What Makes Our Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Center in Wisconsin Different?
Which Conditions Do Our Non-Surgical Stem Cell Treatments in Milwaukee, WI Treat?
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What Stem Cell and Orthobiologic Technology Do We Use in Wauwatosa?
What Is Our Mission for Stem Cell Therapy in Wisconsin?
Every year, knee pain affects millions of people in the United States. The most common cause of chronic knee pain is stem cell and PRP therapy for knee osteoarthritis, which affects more than 32 million adults in the United States.Sports and athletic injuries can also cause debilitating pain. A lot of people learn to live with pain, believing their only options are invasive surgery or steroid injections. This is not the case! At Spectrum Regenerative Medicine Center, we offer advanced, non-surgical regenerative medicine options for knee arthritis in Milwaukee, WI and across Wisconsin.
Reasons to Choose Regenerative Medicine Treatment Over Invasive Therapy
Long-term Benefits
Pain can recur after surgery for back and knee pain.
Because stem cell therapy targets the damaged tissue instead of masking pain, relief may last longer than with pain medication or steroid injections.
Less or No Complications
Surgery is associated with pain, swelling and long periods of immobilization. With stem cell injections, you can be up and about on the very next day!
Preserving Natural Tissues
Surgery alters your body’s anatomy (spine fusion) or replaces it altogether (knee replacements). Stem cell therapy uses your own cells to support the natural repair of your own tissue.
Cost and Time Savings
Invasive surgeries require long preoperative workup and longer hospital stays. A stem cell treatment visit takes a few hours, with minimal recovery time.
Are You a Candidate for Stem Cell Therapy in Milwaukee, WI?
Patients who have the following conditions have undergone these stem cell procedures at our clinic:
- Knee pain
- Knee meniscal tear
- Knee arthritis
- Knee ligament instability
- Shoulder pain
- Shoulder rotator cuff tear
- Shoulder labrum tear
- Shoulder arthritis
- AC joint arthritis
- Shoulder tendonitis or tendinosis
- Lower back pain
- Lower back facet pain
- Degenerative disc disease
- Sciatica
- Sacroiliac joint pain or SI joint arthritis
- Hip pain
- Hip arthritis
- Hip cartilage tear
- Hip degenerative joint disease
- Ankle joint arthritis
- Subtalar joint arthritis
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Myofascial pain syndrome
If your condition follows a pattern below, we can help:
- Age-related chronic pain lasting more than three months
- Athletic injury
- Use of painkillers more than twice a week
- You’ve been recommended surgery for your back or joint problems
- You’ve got functional limitations but need to go back to an active lifestyle
- You have painful tendonitis or tendon tears
If you’ve got one or more of the above features, you should consider stem cell injections as an option to turn your life around!
Who Performs Stem Cell Therapy at Our Milwaukee, WI Clinic?
Dr. Joseph A. Locke, DO, earned his medical degree from Kansas City University and completed his anesthesiology residency at the Medical College of Wisconsin. He has more than 15 years of experience with musculoskeletal pain injections, and our clinic has served Wisconsin patients for 13 years.
What Do Patients Say About Stem Cell Treatment at Our Clinic?
Frequently Asked Questions About Stem Cell Therapy in Milwaukee, WI and Northern Illinois
What is stem cell therapy for joint pain?
Stem cell therapy for joint pain is a non-surgical injection that uses cells concentrated from your own bone marrow or fat tissue. Placed under image guidance into a damaged joint, tendon or disc, these cells release signals that may reduce inflammation and support the body's natural repair process.
Is stem cell therapy FDA approved for knee, hip or back pain?
No. The FDA has not approved any stem cell product for orthopedic conditions such as osteoarthritis, tendon injuries or back pain. Our procedures use your own cells prepared during the same visit, and Dr. Locke explains the evidence, benefits and limits before you decide.
How much does stem cell therapy cost in Milwaukee?
Cost depends on the area treated, the biologics used and whether more than one joint is injected. You receive a clear quote after your consultation. We accept major credit and debit cards, HSA and FSA funds, cash and certified checks, and offer CareCredit financing.
Does insurance cover stem cell treatment?
Most health insurance plans, including Medicare, do not cover stem cell or PRP injections for joint pain because they are considered investigational. Insurance may still cover related imaging such as X-rays or MRI. Our care coordinators can answer questions about your specific plan.
What is the difference between stem cell therapy and PRP?
PRP (platelet-rich plasma) is made from a small blood draw and delivers concentrated growth factors. Stem cell therapy uses cells concentrated from bone marrow or fat tissue and is often combined with PRP. PRP is commonly used for milder tendon and joint problems, while cell-based treatment is considered for more advanced damage.
Where do the stem cells come from?
We use autologous cells, meaning they come from your own body. Cells are drawn from bone marrow at the back of the hip or from a small amount of fat tissue from the abdomen. Because the cells are your own, the risk of rejection or allergic reaction is very low.
How long does the procedure take, and when can I return to activity?
Most procedures take three to four hours in a single office visit, and you go home the same day with a driver. Many patients walk out without crutches and return to light daily activity within a few days, then follow a gradual activity plan over the next few weeks.
How soon might I notice results?
Results vary from person to person. Some patients notice less pain within several weeks, while tissue-level changes may take three to six months. Dr. Locke schedules a follow-up visit to review your progress and recommends physical activity guidelines that support recovery.
Is stem cell treatment painful?
Most patients describe mild to moderate discomfort. The harvest and injection sites are numbed with local anesthesia, and nitrous oxide is available to help you relax. Soreness and swelling for a few days afterward are common and usually managed with ice, compression and acetaminophen.
Can stem cell therapy help me avoid knee or hip replacement surgery?
For some patients with mild to moderate arthritis or partial tears, regenerative injections may relieve pain and delay or avoid surgery. They are less likely to help bone-on-bone arthritis or fully torn tissue. Your imaging and exam determine whether you are a good candidate.
Is there a stem cell clinic near me in Milwaukee, WI or Northern Illinois?
Yes. Spectrum Health Medical is at 2500 N Mayfair Rd, Suite 630, in Wauwatosa, just west of downtown Milwaukee, and we welcome patients from Northern Illinois. Call (262) 202-8312 or request a free phone consultation, and a care coordinator usually responds within two hours.
Where Can Milwaukee and Northern Illinois Patients Get Stem Cell Therapy?
Our Wauwatosa clinic is minutes from Milwaukee, Brookfield and Waukesha, and we welcome patients from Kenosha, Racine and Northern Illinois communities such as Waukegan, Gurnee and Rockford. See all areas we serve.
Spectrum Health Medical, 2500 N Mayfair Rd, Suite 630, Wauwatosa, WI 53226. Call (262) 202-8312. Hours: Monday to Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and Saturday, 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Request a free phone consultation.
