Pain and injuries to the knee are a common complaint among our patients. A variety of factors can cause knee pain, such as:
- Cartilage damage
- Injury
- Arthritis
- Tissue degeneration
- Torn ligaments
- Osteoarthritis
- And more
No matter what is causing the pain, finding the pain’s source is the most important aspect of getting long-lasting relief. Often, after a diagnosis, people may be prescribed a regimen of medications to deal with the pain. These prescription drugs typically mask the symptoms temporarily. Alternatively, surgery may be recommended. Surgery can be invasive and may not fully correct the issue. While some situations may warrant surgery, there may be alternative treatment options for some knee pain conditions.
Regenerative medicine offers many patients who suffer from knee pain an alternative route to pain relief. Regenerative treatments utilize the body’s innate ability to heal itself. One form of regenerative medicine uses mesenchymal tissues to heal the damaged tissue in the knee. These tissues are derived from Wharton’s Jelly, which is found in the umbilical cord of newborn infants.
The tissue is collected at the time of scheduled C-section births. The collection of this donated tissue is harmless to both mother and child. The use of mesenchymal tissues for knee repair is quite effective because the young and healthy tissue stimulates healing.
As we age, so do our cells, making it harder for the body to restore in the same capacity as when we were younger. Mesenchymal tissues are a widely used regenerative treatment; however, it is not the only regenerative procedure that can keep patients out of surgery.
Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) is another available form of regenerative medicine that effectively treats severe knee pain or injury. Platelets are one of the body’s natural healing mechanisms. Platelets reside in our blood’s plasma and are activated by a brain signal when damage or injury occurs. This signal tells the platelets where the body is injured and where repair is needed. Platelets rush to the injury area, causing the blood to clot and supplying the surrounding tissues with growth factors needed to heal. During the PRP treatment, our doctors use plasma extracted from the patient’s blood. This blood is then turned into PRP injections and re-introduced in the area in need of healing.
During PRP treatment, a small sample of your blood is taken while at your appointment. This sample goes through a centrifuge and is turned into a concentrated plasma that contains platelets. The plasma is then re-injected into the injured area. The platelets and growth factors go to work healing damaged tissues and encouraging the re-growth of new tissues, relieving pain at the source.
For those who have been suffering from knee pain for a long time, as well as those who may be new to it, pain can drastically limit their quality of life. Regenerative medicine provides these patients with many options for getting relief and back to enjoying life pain-free. Regenerative treatments have shown effective results in getting patients the relief they need without risky surgical procedures and without having to use prescription drugs that simply just mask the symptoms.