If you're a casual observer of professional sports, then you know those common injuries to key players can have a huge impact on a team's wins and loss record. If you follow sports more closely, you know players and teams are constantly searching for alternative treatments to injuries that will have the athletes back in top form sooner.
As you may have read in the news, Tiger Woods is recovering from a recent back surgery – his fourth back operation in the past few years (this one being a fusion). Once the greatest golfer in the world, Tiger had his first surgery in 2014, but since then, even after two more surgeries, he has not been able to successfully return to the pro tour. No doubt he is hoping that this recent operation will eventually get him to a place where he can compete at the highest level and without debilitating pain.
When making a decision to move forward with stem cell injection therapy for problems of osteoarthritis and painful soft tissue injury, many patients rely on research to help them make an informed decision. Then they rely on the experience of the doctor helping them. The same can be said for professional athletes. These athletes are approaching stem cells because the treatment regrows cartilage and stops damaging chronic inflammation.
As you know, osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis. It is a condition in which the cartilage that normally protects joints breaks down to the point of being ineffective. The loss of cartilage results in bone-on-bone contact that causes swelling, tenderness, and significant pain. You might also know that osteoarthritis is often age-related.
Despite what many people believe, PRP injections are not new. Neither are stem cell injections. Doctors and clinics have been using them for decades for a variety of purposes. PRP injections have been used to encourage better bone healing following spinal surgery. Plastic surgeons have been relying on PRP injections to promote soft tissue recovery for years. PRP therapy is not new, and it is not quackery.
Platelet Rich Plasma therapy (PRP) is a groundbreaking non-operative treatment option that relieves pain by naturally promoting long-lasting healing of musculoskeletal conditions. Although blood is mainly a liquid (called plasma), it also contains small solid components (red cells, white cells, and platelets.) The platelets are best known for their importance in clotting blood. However, platelets also contain hundreds of proteins called growth factors which are very important in the healing of injuries.
Platelet-rich plasma, also known as PRP, has become increasingly popular for the treatment of orthopedic injuries and symptomatic pain that results from such injuries. By promoting a localized inflammatory response, PRP injections increase blood flow to the injured area and expedite the healing process, thereby leading to pain relief.
Stem Cell & Platelet Rich Plasma Procedures are the world’s most advanced regenerative injection treatments for treating knee pain due to arthritis, meniscus tears, traumatic ligament injuries, overuse conditions and other degenerative conditions.
While knee osteoarthritis is often a progressive and irreversible degenerative process, functional improvement and pain control are reasonable treatment goals. Earlier treatment intervention may improve the odds of preserving joint integrity and function for years - or even a lifetime - which can stave off debilitating pain and a possible need for joint replacement surgery.
Non-Surgical Treatments - Stem Cell & Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP), Physical therapy and exercise, Activity modification, Periodic rest, Warm or cold compress and Weight loss.
While no single test can definitively diagnose osteoarthritis of the knee, physicians use a comprehensive approach that is verified by diagnostic imaging to arrive at a clinical diagnosis. It is important to clarify that most individuals over age 50 will have signs of osteoarthritis in their major joints that can be seen on an x-ray, but most will have no symptoms, so the medical provider will not rely on diagnostic studies (such as an x-ray or MRI) alone. An accurate diagnosis will come following a comprehensive medical history and physical examination by the healthcare provider.
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