Regenerative Injections
Reconstructive injections are injections that restore the anatomy and function of the joints. It is a new trend in pain management and orthopedics. Platelet-Rich Plasma and Prolotherapy injections produce restoration and growth of normal collagen in damaged ligaments and tendons by attracting stem cells to the damaged area.
A significant proportion of back pain and joint pain is caused by laxity of ligaments (collagen-rich threads connecting bone to bone). Lax ligaments fail to provide adequate support to the joint. This causes destabilization of joint and spasms in surrounding muscles and additional tension in tendons. This happens in all joints – knees, ankles, shoulders, wrists, elbows and joints of the spinal column. Tendons connect muscle to bone making it possible for joints to move. Tendons like ligaments are also rich with collagen fibers. Overuse or damage to tendons over a long period of time leads to a condition called tendinitis. Damage to tendons most often occurs in the knee, ankle, shoulder, elbow, wrist, biceps, calf, hamstrings and Achilles tendon.
Same type of damage happens in the ligaments of the spine. Poor posture, injuries and shrinkage of the discs that happens with aging or injuries causes ligaments to become stretched and weak. They fail to provide adequate support to the joints of spine. Joints of the spine become unstable. Muscles that control spinal column become tense. Movement in the joints between vertebra become either restricted or excessive and painful.
Our body heals these lax ligaments naturally on its own with the process of localized inflammation. This process is associated with increased production of collagen in the ligaments and tendons. As a result the joint should become stable and the pain disappear. Back pain and joint pain is usually a result of the failure of the body’s effort to heal the torn ligaments through inflammation.
Reconstructive injections – Platelet-Rich Plasma and Prolotherapy – artificially induce healing and strengthening of lax ligaments through the same natural process of localized inflammation.
Reconstructive injections may be used separately or as a part of a treatment protocol in combination with immune-enhancement techniques, reduction of toxic load (chelation therapy, removing food the person is sensitive to), vitamin therapy, homeopathy etc.
Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) injections:
Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) is a new revolutionary injection technique for treatment of sport injuries, arthritic joints, low back pain, degenerative disc disease, tennis elbow, carpal tunnel syndrome, rotator cuff tears, damaged ligaments of the knees.
PRP is prepared from the patient’s own blood. PRP contains huge reservoirs of bioactive proteins, including growth factors that initiate and accelerate repair and regeneration of ligaments, tendons and cartilage.
A fraction of blood (20cc-55cc) is drawn from the patient into a syringe. This is a relatively small amount. The blood is spun down in a special centrifuge to separate Platelet-Rich Plasma from the rest of the blood’s components. The platelet-rich plasma is first separated then activated with a small amount of calcium to allow the release of growth factors from the platelets which in turn amplifies the healing process. PRP is then injected into the treatment area – joint, tendon, ligament. Platelets are very small cells that are involved in the clotting process. When PRP is injected into the damaged area it causes a mild inflammation that triggers the healing cascade. Platelets release a number of enzymes to promote healing and attract stem cells to repair the damaged area. As a result new collagen begins to develop. As the collagen matures it begins to shrink causing the tightening and strengthening of the ligament or tendon. The full procedure takes approximately 45 minutes – 1 hr. Generally 2-3 treatments are advised, however, sometimes one may be enough.
PRP is proven to be very safe treatment method of pain relief.
Prolotherapy
Prolotherapy involves injection at the juncture of ligaments or tendons and bones. This injection starts the healing process in ligaments. At the end of it ligaments get back to their normal length and strength. Consequently the joint function improves.
These injections are repeated as necessary, depending on the healing progress, every 3 to 6 weeks.
Prolotherapy is a highly safe and effective method in relieving pain in joints and spine.
Neural Therapy
Any illness can leave a “focus of irritation” in the nervous system. Moreover, this “focus of irritation” may interfere with the function of the immune system, nervous system and the production of hormones (this is true even if the affected organ was surgically removed).
For example, a “focus of irritation” left from childhood tonsillitis may be responsible in adulthood for arthritis, neck pain, migraine headaches, chronic fatigue, PMS, depression and some other conditions. Furthermore, if an old scar or diseased tissue is injected with a local anesthetic, then marked improvement and even full recovery may occur in organs seemingly unrelated to the injected site.
Neural therapy is used to treat chronic pain, along with a variety of illnesses, such as different kinds of arthritis (including Rheumatoid), lower back pain, migraine headaches, trigeminal neuralgia, chronic fatigue, allergies, gynecological and urological conditions, impotence, urinary incontinence, phantom pains and many others.
Response to treatment can be dramatic with fast improvement of long lasting ailments. Successful Neural Therapy treatment usually improves emotional and psychological states as well as anxious and depressive conditions.