Harnessing the power of stem cells can trigger your body’s healing process naturally. At Next Step Orthopedics in McKinney, Texas, Dominique Nickson, MD, offers innovative treatments like bone marrow aspirate concentrate (BMAC) to optimize your healing. To see if BMAC can relieve your pain or discomfort, call Next Step Orthopedics or schedule an appointment online today.

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What is bone marrow aspirate concentrate?

Bone marrow aspirate concentrate (BMAC) is a type of regenerative medicine using stem cells harvested from your bone marrow. Stem cells are nature’s natural building blocks that help heal your bones, cartilage, and ligaments. You also find these cells in peripheral blood and adipose tissue.

By using stem cells taken from your own body, BMAC can support the healing of several bone and joint conditions.

How does BMAC work?

To perform BMAC, Dr. Nickson takes fluid from your bone marrow. These cells are typically harvested from your pelvis, or iliac crest, during a minimally invasive procedure done in the office or an operating room. Your bone marrow is an excellent source of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) — the type of stem cells that can differentiate into various cell types as needed. There are more of these MSCs in bone marrow aspirate concentrate than in platelet-rich plasma.

After harvesting your stem cells, they’re concentrated to create BMAC.

What conditions can BMAC treat?

Dr. Nickson usually recommends BMAC to treat conditions associated with bone healing, cartilage repair, and new blood vessel growth. This regenerative treatment can also treat conditions that include:

  • Delayed union or nonunion of bone fractures
  • Cartilage defects
  • Osteonecrosis
  • Fracture nonunion
  • Chronic tendon problems or chronic wounds

BMAC can also significantly improve the healing rate for rotator cuff injuries.

What can I expect from BMAC treatment?

During your procedure, Dr. Nickson uses a small needle to deliver your BMAC injection directly to your pain site. Once complete, your injection site remains bandaged for about four hours.

After having BMAC, you might experience pain and soreness for a few days, but this typically fades quickly once the healing process is underway. In most cases, you can resume normal activity within three to four days, but depending on your treatment site, Dr. Nickson might recommend avoiding strenuous activities, like heavy lifting, biking, or running, for up to two weeks.

You should also avoid anti-inflammatory drugs for 48 hours after receiving stem cell therapies like BMAC. These medications include ibuprofen, Aleve®, and Motrin®.

For more information on BMAC, call Next Step Orthopedics or schedule an appointment online today.