Thumb injuries can occur when you least expect it, during skiing, workouts, gaming, redundant work and various other ways. Fingers and thumbs are part of what make humans special compared with most animals, as they help us do things other creatures cannot do. Damage to any part of the hand can be painful both physically and emotionally

The GOOD NEWS is that recent advancements and successes with stem cell treatments have provided hope for people afflicted with nagging hand injuries.

Understanding Stem Cells

Adult stem cells, unlike embryonic stem cells, are contained in adult bone marrow, fat, tissues and organs. These stem cells can be used to repair damaged tissue. They have been nicknamed the “body’s own repair kit” for how effective they are in treating a variety of ailments.

Stem cell therapy involves stimulating the natural healing process for difficult injuries through injecting adult stem cells into damaged areas of the body. Initially, the stem cells are harvested from your own Adipose fat tissue. (Typically around your stomach or hip areas).

Once the adipose tissue has been gathered, the stem cells are separated by spinning them in a centrifuge. They are then ready to be reintroduced to the patient’s body.

By introducing stem cells to injured tissue, the process can either accelerate an otherwise slow healing process or allow the body to heal tissue that would have otherwise remained damaged permanently.

Medical advancements in stem cell therapy have been remarkable for the advancement of non-invasive medical treatments.

Instead of opting for surgery, which is usually the only option many doctors present, patients now have safe, natural and effective alternative for joint disorders and beyond.

Los Angeles Angels pitcher Garrett Richards is a recent high profile example of the success of stem cell treatment for a torn UCL in his pitching arm. The devastating injury usually requires Tommy John surgery. Successful stem cell treatment allowed Richards to avoid surgery and return to the field in half of the usual recovery time.  He will be ready to resume his role as the Angels ace in spring training.

Common Thumb Injury Causes

Various thumb injuries that can hamper everyday activities include cuts, sprains, tears, fractures and torn ligaments, which often affect skiers.

Ligament tears, while not as common as sprains, can be devastating to overall health and wellness, and certain activities can increase the likelihood of a long-term injury.

A very common thumb injury from skiing (known as “skier’s thumb“) occurs when the ulnar collateral ligament, which helps connect the thumb and hand, is sprained.

Another growing cause of hand injuries is connected to the rising popularity of gaming. Gamer’s Thumb” is a very real condition that can have long-term effects on the hands and upper arms if the proper precautions are not taken.

“Gamer’s Thumb” is a repetitive stress injury (RSI) that causes swelling at the base of the thumb due to overuse of video games and hand-held devices.

RSI is an umbrella term for a collection of disorders most commonly affecting the hands, wrists, forearms, and shoulders. Symptoms can range from fatigue and loss of strength to minor aches and pains, burning, and tingling.

Other common causes of thumb injuries include:

• arthritis
• falling to the ground
• getting hit with a high velocity baseball
• cuts from sharp knives or tools like saws
• accidentally hitting your thumb with a hammer
• losing grip on rope
• dropping heavy equipment

Treatment for Thumb Injuries

Depending on the severity of the thumb injury, traditional treatment ranges from bandages to orthopedic surgery. Patients, however, also have a more modern option, which is stem cell therapy.

Stem cell therapy for thumb injuries is replacing traditional surgical treatments at a rapid pace for a wide array of conditions, including back, hip and knee injuries. The shift to this method has been visible with high profile athletes, such as Michael Jordan, Jack Nicklaus and Emmitt Smith.

Stem cell treatment has helped accelerate recovery for several sports figures, making it vital to their careers. But before a physician can usually determine if this innovative therapy is appropriate, he or she must give you a full evaluation.

The medical profession is very optimistic about the future of stem cell treatments, particularly how they can reduce human disease and suffering. It is a very promising procedure for arthritis patients.

A key reason why stem cell treatment is growing in demand and being favored by the medical community is that side effects and risks of rejection are minimal.

If you are suffering from a thumb injury, speak with a medical professional today to determine if stem cell therapy is right for you.

As with any form of medical treatment, you should consult with your physician before embarking on any treatment plan. The information contained in this article is for informational purposes only and should not be deemed accurate for the purposes of diagnosing your particular medical condition