If you’ve suffered from joint pain, you know that traditional treatments
like rest, ice and anti-inflammatory medications often provide insufficient
pain relief and do little to heal the underlying injury. However, there
are now treatments available through a growing area of medicine called
regenerative medicine that help enhance the body’s ability to heal
and rebuild itself.
What is Regenerative Medicine?
Regenerative medicine is one of the most rapidly developing areas of medicine
regarding the treatment of pain, with innovative procedures focused on
helping the body repair injured tissues. Ongoing research has shown that
these treatments can reverse the signs of aging in joints, resulting in
years of decreased pain and increased function. Two of the most promising
regenerative techniques used to help stimulate our body’s ability
to heal itself are Prolotherapy and Platelet-Rich-Plasma (PRP).
Prolotherapy
Used to treat chronic pain around joints and ligaments, Prolotherapy involves
injecting small amounts of an irritant, such as a concentrated glucose
or sugar solution, into a joint capsule, tendon or ligament. Under ultrasound
guidance, this injection is used to create inflammation in the painful
area. This inflammation increases blood flow to that area which will ultimately
lead to tissue repair, a decrease in pain and improvement in stability.
It often takes up to five or six monthly treatments to see sustained benefits.
There is evidence to show that comprehensive Prolotherapy treatments on
the knee can improve symptoms of knee osteoarthritis five years after
completing the treatment.
Platelet-Rich-Plasma (PRP)
PRP is a minimally invasive, outpatient procedure that helps repair injured
or degenerated structures such as ligaments, tendons and joints. PRP involves
injecting a concentration of platelets, obtained using blood samples from
the patient, into the injured area to promote tissue repair and accelerate
healing. Elite athletes often utilize PRP to accelerate healing, allowing
them to return to their sport sooner.
At
Catawba Valley Physical Medicine and & Rehab (CVPM&R), Dr. Urzen provides specialized care using minimally invasive
procedures that focus on repairing injuries and optimizing every patient’s
function. You can call CVPM&R at 828.732.7249 or visit us
online to schedule a new patient appointment with Dr. Urzen.
*Regenerative therapies are not currently covered by insurance. Please
call Catawba Valley Physical Medicine and & Rehab for pricing and
additional information.