Regenerative Medicine

What is regenerative medicine?

Regenerative medicine is an innovative approach to treating chronic pain and other symptoms of disease or injury. 

Treatment involves injections of stem cells or platelet-rich plasma (PRP) which come from your own blood. These materials contain essential growth factors that can stimulate the growth of new, healthy cells to repair or replace damaged tissue.

Stem cells have a unique ability to regenerate into different types of cells, including muscle, nerve, and bone. 

By injecting stem cells and/or PRP into your body, Dr. Hood can treat pain and disability from conditions like tendinitis, arthritis, and sports-related injuries by harnessing your body’s own healing power.

What’s involved in regenerative medicine therapy?

In both stem cell and PRP therapy, Dr. Hood must harvest the cells and plasma from your body. PRP comes from a sample of your blood, which Dr. Hood prepares in a centrifuge, quickly spinning the blood to separate the growth factors from other materials.

To harvest stem cells, Dr. Hood performs a minimally invasive outpatient surgical procedure to remove a sample of your bone marrow or fatty tissue that houses stem cells.

Following a custom treatment plan, Dr. Hood injects either the stem cells or highly concentrated PRP into areas damaged by chronic disease or direct trauma. To keep you comfortable, he can apply a topical anesthetic at the injection site.

How long does it take to see results of regenerative medicine therapy?

In both PRP and stem cell therapy, it takes time for your body to produce new cells to replace the old ones. In many cases, a decrease in pain and an increase in mobility can be seen within four weeks of treatment.

Over time, your body continues healing from the inside out and your results continue to improve. Dr. Hood monitors your progress and may recommend additional injections to achieve optimal results.

PRP and stem cell therapy can often delay or even help you avoid the need for surgery. The goal of regenerative medicine therapies is to provide you with long-term relief of pain and an increase in your overall mobility.

To find out if you’re a good candidate for treatment with regenerative medicine, schedule a consultation at Delta Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine online now or by calling the office nearest you.