and helps your body heal. Ensuring you have adequate protein in your diet after your procedure will also aid in the healing process.
Come prepared to tell us your preferred pharmacy. We will prescribe your medications ahead of time so you can have them with you on the day of the procedure. Regenerative procedures are much less invasive than traditional surgery, but you can still experience some pain for the first few days. So, we want to make sure you feel comfortable!
These are all great rules-of-thumb for advanced regenerative orthopedic procedures, but we will also provide you with additional instructions for your specific injury and treatment.
2. Arrive at your Stem Cell procedure feeling confident.
The day of the appointment includes a basic procedure like having your blood drawn and processed or extracting fat or bone marrow in a safe and sterile procedure room. After harvesting your blood, fat, or bone marrow, your body’s cells are ready to be used to accelerate healing in your injured area.
Your stem cells or platelets are carefully injected. This is done using ultrasound or fluoroscopy to guide it into the precise location for optimal results. Patients can be awake during their procedure or they may request sedation.
The Albano Clinic team will walk you through everything, so you know exactly what to expect while you are at the clinic.
3. Feel equipped to take on the recovery process like a pro!
Rest assured, you will have the best recovery possible, because you will be fully equipped! Here are a few guidelines to make the most of your healing process.
You may need some assistance. Depending on what area of the body is being treated and exactly what type of procedure is performed, you may need a sling, knee brace, or crutches for a short time. This allows a few days for your body to heal and pain from the procedure to dissipate.
Get excited about physical therapy! Most patients will be prescribed a set amount of physical therapy (PT) starting one week after their procedure. PT plays a huge role in the recovery process. It not only helps the body heal but helps improves mobility and strengthens muscles. Expect to work with a coach who will get you back on track.
They should encourage you, teach you customized activities, and guide your progress as you heal.
Let your pain guide you as you heal. While most patients bounce back to normal life within a couple of weeks after the procedure, the body continues to heal over the next 3-6 months. During that time period, you will experience some great days and some mediocre days. Use your pain as a guide to know whether or not to take part in strenuous activities. For instance, if you are having a day with little pain, feel free to ease into your favorite physical activities. Additionally, adding more advanced physical therapy steps. If you’re experiencing pain, stop the activity for the day. This gives your body a chance to rest and work on healing.
If you’re ready to get started on your journey to whole-body wellness, schedule your procedure with confidence today!
Medical Assistant, Aubree Duke, excels at equipping Albano Clinic patients with this confidence every week. When asked what she wished people knew about stem cell therapy and advanced regenerative orthopedics, she points to this patient’s story:
Seann Miller
“Dr. Albano and staff do an amazing job. As far as the PRP, etc… makes me regret going to TOSH as my first stop for all my sports injuries over the years. I wish my first call was to Dr. Albano.
The entire idea of using stem cells and PRP from your body is a radical idea, but it makes perfect sense. Not a “new” idea, but most people haven’t heard of it. Why?
If you go into it knowing that your insurance probably won’t cover it, but also realize that it’s actually going to solve your problem, then you are on the right track.
You can always go to TOSH, get operated on, have your insurance cover most of it, come out feeling great, but then unknowingly, they put you on course for a serious arthritis diagnosis a short 10 years later, especially if you are an athlete, ultrarunner, triathlete, etc.
In retrospect, I’d choose to call Dr. Albano, pay for it myself, and actually get the problem fixed. You gotta pay one way or another anyway (deductibles, etc.) Why not just pay a little more for outstanding medical care that’s actually going to fix your problem.
Wish someone was there to tell me about Dr. Albano 10 years ago.”
All in All…
We want to help you get it right the first time, and give you the opportunity for whole-body wellness in the long term.
It’s our hope that this information gives you the confidence you need to feel ready! We want you to be excited about your stem cell therapy, PRP, or any regenerative procedure.