What is regenerative medicine?
Regenerative medicine helps restore the function and structure of damaged tissues and organs. Regenerative medicine also aims to find a way to cure previously untreatable injuries and diseases.
Through regenerative medicine, you can take advantage of your body’s ability to heal itself by using the healthy adult stem cells that exist throughout your body.
Research shows that it’s possible to use adult stem cells to restore lost, damaged, or aging cells and effectively regenerate tissue. Regenerative medicine techniques are showing promise in the treatment of orthopedic pain.
What are stem cells?
Over 40 years ago, researchers found that certain cells derived from bone marrow could change into other types of cells to create new tissue. Adult stem cells are early-stage cells capable of developing into different types of cells with the potential to regenerate damaged tissue.
Adult stem cells can help in the treatment of many types of chronic pain and degeneration. Currently, Dr. Pohlman is using stem cell therapy to treat spine, shoulder, knee, and hip degeneration, soft tissue (muscle, tendon, ligament) damage, and bone-related injuries.
Where does regenerative medicine come from?
Many regenerative therapies begin with your own cells. For example, your provider might collect your skin cells, reprogram them in the laboratory to give them certain characteristics, and deliver them back to you to treat your disease.
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) comes from your blood. A small quantity of your blood goes into a centrifuge, which separates the platelets and concentrates them. Platelets contain growth factors that your body uses in the healing process.
Stem cells are present within many tissues and organs, but the most common sources are bone marrow and fatty tissues (adipose). Your hip or pelvis is one of the best and most convenient locations for obtaining bone marrow.
In the harvesting procedure, Dr. Pohlman removes (aspirates) the bone marrow, which is then processed to produce a substance called bone marrow aspirate concentrate (BMAC).
What happens when I have regenerative medicine treatment?
Regenerative medicine treatments happen in two stages. First, the cells need harvesting and concentrating. Next, Dr. Pohlman injects the concentrate into the damaged tissues, using digital imaging to ensure optimal placement.
The use of your own stem cells is a safe and effective treatment option. Adult stem cells not only offer an effective treatment for damaged tissue, but they also prevent further tissue degeneration.
To find out more about stem cell therapy and the ways regenerative medicine can help ease your pain, call Pohlman Pain Associates today or book an appointment online.
