Celva Bio/ Joint pain/ Shoulder pain
§ 001 · Shoulder · MSC therapy

Before you agree
to a cuff repair.

Rotator cuff degeneration, shoulder osteoarthritis, and chronic impingement frequently respond to MSC therapy when the tendon is thinned but not fully retracted. The evaluation tells you what you're working with.

Scope
Cuff & GH joint

Rotator cuff tendinopathy, partial tears, glenohumeral OA, and chronic impingement.

Response window
4–12 wks

Shoulder tendon response often tracks slightly faster than large-joint OA.

Investment
$10K–$25K

All-in. Ultrasound-guided delivery, IV adjunct, structured follow-up. Actual figure confirmed after evaluation.

§ 002 · Candidacy

Tendon-first thinking
for the shoulder.

The shoulder is mostly soft tissue. Cuff thickness, tear size, and tendon retraction determine whether regenerative therapy is reasonable, or whether surgical repair is the right tool.

Partial-thickness tears, tendinopathy, and early-stage OA often respond. Full-thickness tears with significant retraction generally do not, once the tendon has pulled away from its footprint, biology alone won't reattach it.

We read your MRI before recommending anything. Our floor isn't "let's try." It's "this is a reasonable case."

Strong fit

Partial cuff tears, tendinopathy

Partial-thickness tears, chronic cuff tendinopathy, and refractory impingement.

Also a fit

Glenohumeral OA, labral drift

Early to moderate shoulder OA and post-labral-repair residuals.

Not a fit

Full retracted tears, massive cuff failure

Full-thickness retracted tears and massive cuff tears where structural reattachment is the only real option.

§ 003 · Indications

Shoulder conditions
we evaluate.

Tendon

Rotator cuff

Partial-thickness tears, tendinopathy, and chronic irritation that hasn't resolved with PT or injections.

  • Partial-thickness < 50%
  • Chronic tendinopathy
  • Post-PRP non-responders
Joint

Glenohumeral OA

Early to moderate OA of the GH joint where cartilage wear hasn't progressed to bone-on-bone.

  • Grade II–III preferred
  • Intact glenoid
  • Preserved cuff function
Soft tissue

Impingement & labrum

Chronic subacromial impingement and labral degeneration where conservative care has plateaued.

  • Refractory impingement
  • Labral fraying
  • Post-arthroscopy residuals
§ 004 · Protocol

Ultrasound-guided
tendon-targeted delivery.

Shoulder injections require precision against a moving tendon. Every delivery is done under ultrasound guidance with the cells placed at or adjacent to the target structure.

Allogeneic MSCs, passage three, delivered to the cuff footprint, GH joint, or subacromial space depending on pathology. Dose calibrated per structure.

Procedure runs under local anesthetic. Most patients can use the arm for light activity within 48 hours.

01 / Screen

MRI review

Cuff thickness, tear characterization, and joint status evaluated by attending.

02 / Plan

Target map

Cuff footprint vs. intra-articular vs. subacromial, matched to pathology.

03 / Deliver

Ultrasound-guided injection

Live needle visualization. Cell release confirmed at target.

~30 min · local
04 / Adjunct

Systemic IV

Supporting systemic anti-inflammatory dose in the infusion suite.

05 / Follow-up

30 / 60 / 90 days

SPADI and VAS tracked. Repeat imaging as indicated.

§ 005 · Timeline

What to expect.
No promises.

~ 2–4 wks
Settling phase

Post-injection soreness resolves. Baseline function largely unchanged.

~ 6–12 wks
Function returns

Range of motion, overhead activity, and sleep typically improve first.

~ 180 days
Peak window

Best-achieved outcomes with strength and load tolerance.

12+ months
Durability

Many patients hold improvement with ongoing conditioning. Booster at six months for subset.

Shoulder outcomes track faster than hip or spine, but the same principle holds: no meaningful change is expected in the first two weeks. We measure on standardized scales, not day-to-day feel.

The honest limit

If your cuff has fully retracted off the footprint or you have a massive tear pattern, MSC therapy will not reattach the tendon. We will refer you to a surgeon we trust when that's the case.

§ 006 · Questions

Shoulder-specific
questions.

Q.01Will MSCs heal a rotator cuff tear?
Partial-thickness tears and chronic tendinopathy often respond. Full-thickness retracted tears generally require surgical repair, biology cannot reattach a tendon that has pulled away from its footprint.
Q.02What's the difference between PRP and MSC therapy for shoulder?
PRP delivers concentrated growth factors. MSCs deliver the cells that produce and respond to those signals over longer time frames. For patients who've plateaued on PRP, MSC therapy is the logical next evaluation.
Q.03Can I still lift after this?
Yes, often with better tolerance. We structure return-to-loading over weeks, not days. Heavy overhead work typically waits until the 60–90 day mark depending on your baseline.
Q.04What about frozen shoulder?
Adhesive capsulitis is not primarily a tendon or cartilage problem. It is a capsular inflammation process, and MSC therapy is not the first-line answer. We'll refer you appropriately.
§ 008 · Start here

Start with a
read of your MRI.

A shoulder consult is a physician telling you plainly whether MSC therapy fits your case, or whether repair is what the structure actually needs.

Book a consult →
Not medical advice. Individual results vary. All patients undergo physician screening before treatment is recommended.