Have you been told your knees or hips are “bone on bone”? Many of the patients that come in to our office have been told to “just wait” until their joint pain and degeneration have become severe enough to warrant surgery, and are getting by with a little help from cortisol injections and pain killers.
While cortisol injections may temporarily relieve pain in some cases, they also prevent cellular repair of the joint. In fact, they have been shown to further increase cartilage loss in those with osteoarthritis of the knee joints. Additionally, they suppress immune function, impede regeneration of connective tissues, worsen hot flashes and night sweats, and disturb sleep.
Pain killers carry their own risks. NSAIDS such as ibuprofen and Advil disrupt the stomach lining and with continued regular use can cause ulceration and bleeding. They also prevent cartilage repair. Acetaminophen/Tylenol is harmful to liver and kidneys. Opioids and semi-synthetic opioids — hydrocodone, oxycontin, Percocet — disrupt the digestive system and can be addictive.
Fortunately, there are GREAT natural and regenerative options for joint repair and pain relief that will heal and strengthen tissue from the inside out.
Enter Platelet Rich Plasma, or “PRP” therapy.
PRP is a revolutionary treatment which regenerates damaged joint tissue, rejuvenates skin, and promotes hair growth.
PRP therapy was first used in the 1990s in dental offices and during cosmetic procedures such as skin grafting, to speed healing time and prevent scarring. In the early 2000s, it was applied to acute and chronic injuries, to regenerated damaged joint tissue, re-grow collagen and cartilage, and repair tendon and ligament damage.
PRP uses the same needle technique as Prolotherapy (i.e., it is an injection into ligaments, tendons, or joint spaces) but the syringe is filled with the patient’s own regenerative serum. As the platelets, stem cells, and growth factors initiate regeneration of collagen fibers and the patient returns to normal activity, the collagen fibers strengthen and tighten, providing critical support and stability to the joint, and reducing pain.
Whereas Prolotherapy can be likened to providing the body with the fuel and raw materials needed to rebuild strong, healthy connective tissue, PRP can be likened to providing an entire “construction crew” to areas of more severe tissue damage.
During your appointment, a small amount of blood will be drawn and spun in a special centrifuge to isolate your own healing platelets, stem cells, and growth factors. Your PRP/stem cells are then activated with ozone and nutrients such as calcium and vitamin c to enhance growth factor bioactivity. Finally, this serum is injected into the areas of pain or weakness to regenerate the compromised joint or ligament, supplying injured or degenerative areas with natural proteins, cytokines, bioactive growth factors which facilitate repair and healing
The number of treatments needed will vary depending on the extent of the damage or degeneration in your joint, ligaments, or tendons, but we generally recommend between 2–4 treatments with 48–96 hours recovery time after each appointment.
Conditions Treated:
- Osteoarthritis and chronic damage or degeneration in hips, ankles, and wrists, and especially those with degenerative knee cartilage
- Partial rotator cuff tears
- Labral tears of shoulder or hip
- Torn ligaments
- Tendonitis
- Herniated discs
- Tendinitis, tennis elbow, golfer’s elbow
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Damaged joint capsules
Don’t wait for your pain and — there are proactive steps you can take NOW to regenerate your body from the inside out and take control of your health. If you’d like a more natural, preventative option to address your chronic pain, call our office to set up a free 15 minute consult to discuss your options.
