Don’t want to undergo orthopedic surgery? You may not have to when regenerative medicine is available
If your hip or knee is aching, you may think your only way to address the pain is through surgery. But, that’s not so. Today, non-surgical interventions for orthopedic pain range from physical therapy and medication to the new and exciting field of regenerative medicine.
While surgery and physical therapy remain effective in treating musculoskeletal injuries like ligament tears and degenerative conditions such as arthritis and bursitis, regenerative medicine is quickly becoming a popular method to address chronic orthopedic pain. Whether it’s knee, back, or shoulder pain, regenerative medicine could be the answer you’re looking for.
What is regenerative medicine?
Regenerative medicine employs the human body’s ability to heal itself. Instead of an invasive surgery or lengthy physical therapy program, regenerative medicine uses your own cells and blood to accelerate the healing process. The two main types we’ll be focusing on are platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy and stem cell therapy.
With PRP, the body’s powerful healing cells, called platelets, are harvested from your blood and spun in a centrifuge. The resulting solution is then injected into the area where the pain is located. The platelets can spur tissue growth, helping to rebuild the damaged tissue and ultimately reduce the pain.
Similarly, stem cell therapy harnesses the stem cells present in your body to revive torn or strained tissue. While your body contains cells for specific organs, such as brain or skin cells, stem cells can morph into any cell when needed after an injury or to build up wounded tissue. To get the stem cells, your doctor obtains a sample of your bone marrow, typically from the hip bone, and filters out the stem cells in a centrifuge. He then injects the stem cell-filled liquid into the affected joint, ligament, tendon, or cartilage, with the stem cells spurring new cells to grow and repair any damage.
Five benefits of non-surgical orthopedic treatments
In orthopedic medicine, surgery is often a last resort, and for good reasons. It requires a hospital stay and a protracted recovery. But non-surgical methods, such as regenerative medicine, can sidestep all that and provide these five benefits:
Carries less risk. While always a viable alternative, surgery carries the chance of complications, such as bleeding and infection. On the other hand, regenerative medicine is minimally invasive. The only surgical interventions are needle injections. Because regenerative medicine uses your body’s own cellular material, you stand very little if any risk of a negative reaction.
Avoids surgery. With stem cell and PRP treatments, you may avoid surgery altogether. Your pain may be resolved without going under the knife. However, if it’s determined you need surgery, you can still undergo a surgical procedure after regenerative techniques.
Reduces the need for medication. Medications such as anti-inflammatories and corticosteroids offer immediate pain relief. Yet such medications only mask the pain, they don’t treat the underlying issue, which is damaged tissue. Stem cell therapy and PRP injections rebuild weakened tissue so you will have less pain and improved mobility. In addition, pain medications should only be used for a limited period.
Shortens recovery time. Surgery usually means a lengthy hospital stay and an extended recovery time, which may include physical therapy. You may have to take off from work for days or weeks at a time. What’s more, physical therapy on its own could take weeks before you see results. Regenerative medicine typically entails a short doctor’s office visit to complete the procedure. You can go home immediately and resume your daily activities, with the recommendation to avoid strenuous activities for a few days.
Minimizes discomfort. Recovering from surgery can be painful. While physical therapy aims to increase the range of motion and strengthen muscles, reaching that worthy goal can be discomforting at times. Conversely, regenerative medicine is a nearly pain-free treatment. As your body heals from a surge of stem cells or platelets, you’ll experience a noticeable reduction in pain.
You can live pain free!
At New York Bone and Joint Specialists, our goal is to help you live your best life free of pain. One technique we employ and are experts in is regenerative medicine. Don’t let pain restrict your lifestyle. Contact us today to learn more about how our regenerative medical treatments can get you back in action.
