Mesenchymal stem cell injections can reduce pain and improve function but they do not cure osteoarthritis. First of all, not everyone responds to these injections and there is no way to predict ahead of time whether a specific patient will respond to the treatment. Second, both the onset and duration of response vary from patient to patient. I would estimate, based on some studies and discussions with practicing physicians that about 60 % of patients respond to stem cell injections. It takes anywhere from one to six months to start seeing the benefit and it will typically persist for 2-3 years.

Stem cell injections can be repeated, if necessary after the benefit wears off.