Regenerative Medicine
Regenerative medicine is a healthcare discipline that seeks to augment the body’s natural processes of healing damaged tissue. The goal of this medical field is to stimulate self-healing of tissue that has lost its quality through disease, trauma, congenital variations, or aging.
Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) Therapy
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy employs injections of concentrated platelets from a patient’s own blood to accelerate the healing of damaged tendons, ligaments, muscles, and joints. This method harnesses the patient’s innate healing system to address musculoskeletal issues.
To create PRP injections, a small amount of the patient’s blood (one to a few tubes) is extracted and processed through a centrifuge to concentrate the platelets. The activated platelets are then directly injected into the affected area, where they release growth factors that prompt the production of reparative cells.
Research has shown that PRP significantly improves the healing process, and it is increasingly being used for conditions such as shoulder pain resulting from rotator cuff tears, Achilles tendon ruptures, and other soft-tissue injuries. Additionally, PRP has been shown to improve function and reduce pain in individuals with chronic tendinosis or tendonitis, such as golfer’s elbow or tennis elbow.
PRP injections have several advantages, including the potential to reduce the need for anti-inflammatory or stronger pain medications, such as opioids. Since PRP injections are derived from the patient’s own blood, there are very few side effects, and rejection or negative reactions are unlikely. Lisa Sugar, RN, MSN, APN uses PRP to successfully treat a wide variety of musculoskeletal injuries and degenerative conditions.
Orthobiologic Therapy
Therapy using human cellular tissue products from Wharton’s Jelly is an effective type of OrthoBiologics. Regenerative medicine refers to treatments that use naturally found substances to stimulate healing and relieve pain. Wharton’s jelly or human umbilical cord product that is rich in cytokines, growth factors, and scaffolding proteins. It is used as a replacement tissue that is intended to replace missing or damaged connective tissue. It has high concentrations of hyaluronic acid and growth factors and is processed from human tissue, donated following full term, c-section deliveries, in accordance with the FDA. Lisa Sugar, RN, MSN, APN uses these specialized human cellular tissue products to successfully treat a wide variety of musculoskeletal injuries and degenerative conditions.
Frequently Asked Questions
I'm Already Under Treatment for Sickness or Injury. How Can You Help?
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy is based on a holistic approach to healing, and it is compatible with other healthcare disciplines such as conventional Western medicine. With regenerative medical treatments, there is an underlying principle that considers the ability of the human body, particularly the musculoskeletal system, to heal itself; since this principle is observed by just about all medical disciplines, it makes perfect sense to combine PRP therapy with other treatments.
Is PRP Therapy Really Effective?
The clinical use of PRP therapies is currently focused on treating osteoarthritis and other musculoskeletal conditions. In essence, PRP therapy stimulates the regrowth of various tissues, including connective, muscle, and epithelial. Stimulation of platelets by proteins is what triggers their healing properties that can be more efficient that regular plasma in terms of managing vasoconstriction, reducing inflammation, and helping with the regeneration of tissue.
Are There Risks Associated With PRP Therapy?
As with all other medical procedures, there are risks related to the application of PRP treatments, but they are not significant at all; in fact, they can be safely described as being minimal. Using your own plasma for tissue regeneration is an autologous procedure, which means that you do not have to worry about allergic reactions or side effects. You may feel slight topical discomfort when the PRP formula is injected, and there could be a little bruising, but most patients do not have any complaints. As for the risk of infection, it can be prevented with hygiene measures that are always practiced. Any risks or concerns you may have will be discussed with the healthcare professionals in charge of the treatment.
What to Expect From Your Visit
Similar to other medical procedures, your initial consultation will consist of subjective and objective assessments. You can expect to complete paperwork asking for personal information and known medical history. The goal is to establish the most accurate diagnosis possible before formulating a treatment plan.
During the initial consultation, a physician will conduct an examination to determine if PRP therapy would be adequate and if you are a good candidate for treatment. You can expect a thorough examination of your spine, extremities, and joints. Depending on the examination, laboratory testing or imaging may be ordered and evaluated before the treatment begins.
Get In Touch Today!
Our office is currently accepting new patients. We're here to help you explore integrated treatments for achieving the wellness and healing you're seeking. If you're looking for an alternative to surgery or invasive treatments, we'll show you how we can create a tailor-made plan to help your body heal itself.
Call Us
302-510-6780
Hours
Mon-Thurs: 8am-6pm