Regenerative Orthobiologics Over Orthopedic Medicine for Joint Pain & Function
At Regenesis, our clients often ask how Regenerative and Orthopedic Medicine compare in addressing joint pain and loss of joint function.
Orthopedic treatments include surgery, medications, and physical therapy. Surgery seeks to repair or replace damaged joints, bones, ligaments, and other tissues. Surgery can range from arthroscopic procedures under regional anesthesia to total joint replacement under general anesthesia.
Orthopedic medications include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, pain relievers, corticosteroids, and other medications. Though steroids are widely used to reduce joint inflammation and pain, they have a catabolic effect on tissue. This means they can break down tissue. Too often we see the ill effects of repeated or prolonged use of steroids including collagen degradation leading to the breakdown of tendons, ligaments, and other tissues. We have seen steroid damage so extensive as to preclude the use of Regenerative Medicine to restore joint health.
Finally, physical therapy plays a significant role in traditional orthopedic treatments. It involves exercises, stretches, and other techniques to rehabilitate injured or surgically treated joints.
In contrast with traditional Orthopedic Medicine, Regenerative Medicine harness Orthobiologics and other therapies to restore joint function and reduce joint pain without the downtime, risks, and loss of joint function associated with surgery and steroids.
Regenerative therapies use Orthobiologics derived from the patient’s own body to stimulate natural healing and tissue regeneration. Examples include harvesting, processing, and reinjecting platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and/or bone marrow aspirate concentrate (BMSC) from a patient (autologous tissues) to deliver stem cells and key healing agents to their diseased or injured joint. Because harvesting and reinjection of Orthobiologics employ needles rather than surgery and in the case of severe disease, joint amputation, Regenerative therapies are minimally invasive.
Since Regenerative Medicine options involve autologous tissue injections rather than surgery they can be performed without anesthesia or with only oral or light IV sedation. Also, downtime and recovery are measured in a few days rather than weeks and months of recovery and physical therapy typical after surgery. Rather than removing tissue and joints, Regenerative Medicine amplifies a patient’s own healing processes to promote tissue regeneration and healing.
Orthobiologics includes BMSC and PRP used individually or in combination to regenerate joint tissue. BMSC contains many types of stem cells that play a crucial role in healing and tissue regeneration. Among this variety of stem cells are mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). These multipotent cells can differentiate into various cell types, including bone and cartilage cells. They can also suppress immune responses that would otherwise impair joint healing. While MSCs are particularly potent healing agents they comprise a small share of nucleated cells in bone marrow. Given their relative rarity, the processing and precise reinjection of BMSC is key to successful joint healing.
PRP is processed from a patient's own blood to contain very high concentrations of platelets. Platelets are rich in growth factors and other bioactive molecules that can stimulate tissue repair and regeneration. When PRP is used in conjunction with BMSC, it can enhance therapeutic effects in several ways. PRP provides growth factors and cytokines that stimulate cell proliferation, moderate inflammation, and promote tissue healing. Stem cells in BMSC differentiate into chondrocytes and contribute to cartilage repair. When used together, PRP and BMSC work synergistically to foster joint regeneration.
Because of our success in using Orthobiologics to address patients’ joint pain and improve their joint function, at Regenesis, we say that “We help you heal you.”
Orthobiologic Treatments for Osteoarthritis Using PRP & Autologous Stem Cells
Stem cells play a significant role in fostering healing due to their unique ability to differentiate into various specialized cell types and their capacity to self-renew. This versatility makes them valuable in repairing damaged tissues and promoting the body's natural healing processes. Here's how stem cells contribute to healing:
- 1. Regeneration of Tissues: Stem cells can differentiate into specific cell types based on the signals they receive from their surrounding environment. This capability allows them to replace damaged or dead cells in various tissues, such as skin, muscles, bones, and nerves. By generating new, healthy cells, stem cells aid in the regeneration of injured or diseased tissues.
- Reducing Inflammation: Stem cells can release anti-inflammatory molecules that help suppress the body's immune response and reduce inflammation at the site of injury or damage. This anti-inflammatory effect creates a more favorable environment for healing and tissue repair.
- Secreting Growth Factors: Stem cells secrete a variety of growth factors and signaling molecules that stimulate nearby cells to proliferate and differentiate. These growth factors promote tissue repair, angiogenesis (the formation of new blood vessels), and the recruitment of other cells involved in healing processes.
- Supporting Blood Vessel Formation: Stem cells can contribute to angiogenesis by differentiating into endothelial cells, which line blood vessels, and pericytes, which play a role in stabilizing and supporting blood vessels. This enhanced blood vessel formation improves blood circulation to damaged areas, facilitating the delivery of oxygen, nutrients, and immune cells necessary for healing.
- Immune Modulation: Stem cells have the ability to modulate the immune response. They can influence immune cells' activity, promoting an environment that is more conducive to healing and tissue repair. This can be particularly beneficial in conditions where excessive immune activity might hinder healing.
- Scar Tissue Reduction: Stem cells have been shown to contribute to the reduction of scar tissue formation. When they differentiate into appropriate cell types and integrate into the tissue, they can help restore the tissue's original structure and function, minimizing the formation of fibrotic scar tissue.
- Stimulation of Endogenous Repair Mechanisms: Stem cells can also stimulate the body's endogenous repair mechanisms by releasing factors that promote the activation of resident stem cells or progenitor cells present in the damaged tissue.
When injected into diseased and injured tissues, stem cells and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) can work synergistically to promote healing and tissue repair. Both therapies harness the body's natural healing mechanisms and can be used in various medical contexts such as orthopedics, sports medicine, dermatology, and more. PRP is a concentration of platelets derived from the patient's own blood. Platelets contain a rich cocktail of growth factors, cytokines, and other bioactive molecules that play a crucial role in wound healing, tissue regeneration, and inflammation modulation. Stem cells are typically harvested from a patient’s bone marrow or in some cases from their adipose tissue (fat). Stem Cells have the ability to differentiate into various cell types and secrete growth factors, making them valuable for tissue regeneration and repair. Different types of stem cells can be used, including mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). These stem cells promote tissue healing and reducing inflammation.
When used together, stem cells and PRP can amplify their individual regenerative effects. Here's how they complement each other:
- Enhanced Growth Factor Release: PRP contains a concentrated mix of growth factors that can stimulate stem cells' activity and proliferation. When introduced to an area of injury or damage, PRP provides a robust source of growth factors that can enhance the regenerative potential of stem cells, promoting tissue repair.
- Support for Stem Cell Viability: Stem cells need a supportive environment to survive and effectively contribute to healing. PRP can provide this environment by supplying essential nutrients, cytokines, and growth factors that keep stem cells viable and active at the site of injury.
- Angiogenesis and Blood Supply Improvement: PRP's growth factors can promote angiogenesis, or the formation of new blood vessels. This is crucial for delivering oxygen, nutrients, and stem cells to the injured area, facilitating the healing process. Improved blood supply also helps remove waste products from the healing site.
- Immune Modulation: Both stem cells and PRP have immune-modulating properties. PRP can help modulate the immune response by reducing inflammation, which is essential for creating a favorable environment for healing. Stem cells can enhance this effect by further influencing immune cell behavior.
- Tissue Regeneration: Stem cells have the ability to differentiate into specialized cells needed for tissue regeneration. When combined with PRP's growth factors and cytokines, they can be guided to differentiate into the specific cell types required for repairing the damaged tissue.
- Reduction of Scar Tissue: The combination of stem cells and PRP has shown promise in reducing scar tissue formation and promoting the growth of healthier, more functional tissue at the site of injury.
It's important to note that while stem cells and PRP have the potential to significantly enhance healing, their effectiveness can vary based on factors such as the specific condition being treated, the patient's overall health, the quality of the therapies used. Therapy quality includes doctor skill, appropriate use of image guided precision injections, the quality of lab processing to insure high counts of potent and viable stem cells and platelets are available to inject.
At Regenesis, our experienced medical professionals led by Dr. Lee are experienced and highly trained in all aspects of regenerative medicine. They have successfully improved the function and reduced joint pain in several thousand joints afflicted by osteoarthritis, sports and occupational injuries and other diseases over the past ten years. Dr. Lee is credentialed by the Alabama State Board of Medical Examiners to perform regenerative orthopedic treatment.
Regenesis Aesthetics Reviews
The team at Regenesis is so great, they make the time to hear and understand your individual needs and goals and customize a care plan specific to you. I came in seeking a solution to improve my physical mobility and they also provided support for my weight loss goals. I am so thrilled with my progress and the solutions they have helped put into place for me. I am well on my way to a healthier me!!!
This place is excellent and I will recommend to all my friends. They said they could help me and they didn't disappoint..
They take such great care of you here! I got a laser treatment on my face and was in and out within 90 min (30 min for numbing cream, 30 min procedure, 20 min post procedure hydrating mask and post-procedure instructions) and am very happy with the results. The tech they have is truly state-of-the-art, and Shelby was a delight to work with. What an incredible gem of a clinic to have in Huntsville!
The staff there is very informative of their services they offer and more than anything they are kind and professional. They don’t try and push services to you that are unwarranted. Highly recommend.
The staff at Regenesis have been friendly and super helpful! I can't recommend them enough!
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