Are you struggling with chronic pain? If so, you’re not alone. At least 20% of American adults struggle with chronic pain each year, and for about half these people, their pain is so debilitating it prevents them from engaging in at least one of their regular activities.
If this describes you, the team at Interventional Pain and Regenerative Medicine Specialists can help. Led by board-certified pain management physician John Huffman, MD, we’re committed to providing patients in Northern Virginia with the best in chronic pain management.
If you’re tired of taking pills to manage your pain, we have good news! Pain management is changing dramatically thanks to revolutionary advances in regenerative medicine. Read on to learn more!
You were born with everything you need to repair and regenerate cells and tissues that are injured or damaged. But as we get older, our ability to heal ourselves begins to slow and wane, preventing your natural regenerative processes from being fully effective. The result? Aging skin and degenerative conditions, like arthritis.
Regenerative medicine gives your body’s natural healing processes a helping hand by taking resources that promote cellular regeneration and healing, like donor stem cells and platelets from your body. Both these types of cells naturally occur in your body and help repair damaged tissues, decrease pain, and help you regain some or all normal functioning to the treatment area.
One type of regenerative medicine is called platelet-rich plasma therapy (PRP). Platelets have growth factors that aid with inflammation and repair. With PRP therapy, Dr. Huffman takes a small amount of your blood in a syringe, then places it in a centrifuge to create platelet-rich plasma.
The plasma is then injected directly into the tissues at the source of your pain. The PRP solution contains a boost of platelets to the damaged area that triggers your healing process, giving you much-needed relief.
Your body has unspecialized cells that can adapt and change into any new cell type when you need them for repair and regrowth of damaged tissues. These cells are called stem cells, and they’re found in different areas of the body.
The stem cells used in regenerative medicine are derived from healthy donors of umbilical cords, fat, or bone marrow. When injected into the treatment area, they promote repair and growth of new tissue, help reduce swelling, and alleviate your pain.
When your body is injured or when you have an infection or disease, your platelets and stem cells help the damaged areas of your body heal. Sometimes, however, your body cannot produce enough of these cells to fully repair the area or they cannot reach the area due to blocked blood vessels.
Regenerative medicine treatments at Interventional Pain and Regenerative Medicine Specialists can help with chronic pain by delivering extra healing cells where your body needs them. By injecting the cells directly into damaged tissues, our team is able to encourage healing, making pain a problem of the past.
The best part? While conventional injections can provide temporary pain relief, regenerative medicine treatments work to repair the damaged tissues, fixing the root cause of your pain to give you relief that lasts.
One of the ways regenerative medicine is revolutionizing the field of pain management is in the number of health conditions and injuries it can treat. Dr. Huffman uses regenerative medicine to alleviate pain caused by many diseases and injuries, including:
In addition to your regenerative medicine treatments, Dr. Huffman may recommend other therapies to help you recover more quickly and with lasting results, such as weight management, massage therapy, physical therapy, and other lifestyle changes.
If you’ve been suffering from a painful condition, regenerative medicine can help! Contact our Arlington, Virginia office to schedule a visit or book online now!
