Chronic pain can be a debilitating condition that affects multiple areas of your life, making effective chronic pain treatment sought after by many. However, traditional methods for chronic pain often provide temporary relief. Fortunately, regenerative medicine, an ever-evolving field, has given hope and long-term relief to many.
Regenerative medicine is a specialized branch of science that aims to restore, repair, or replace damaged tissue or organs through the body's regenerative capabilities. It revolves around harnessing the power of stem cells, growth factors, and other substances to stimulate the body's natural healing process. Some of its most promising treatments include:
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy involves extracting and processing the patient's blood in a centrifuge. A centrifuge separates the blood contents, effectively concentrating the platelets from its cells. The doctor will then inject the concentrated platelets, rich in growth factors, into the affected area. This process stimulates the patient's cell regeneration and tissue repair abilities, promoting healing and reducing pain.
Cell therapy, or stem cell therapy, obtains healthy stem cells from various sources in the body. Stem cells can be harvested from bone marrow, adipose tissue, or the blood of an umbilical cord. Like PRP, once harvested, the doctor injects the cells into the damaged area or administers them systematically. This method can be differentiated into various cell types, including bone, cartilage, muscle, and nerve cells.
Prolotherapy, sometimes called regenerative injection therapy, involves injecting dextrose or sugar alcohol into the affected area. The chosen solution will be an irritant, triggering inflammatory responses and stimulating the patient's natural healing process. They dehydrate tissues in an area that may be swollen and send signals to the brain that the area needs more water and blood flow, effectively reducing swelling.
Before choosing one of the above chronic pain treatment options, patients will need to schedule a consultation with a regenerative medicine doctor to determine the true source of their chronic pain. They will conduct an in-depth evaluation, including a review of the patient's medical history and imaging studies (CT scans or MRIs). They may also perform a physical assessment by prodding the affected area and having the patient perform certain tasks to help determine the problem area's mobility and flexibility. Furthermore, it may also be a good idea for patients to have written down any allergies and recent incidents that may not have been properly documented. This information will better guide the doctor to ensure the patient is an ideal candidate for regenerative medicine.
Candidacy approval will vary for each patient. The doctor will determine if the patient, in fact, has chronic pain, which is described as a constant on-and-off sensation when performing certain tasks. To be considered chronic, the pain will need to have been going on for at least three months. It typically results from the following conditions:
These conditions are commonly a result of injury or illness and can occur in any part of the body. They can cause patients to undergo multiple surgeries or seek relief from medication. This latter can be dangerous for several reasons, including an unhealthy dependency on certain medications and ushering in a host of side effects that would have otherwise not been introduced into the patient system. Regenerative medicine offers many benefits that can combat invasive surgeries and medication use.
Regenerative medicine as a chronic pain treatment has numerous benefits, but perhaps the most attractive are the long-lasting results, minimally-invasive procedures, and its potential to delay or avoid surgery altogether. The results of the previously mentioned regenerative method techniques are unlike conventional chronic pain treatments as they target the problem area, facilitating long-term relief.
The details of each regenerative medicine option can mislead patients into thinking they are invasive. However, they are quite the opposite, only involving injection in most cases. This greatly reduces the chances of surgery complications and offers faster recovery times without additional side effects.
Speaking of surgery, depending on the severity of the source that is causing chronic pain, doctors may recommend an invasive surgical procedure. However, some patients may want to wait for their own reasons before undergoing surgery. Regenerative medicine promotes the body's ability to regenerate various parts such as tissue, ligaments, blood flow, and more. Doctors will consider this option if the problem area is repaired completely or enough to safely hold off surgery until a more appropriate time for the patient to undergo surgery.
Regenerative medicine for chronic pain is offering hope to many people with this debilitating condition. If you or a loved one has been struggling and want to discover which chronic pain treatment is ideal, contact us to schedule a consultation today.
Request an appointment here: https://sjrm-tn.com or call Spine & Joint Regenerative Medicine at (423) 424-1529 for an appointment in our Ooltewah office.
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