A.R.M.I https://atlantaregenerativemedicine.com Atlanta Regenerative Medicine Institute Wed, 23 Dec 2020 12:15:57 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9 https://atlantaregenerativemedicine.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/cropped-WebsiteIcon-32x32.png A.R.M.I https://atlantaregenerativemedicine.com 32 32 What Is Regenerative Medicine and How It’s Helpful? https://atlantaregenerativemedicine.com/what-is-regenerative-medicine-and-how-its-helpful/ Wed, 23 Dec 2020 10:26:00 +0000 http://atlantaregenerativemedicine.com/?p=4792

Our body is designed to self-sustain itself to a certain extent. Regenerative medicine is the branch of medicine developed with the idea of using the power of self-sustainability of our body. As it works with the body’s natural healing processes, regenerative medicine represents a coming revolution in treating many illnesses.

Regenerative medicine works to restore the structure and function of damaged tissues and organs. It also creates solutions for organs that become permanently damaged. The goal of this is to find a way to cure previously untreatable injuries and diseases.

Keep on reading to learn more. 

What is Regenerative Medicine?

Regenerative medicine is defined as replacing or regenerating human cells, tissues, or organs to restore or establish normal function. It refers to a group of biomedical approaches to clinical therapies by using stem cells. E.g., cell therapy, immunomodulation therapy.

Benefits of Regenerative Medicine

1. Enhanced healing and reduced pain

It focuses on the root cause of the pain instead of managing the symptoms. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and stem cell therapies develop growth factors in the injured area to aid tissue healing. 

2. Increased functionality

It promotes the production of collagen in the body, which strengthens tendons and tissues. When the tendons and tissues on and surrounding the joints are strengthened, they increase the joints’ range of motion.

3. Faster recovery

The growth factor used in regenerative medicine speed up the healing process. Thus it can help to restore the normal function of our body quickly.

4. Reduced risk of future injuries and pain
Collagen strengthens the tendons and joints that minimize the risk of future injuries and pain.

Types of Regenerative Medicine

– Rich Plasma Therapy 

It is a relatively new therapeutic method in the field of regenerative medicine. It is done with a simple blood draw that centrifuge for about half an hour, which separates the various blood cells. These platelets are then injected into the site of the injury or pain. This stimulates the healing response by drawing blood to the area.

– STEM Cell Therapy

Stem cell therapy is a non-invasive therapy that works within our body. It repairs the damaged cells and modulates the immune system. It also reduces inflammation. It can get from different sources such as adipose tissue, umbilical cord tissue, placental tissue, etc. It is used in the treatment of autoimmune diseases, orthopedic conditions, and traumatic injuries.

– Prolozone Therapy

It is done by injecting a customized cocktail of collagen-producing substances and ozone gas in injured areas. It helps to increase collagen production in the tissue of the injured area. This treatment helps to boost the body’s healing power and also to limit pain.

Top Journal Based on Regenerative Medicine

Want to learn more about cell therapy and regenerative medicine? Below are some world-renowned journals on these issues that always stay updated and keep their readers updated with the latest information.

  1. The Journal of the American Academy of Regenerative Medicine (JAARM)
  2. The Journal of Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine (JSRM)
  3. Journal of Biomimetics, Biomaterials, and Tissue Engineering
  4. Stem Cells and Cloning: Advances and Applications
  5. Journal of Neurodegeneration and Regeneration
Regenerative medicine has a high success rate in its field. Many complex diseases require advanced treatment than what is available today. We can hope for the best.
]]> Interventional Spinal Care https://atlantaregenerativemedicine.com/interventional-spinal-care/ Wed, 23 Dec 2020 10:10:48 +0000 http://atlantaregenerativemedicine.com/?p=4789

Interventional pain medicine is a unique field in the medical world because it focuses on the patients’ overall condition rather than a particular part of the body. Back pain is the third most common reason that people seek help from doctors. In recent years, interventional spine medicine uses an advanced treatment that helps patients to feel better.

What is Interventional Spinal Care?

Interventional spinal care is a subspecialty of neuro spine and neurology. The goal of this treatment is to minimize the pain, accelerate the function, and rehabilitation.

Interventional spinal care offers comprehensive evaluation and non-surgical treatment for neck and back pain, reducing the pain and increasing mobility of the spine by a double board-certified, fellowship-trained anesthesiologist.

Benefits of Interventional Spinal Care

 

  1. Patient-Focused: Every spine center provides its specialist and configuration. Back pain patients need cooperation and coordination. And the spine centers ensure that. Different specialists work together to ensure the quality of services. Thus it reduces the competitive friction among the different specialists and different clinics.
  2. High-quality care: As the communication between the specialists is enhanced, the care quality is higher-ups. When different specialists work together, they can give advanced treatment to the patient. This can help the patient to recover fast.
  3. Convenient Procedures: One clinic provides enough spine health care. Different spine specialties and therapies are available in the same location. So the patient does not need to go to many places for their treatment. It minimizes the hassle for the patient, and they can receive their treatment in a sound environment.

The Procedure of Interventional Spinal Care

Patients can choose from two options for interventional spine care, surgical and non-surgical. Some standard procedures among both options are as follow:

  • Injection: It’s done by advanced imaging technologies, like fluoroscopy, CT scan. These ensure injections with a numbering medication and anti-inflammatory corticosteroid is correctly administered. If the pain reduces immediately after giving the injection, it means the injection site is the pain source. It can also be used as a diagnostic tool. If the pain doesn’t relieve, then it’s used for treatment purposes.

  • Radiofrequency Neurology: A special needle is used in this process. X-ray guides the needle to a specific location of the spine. Radiofrequency and heat are administered to disable the transmission of the pain signals. They are delivered at the nerve and disable the pain for an extended period.

  • Discectomy: Special tools are used for this procedure to give tiny incisions in the exact location. Removing all or part of a bulging or herniated disc can relieve the pressure on the affected nerve. It helps to ease the pain.

  • Spinal Cord Stimulation: Chronic spinal and radicular pain are treated with this procedure. In the beginning, gentle electrical currents are applied around the pain source, the spinal cord. Then electrical leads are placed to the spinal column. A small generator is installed in the lower back region (abdomen or buttock). By emitting electrical signals, this generator blocks the brains’ ability to perceive pain.

Functional and Medicated Management of Spine

There are some alternative conventional treatments for chronic back pain, such as; 
  • Physical therapy
  • TENS
  • Cognitive therapy and pain psychology
  • Acupuncture, yoga, and hypnotherapy, etc.

Conditions Treated with Interventional Spinal Care

  • Pinched spinal nerves/ sciatica
  • Herniated discs
  • Facet joint arthritis
  • Spinal stenosis
  • Failed back surgery syndrome
  • Whiplash/ cervicogenic headache
  • Tailbone pain
  • Spondylosis
  • Spondylolisthesis
  • Shingles
  • Occipital neuralgia
  • Trigeminal neuralgia
  • Complex regional pain syndrome
  • Compression fractures

Complications of Interventional Spinal Care

Neurological complications
  • The intra-arterial injection can result in stem infarction
  • Neural compression or ischemia
  • Direct nerve trauma
Infectious complications
  • Infection with possible epidural abscess
  • Osteomyelitis

Medication-related complications
  • A repeated steroid injection may result in epidural lipomatosis
  • Intrathecal injection of steroids may result in arachnoiditis. 
  • Imbalance in blood sugar level. 
 
Interventional spinal care aims to improve the patient’s overall well-being by working synergistically with other medical disciplines. It provides an individual patient with a treatment plan that improves mobility and enhances the quality of life.
]]> Plasma Therapy for Joint Pain https://atlantaregenerativemedicine.com/plasma-therapy-for-joint-pain/ Wed, 23 Dec 2020 09:52:21 +0000 http://atlantaregenerativemedicine.com/?p=4779

Plasma therapy is a treatment that reduces the pain of arthritis. It uses the body’s blood to treat damaged tissues. Platelet is one of the components of blood, and it is used in plasma therapy to repair tendons, ligaments, damaged cartilage, or even bone by its natural healing properties.
Platelets contain the growth factor. It prevents blood loss by coagulation. When platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injects into an injured area, it helps tissues repair themselves by forming new cells. In this way, PRP can help reverse existing tissue damage. It is also called autologous conditioned plasma therapy (ACP).

Benefits of Plasma Therapy for Joint Pain

  1. Helps to heal several cases of sports injuries
  2. Provide symptomatic relief for knee osteoarthritis
  3. Effectively heals and reduces inflammation.
  4. Simple and minimally invasive intervention

Plasma therapy is found to be beneficial in some common conditions, such as:

  1. Osteoarthritis
  2. Joint disease or spinal disc 
  3. Patient with tendonitis
  4. Common hand trauma or injuries, like texting thumb and carpal tunnel syndrome.
  5. Shoulder problems, like osteoarthritis and rotator cuff tear
  6. Elbow condition, like tennis or  golfer’s elbow
  7. Sports, occupational or other injuries that cause torn ligaments. 

PRP Injection Preparation and Composition

The most common way to prepare PRP is to centrifuge a patient’s blood sample. A vial of blood is placed in a centrifuge, where it is spun at intensely high speeds. It separates the blood component into three layers;

 
  1. Red blood cells at the bottom of the vial, approximately 45% of blood.
  2. White blood cells form a thin middle layer, called a buffy coat comprising less than 1%.
  3. Platelet containing plasma makes up the remaining top layer, about 55% of the centrifuged blood.
After completing the centrifuge, it will remove and prepare the PRP solution for injection. Centrifuge speed and time can vary, and it affects the composition of PRP. It also differs from patient to patient because of the characteristics of the patient’s blood, processing of blood, additives, etc.

How Does PRP Work?

  1. Suppress inflammation and reduce the growth of arthritis. 
  2. Increase the generation of new cartilage
  3. It produces more natural lubricating fluid in the joints and relieves the joints’ painful frictions to ease joint friction. 
  4. Proteins contained in the PRP alter pain receptors of the patient and reduce pain sensation. 

How Long PRP Therapy Take to Work

It depends on our body’s healing capacities. Age may affect this process. Persons with fast natural healing abilities will take less time than persons with slow healing abilities from the same PRP treatment.

Most patients feel relief within three to four weeks following injection. The pain tends to improve over the next three to six months. However, it is important to note that all patients heal differently, and some areas may respond faster than others.

How Much Does PRP Cost

Plasma therapy costs range between USD 500 and USD 2,000. The cost varies from location to location, the doctors who are performing the treatment, and of course, the facilities they offer. Some patients may require multiple injections within 2-3 months. 

Plasma Therapy for Joint Pain: Aftercare Immediately after the injection

 After giving the PRP solution, the injection site should be kept dry, clean, and covered with a Band-Aid. Some patients may experience sourness or bruising. But it’s not a matter of worry. After 3-7 days, it recovers on its own.
Experts suggest patients should not do certain things immediately after PRP therapy. Patients should stop taking anti-inflammatory drugs such as Voltaren, Mortin, Naprosyn, Naproxen, Diclofenac, etc. Stop taking these drugs four days before the therapy, and seven days later, every medication can continue as usual. It’s also not recommended to use ice at the injection site.

Activity after PRP Injection

First 2-3 days after the injection, patients can do only daily living activities, such as (bathing, cooking, eating, and dressing). Patients should take rest and avoid much walking if the injection is given in the lower extremity.

For 1-2 weeks after the injection, the patient should maintain some rules to receive better outcomes. If the injection is given in the upper extremity (shoulder, elbow, wrist), avoid repetitive motions, such as lifting, pushing, and pulling. If the injection is given in the lower extremity (hip, knee, ankle, foot), the patient should avoid long-walk, hiking, or running. 

Patients can return to their regular activity after 14-16 days of the injection. If any action makes the injected sites uncomfortable, it must be avoided. 

PRP Therapy for Joint Pain: Side Effects

As PRP is prepared from the substances of our bodies it contains low risk of allergic reactions. Though, some patients may experience the following side effects:
  • Swelling at the injection site
  • Infection
  • Tissue damage
  • Nerve injuries

Final Words

PRP therapy works as a polytherapy treatment. Nowadays, it is one of the most effective pain management procedures, thanks to the advancement of cutting edge technologies. It plays a significant role in improving pain relief and treating any musculoskeletal traumas and tissue damages.
]]> Plasma therapy for Spinal Pain https://atlantaregenerativemedicine.com/plasma-therapy-for-spinal-pain/ Tue, 22 Dec 2020 09:53:44 +0000 http://atlantaregenerativemedicine.com/?p=4772
Aargh! Back pain! Almost all of us are familiar with this word, and most of us live with this unwanted house guest. Modern office work culture, unhealthy food habits, and lack of physical activity have made lower back pain the single leading cause of disability globally. Today, we’ll discuss one of the revolutionary treatments of back pain, plasma therapy for spinal pain.

Damage of spinal joints is one of the significant reasons for chronic back pain, a debilitating condition that devastates our daily life. Spinal joints can damage due to various reasons, like accidents, injury, falls, osteoarthritis, or disc degeneration. There are various levels of spinal pain, and treatment varies according to this. Doctors may suggest Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy to naturally heal the spinal joints and improve the spine’s mobility and functionality for severe and chronic back pain.
Here’s the article at a glance:

Platelet Rich Plasma is a mixture of the body’s blood. The blood is directly injected into the joints to stop cartilage degeneration and stimulate the natural healing process. After one dose of PRP injection, 36.33% of the patients reported improved pain relief, while after the 3rd dose, the rate increased to 54.91%.

Benefits of Plasma Therapy for Spinal Pain

    • Natural healing process
    • Increased functionality 
    • Increased range of motion
    • Improves pain relief 
    • Reduces inflammation
    • It is safe, with little or no side effects.

The procedure of PRP Therapy

At first, the doctors examine the patient physically. Once doctors find out the specific pain sources, usually the thoracic (upper back) and lumbar (lower back) regions, they draw the patient’s blood and prepare the PRP mixture. A small amount of blood is drawn from the patient’s arm, and it’s spun in a centrifuge to separate the plasma from the blood. It will be a mixture of natural plasma with platelets in high concentrations. This mixture is reinjected in the painful area of the spine. This procedure takes about half an hour and can be done with one local anesthesia only. Patients don’t need to stay overnight; usually, they are released after finishing the procedure.  

How does PRP Therapy Work in Chronic Back Pain?

PRP therapy improves the recovery of injured vertebral joints. PRP stimulates the natural immune response by flooding stem cells to the site of pain. Once injected, the stem cells begin to multiply, differentiate, and replace the damaged cartilage.

Conditions of the spine treated with PRP therapy include;

  • Lumbar spine disc pain
  • Cervical spine disc pain
  • Lumbar and Cervical Facet joint arthritis and pain
  • Sacroiliac joint dysfunction and pain
  • Lumbar and Cervical Radiculopathy

How Many Injections Need in Spine Therapy?

PRP therapy’s feedback depends on the severity of the condition and how the body responds to the treatment. It varies from patient to patient. Some may achieve expected results after taking one injection, but they may need up to four PRP injections to see improvements as expected for some patients.

Recovery after Getting PRP Therapy?

Recovery time varies from patient to patient. In general, pain relief improvement begins to appear in 3 to 4 weeks, while the complete healing process may take up to 3 to 6 months. 

Costs of PRP Therapy

Usually, plasma therapy for spinal pain costs around $500 and $2000. The cost can vary depending on location, facilities, and the doctor’s expertise doing the treatment. Often, a person has to take multiple injections given 2 to 3 months apart.

Potential side effects of PRP

Comparatively, other treatment procedures PRP has fewer side effects. Some of the potential side effects may include:

  • Infection
  • Swelling or bruising
  • Nerve injuries
  • Bleeding
  • Pain at the injection site
  • Tissue damage
Soreness is common after the PRP procedure. Usually, it will subside on its own. If it’s not done then, acetaminophen can be used. 

If the side effects harm the daily activities, then consult with your doctor about any potential risks considering your immune system’s strength and severity of spinal pain.

Effectiveness of PRP Therapy

Platelet-rich plasma therapy can be an effective alternative to surgery for individual patients. Many spine conditions can be easily treated by plasma therapy, such as radiculopathy-compression of a spinal nerve in the lower back that causes sciatica. It promotes healing of the area without surgery or epidural injections. The National Pain Report also reported that about 60% of patients under PRP treatment for low back pain had experienced a reduction of pain for the long term. 

Plasma therapy is a safe, effective, and feasible treatment modality for treating discogenic back pain. Considering the remarkable progress made already, plasma therapy for spinal pain undoubtedly offers new and exciting prospects for treating degenerative disc disease and other musculoskeletal disorders.
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