13 Apr Regenerative Medicine for Pain Relief without Drugs

Effective management of chronic pain has been a challenge for medical science. The opioid crisis has proven that drugs are not always the right solution. The problem is that very few non-drug treatments exist. This is where regenerative medicine could prove most beneficial.

Here is a look at two innovative regenerative medicine treatments that are now being utilized for pain management.

Stem Cell Therapy

Stem cells can stimulate the body’s natural healing action. This can help to repair damaged cells and tissues and address the source of pain. Stem cells are harvested from the patient’s own body – the bone marrow or the adipose (fat) tissue. The extracted material is spun in the centrifuge to isolate the stem cells. The stem cells are then injected at the site of injury or disease.

Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Therapy

PRP therapy relies on blood platelets and the growth factors they contain. It is also an autologous procedure, which means the patient’s own blood is used to extract the platelet-rich plasma. The platelets and growth factors trigger the body’s natural healing processes at the site of the pain. This can be useful in treating conditions such as arthritis or other musculoskeletal injuries.