What is regenerative medicine?
Regenerative medicine involves using Human Cellular Tissue Products (HCTPs) to facilitate your body’s ability to heal itself. Sycamore Integrated Health offers patients Human Cellular Tissue Products to help stimulate the natural regenerative process within the body. These products are made up of a combination of compounds- hyaluronic acid, growth factors, mesenchymal stem cells, exosomes, and cytokines- which are all potent factors that help your body regenerate tissue.
Once the body is injected with an HCTPs, the growth factors within the product can start triggering cell growth in the area of injection. Over the subsequent weeks, cells may grow and divide, forming new tissues. This process may result in the healing of damaged or injured tissues you have, without going through surgery.
What can be treated with regenerative medicine?
Regenerative medicine with amniotic allograft treatments is beneficial for healing many types of bone and soft tissue problems, including arthritis. The injections can treat:
- Knees
- Shoulders
- Hips
- Elbows
- Ankles
- Wrists
- Feet
- Hands
How long does regenerative medicine take to work?
Because the HCTP functions to facilitate your body’s ability to make new tissues, it can take some time for the treatment to start working. Some patients report a dramatic reduction in their pain levels in as little as a few weeks, for others it may take months. This all depends on the individual person.
Will I need more than one treatment with regenerative medicine?
It depends. Two of the main determining factors are how quickly you heal and the severity of your injury. If you don’t see any improvement after several months, or if you don’t notice a significant improvement, your doctor may suggest another course of treatment. They can let you know what to expect during your consultation and assessment appointment.
Types of Regenerative Medicine
Human Cellular Tissue Products
These products are made up of a combination of compounds- hyaluronic acid, growth factors, mesenchymal stem cells, exosomes, and cytokines- which are all potent factors that help your body regenerate tissue.
Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) Therapy
Platelet-rich plasma or PRP therapy is a type of regenerative medicine that offers an alternative for people who may be considering joint replacement or elective surgery due to arthritis or injury. PRP therapy is prepared from your own blood. This means that there is no risk of rejection or disease transmission as well as a very minimal risk of infection. A local anesthetic is used so there is only mild discomfort during the procedure – similar to what one would feel receiving a flu shot. Ultrasound guidance is used to assist in the precise placement of the PRP injection. There may be mild pain or swelling at the injection site once the procedure is completed. However, the majority of patients are able to return to their usual activities with no downtime.
Regenerative Medicine Protocol
The regenerative medicine protocol we use includes:
- A physical exam to evaluate your injury or damaged joint
- Imaging which may include X-ray, MRI, CT, or Diagnostic Ultrasound to evaluate the severity of your injury or degenerative joint
- Temporary bracing using orthotics, knee braces, or walking boots for stabilization
