Which Stem Cell Therapy Is Right For Your Chronic Pain?

Have you been thinking about trying stem cell therapy for your chronic pain, arthritis or previous injuries? This regenerative medicine treatment gives your body a natural line of defense to reduce inflammation and begin the healing process without medications.  If you would like to learn more about these treatments you can find more on our website at http://lowbackpain.com/services/regenerative-medicine.asp

Platelet Rich Plasma Injections (PRP)

PRP is our most well-known stem cell treatment.  It is the right option for anyone who has previous injuries, tendonitis, ligament pain or joint pain.  We take blood from the patient that goes into a centrifuge and is then spun down to a platelet concentrate.  We use this to inject back into the injury or painful site on the patient.  This process takes one or two hours and there are very little if any side effects.  Sometimes patients may feel some soreness like you would from any injection.  If you have arthritis, joint weakness, tendon tears or muscle strains, this may be right for you.

Intradiscal Platelet Rich Plasma Injections

Our facility is one of the few practices in Georgia that can offer PRP injections directly into the discs of the back.  This is perfect for anyone dealing with low back pain stemming from the intervertebral discs.  We follow the same procedure as our PRP injection and do the injection under ultrasound guidance in the Center For Spine Procedures.  

Amniotic Stem Cell Injections

Amniotic stem cell injections use amniotic fluid which is donated by c-section births.  Amniotic fluid has a high concentration of stem cells, cytokines, proteins, hyaluronic acid and other important compounds.  Studies show that this fluid is naturally regenerative and can reduce inflammation and scarring.  This treatment is very safe and there is no risk of reaction in the patient.  Amniotic fluid contains hyaluronic acid, which is a lubricant that is naturally occurring in the knee.  It promotes cartilage growth and is a great option for people dealing with arthritis because it helps to cushion the bones.  It is also appropriate for people with soft tissue injuries, tendon or ligament tears, tennis or golfer's elbow, hip and low back pain, Achilles tears, arthritis and any joint related pain.

Bone Marrow Aspirate Concentrate (BMAC)

This injection is the same process as the PRP injection however instead of taking the blood from the arm we take the blood from the bone marrow of the patient.  This process includes mesenchymal stem cells as well as all the additional benefits that you receive in a basic PRP injection.

Prolotherapy

This treatment was originally used by Hippocrates for a javelin thrower's shoulder pain. Prolotherapy helps to strengthen ligaments, tendons or joints in the body.  Patients who are suffering with joint pain in the neck, back, hip, ankle, toe/finger, foot/hand, elbow, wrist, shoulder or knee.  Prolotherapy injections have a harmless dextrose with local anesthetic which is placed at the site of pain to initiate a healing response.

If you have any questions about which one of these treatments is best for your situation, speak to one of our Board Certified physicians to learn more.