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.”
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:
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:
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.
