By Yibing Li, MD, ABPMR, ABPM
Knee pain is one of the most common causes of chronic disability in USA. The most common causes of knee pain may include osteoarthritis, sports injury, meniscus tear, ligament instabilities, etc. Current treatments options are targeted towards symptomatic management, via pain relief drugs, steroid injections, or surgical interventions. However, these traditional treatments not only carry many side effects and complications, but also are associated with poor outcomes, and may accelerate the progression of osteoarthritis.
Recent medical doctors and researchers have discovered that Regenerative Therapies, such as Prolotherapy, PRP (Platelet Rich Plasma) and Stem Cell Therapy may provide permanent cure and pain relief for people who suffer from chronic knee pain from ligament instability, meniscus tear, or even severe arthritis.
Regenerative Therapies are in the spectrum of therapeutic techniques used to naturally treat and heal the cause of a painful condition, rather than masking the symptom, through stimulating & accelerating our own body’s natural ability to heal ourselves.
- Prolotherapy is an injection therapy for chronic musculoskeletal injury, including knee osteoarthritis. A core principle is the injection of small volumes of an irritant solution at multiple painful ligament and tendon insertions, and in adjacent joint spaces over several treatment sessions.
- PRP (Platelet Rich Plasma) utilizes platelets taken from the patient’s own blood to possibly rebuild damaged tendons or cartilage. Platelets normally circulate within the blood stream, and are responsible for blood clotting, and initiating the healing response in an acute injury. PRP therapy allows us to harvest the patient’s own platelets into the site of injury to help initiate healing, and the likely improvement of function. Numerous studies showed PRP treatment had positive effects in patients with knee osteoarthritis by healing the damaged tissues, diminishing pain, and improving quality of life.
- Stem cells are “undifferentiated” cells, which allows them to develop into another type of cell that is required to repair or replace damaged tissue. Stem cell therapy may repair tissues that might be too damaged to heal on their own. Stem cells can possibly stimulate the formation of cartilage, tendon, ligaments, bone, and fibrous connective tissues. Stem cells are obtained from either the patient’s own tissue, or a purified amniotic source. These concentrated stem cells are then injected into the patient’s damaged tendon or joint.
Prolotherapy, platelet rich plasma injection, and stem cell therapy are done at a physician’s office, and can only take about an hour. Patients return home the same day, and are often able to work the following day. As a result, the damaged tissue may begin to heal immediately, and you could see results in a few months.
When researching this type of treatment and finding a provider, make sure the doctor is a board-certified physician, and has years of experience in minimally-invasive procedures, with additional training in regenerative injection techniques. It is best to schedule an appointment with a physician provider to discuss if this is the right procedure for your condition. The procedures are ideally performed under the guidance of ultrasound, or a fluoroscopy unit, to assist in maximizing the results.
At the Center for Pain Management & Rehab, we offer a multidisciplinary evaluation, and create an individualized treatment plan for each patient. Both traditional pain management and alternative, regenerative treatments are offered for acute or chronic knee pain. As one of the national leading providers in Regenerative medicine, our overall success rate in knee pain reduction and functional improvements is over 90 percent, without surgery. Call today for a free phone consultation: 309-689-8888; or email: li@cpmrmed.com. No physician referral required. Visit our website at www.cpmrmed.com. The Center for Pain Management and Rehab, SC, is located at 5401 N Knoxville Avenue, Suite 117, Peoria, IL.