Greater Peoria Metro Area, IL

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Regenerative Therapies For Pain

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By Yibing Li, MD, ABPM, ABPMR, Center for Pain Management & Rehabilitation

What is a Regenerative Therapy?
RIT (Regenerative Injection Therapy) are a spectrum of therapeutic techniques used to naturally treat and heal the cause of a painful condition rather than masking the symptom. For the right patient, RIT may stimulate and accelerate you own body’s natural ability to heal itself. Two effective RITs include stem cell therapy and platelet rich plasma injections.

Stem Cell Therapy
Stem cells are “undifferentiated” cells, which allow 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 patients damaged tendon or joint.

Platelet Rich Plasma Therapy
PRP (Platelet Rich Plasma) therapy 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 initialing the healing response in an acute injury. Many acute injuries do not heal adequately and can lead to chronic pain and loss of function of the injured area. PRP therapy allows us to harvest the patient’s own platelets into the site of the injury to help initiate healing and the likely improvement of function. This is typically done under image guidance such as ultrasound and/or fluoroscopy. 

Treatments-  Commonly treated conditions include, but are not limited to, the following:  

  • Shoulder Pain (rotator cuff and tendinitis)
  • Elbow Pain (tennis elbow or golfer’s elbow)
  • Wrist & Hand Pain
  • Hip Pain (arthritis, tendinitis, and weakness)
  • Knee Pain (ligament laxity, meniscus tear)
  • Foot & Ankle Pain (plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendinitis or tear)
  • Neck & Back Pain
  • Osteoarthritis and all degenerative joint diseases, such as shoulder, hip, knee, ankle joints, etc.
  • Post-surgical pain
  • Unhealed or Open Wounds

The Injection Procedure
Platelet rich plasma therapy and stem cell injections are done at a physician’s office and can 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. Regenerative Therapy can be successful in not only relieving pain, but also in possibly jump-starting the healing process.

Not All PRP and Stem Cell Injections Are the Same
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, as well as additional training in regenerative injection techniques. It is best to schedule an appointment with a physician provider to discuss if this is the best procedure for your condition. As far as technology, procedures are performed under the guidance of ultrasound or a fluoroscopy unit to assist in maximizing the results.

Are you tired of suffering from pain? Dr. Yibing Li has been practicing regenerative medicine and therapies in adjacent to traditional pain medicine for more than seven years. The success rate for treating people with chronic joint disease, muscle pain, and tendon injuries is over 90 percent. Call today for an instant 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.