Redefining Recovery: A Descriptive Phenomenological Study of Elderly Patients’ Lived Experiences with Stem Cell Therapy for Advanced Osteoarthritis

Abstract

Regenerative medicine offers innovative therapeutic solutions for degenerative diseases such as osteoarthritis, particularly among elderly populations. As populations age globally, osteoarthritis has emerged as a leading cause of disability, significantly impairing mobility and quality of life.While mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) therapy has demonstrated clinical efficacy, little is known about how patients perceive and make sense of their healing experiences. Previous research has largely focused on physiological outcomes, leaving a gap in understanding the subjective, lived experiences of those undergoing regenerative interventions. This study addresses that gap by applying a descriptive phenomenological approach to explore how elderly patients experience MSC therapy for advanced osteoarthritis. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with eight participants aged 60 and above, and data were analyzed using Colaizzi’s method to extract themes that reflect the essence of their experiences. The findings reveal four key themes: regaining lost independence, emotional relief and psychological rebirth, ambivalence toward scientific innovation, and shifting family dynamics and social reintegration. These themes indicate that healing is experienced not only as physical recovery but also as a redefinition of identity and social belonging. The study highlights the need for integrating patient narratives into clinical evaluations to inform more humanistic and holistic care practices. These results contribute to expanding the phenomenological understanding of regenerative therapies and offer a foundation for future qualitative inquiries into the subjective dimensions of medical innovation.