Living with chronic pain can be a challenging situation that sometimes might seem endless. It requires lifestyle changes, on-going treatment, and support to live with some level of normalcy. But while this situation might look like an unfixable problem, the truth is that, as medicine advances, treatment options do so too. Regenerative medicine is a modern treatment approach that works with the body’s ability to heal. At The Painless Center, we provide treatment options with this cutting-edge method to treat a wide range of chronic pain conditions, keep reading to discover more about them.
About Chronic Pain & the Regenerative Approach
The body has its own set of healing mechanisms that naturally repair and regenerate damaged tissues, organs, and cells. Regenerative medicine is an innovative field that focuses on enhancing that body’s ability to heal through different therapies, methods, and medical devices.
For chronic pain, this approach focuses on repairing and regenerating damaged tissues rather than masking symptoms, as well as reducing swelling and relieving pain. This is achieved by using the patient’s own cells and tissues, meaning that the risk of immune reactions is generally reduced.
Which Chronic Pain Conditions Does It Treat?
Regenerative medicine can be an effective approach to treat a wide range of conditions that cause on-going pain. At The Painless Center, some of the chronic pain conditions that we provide treatment for, include:
Our Regenerative Medicine Treatments for Chronic Pain
This way of applying medicine is not about a single treatment offering results in your battle against long-term pain, but an approach that studies several factors to determine which techniques to use. It is a field that employs different techniques, methods, and medical equipment, as well as the expertise of a qualified provider to treat a specific case.
Some of the regenerative medicine therapies and treatments that we offer include:
- SIJ (sacroiliac joint) injections: Involves administering an injection that can be a steroid mixture, local anesthetics and steroids, prolotherapy, or PRP into the affected area. Dr. Chiu, our specialist in musculoskeletal disorders, can determine which compound needs to be administered to address your specific condition. Additionally, this injection can serve as both a treatment and a diagnostic tool.
- Stem cell therapy: Stem cells (cells that multiply into specialized types) are injected into the injured area to release factors that repair damaged tissue, bone, or joints. This treatment provides long-term relief for on-going pain and avoids dependence on painkillers.
- Trigger point injections: A compound of local anesthetic and corticosteroid is injected into the area affected by “trigger points”, or knots that cause pain and mobility restriction. This treatment is effective in providing immediate release from muscle tension and pain, improving mobility and range of motion, as well as reducing muscle tension, all without requiring pain medication.
- PRP (platelet-rich plasma) injection: PRP is made from the patient’s own blood, boosting the natural growth and recovery factors from platelets. After its preparation, the solution is injected into the injured area to promote the natural healing process. This treatment is particularly helpful in reducing pain and inflammation.
- IV therapy: The intravenous infusion is completely personalized, based on Dr. Chiu’s evaluation to determine which nutrients you’re lacking. This treatment helps reduce pain and provides long-term relief by providing your body with vitamins, minerals, and nutrients that help strengthen the immune system, reduce fatigue, and help you stay hydrated.
Most of these options are a great alternative for patients who don’t respond well to pain medication, don’t want to undergo surgery, or are simply looking for alternatives to keep their pain at bay.
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How We Manage Chronic Pain with Regenerative Treatments
At The Painless Center we make sure to use only ethically sourced tissue as the foundation for our regenerative medicine treatments. Additionally, we test the compounds for any disease or contamination multiple times before the injection to make sure that they’re properly prepared and minimize possible health risks. For the treatment itself, our experts tailor the approach according to your specific case, targeting the affected area with the most suitable method and technique. After the procedure, many of our patients resume their work or daily activities as usual.
4 Ways Regenerative Treatments Help with Chronic Pain
This cutting-edge approach to healing and managing pain provides several advantages that depend on the specific treatment and condition being treated. Most treatments following this method provide the following advantages for on-going pain:
Activate natural healing factors
Treatments rely on the body’s ability to heal to trigger and accelerate the natural repairing and recovery processes of tissue. These treatments help with painful chronic conditions and autoimmune health issues
Calm chronic inflammation
Several chronic pain conditions are also linked to inflammation. This is something that regenerative medicine treatments can help manage by increasing healthy cells which reduces inflammation.
Reduce pain medication reliance
By repairing damaged tissue, joints, and cells, regenerative treatments can help your body to restore its function, calm pain, and reduce the reliance on pain medication as a result.
Improve mobility and function
One of the best possible outcomes of reducing inflammation, managing pain, and repairing damaged tissue, is the recovery of mobility and proper function of the affected areas.
FAQ
Does chronic pain hurt all the time?
It depends, while chronic pain is defined as pain that lasts for longer than three to six months, the truth is that this type of pain varies from patient to patient. While some patients report experiencing constant pain, for others it can be intermittent, or even be triggered only by certain factors.
Does insurance cover regenerative medicine?
Generally, insurance does not cover certain regenerative medicine procedures such as PRP injections or stem cell therapy. This is because many insurance companies still consider them as “experimental” or “investigational”, even though there are studies showing it helps with injuries and pain.
Is regenerative medicine painful?
No, regenerative medicine is not typically painful, since many procedures are minimally invasive and use local anesthesia. It is possible to feel minor discomfort, pressure, or a small puncture that lasts for a while after the procedure.
Rewrite Your Chronic Pain Story with Regenerative Medicine
Chronic pain can prevent you from living a normal life and even becoming a cause of disability for some. Fortunately, innovative approaches and healing techniques are here to assist you in your battle against pain. If you’re looking for alternative ways to keep pain at bay that doesn’t involve surgery or on-going medication, here is an alternative. At The Painless Center, our team is ready to tailor a regenerative medicine journey for your individual needs, targeting the source of the damage, and helping you improve your quality of life.