Knee replacement surgery is a highly invasive procedure that can be quite painful and comes with a long period of recovery. Furthermore, only 1 in 20 people who undergo knee surgery actually resolve their knee pain and regain full function and regular activity.
Risks associated with knee replacement surgery include:
- Chronic knee pain
- Increased risk of heart attack
- Blood clots
- Allergic reactions
- Metal particles in the blood or tissues
However, there is hope for patients seeking natural, non-invasive ways to get pain-free and regain use of their knees.
Regenerative tissue and platelet-rich plasma injections are cutting-edge therapies that offer new hope to people with conditions like OA, rheumatoid arthritis, or post-traumatic arthritis.
For patients whose condition is not too far progressed, treatments like regenerative tissue and platelet-rich plasma may likely be able to help them get out of pain and get moving again. Let’s explore alternatives to knee replacement surgery that can help you avoid painful, expensive, and risky surgery.
Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Injections
One of the most effective therapies is Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections. PRP injections are a treatment that provides the injured area with the necessary components to boost the body’s natural healing response, repairing damaged cells and encouraging new healthy cell growth.
The procedure is minimally invasive and consists of taking a very small sample of your blood, processing it in a centrifuge to separate the platelets, and injecting this potent concentration of healing cells back into the injured area.
There is little to no downtime after the procedure, and it is one of the most affordable types of regenerative medicine offered. PRP injections are particularly effective for patients with mild to moderate osteoarthritis or knee injuries. The procedure has a high success rate, with many patients experiencing significant pain reduction and increased mobility after just one injection.
Regenerative Tissue Therapy
Regenerative tissue therapy is one of the most potent treatments we offer and is similar to PRP’s premise, except the material doesn’t come from your body. We source the regenerative tissue from a substance called Wharton’s Jelly, which is harvested from the umbilical cord after a successful c-section, donated by a pre-screened mother. Neither mother nor baby is affected by the procedure, and we believe the material in Wharton’s Jelly is of the highest quality.
After all, that regenerative tissue just helped grow an entire healthy baby in just nine months. Imagine what it could do for your knee! Through injecting this potent tissue into the knee, the body’s natural healing process is aided and spurred on, allowing rapid new growth and healing at a cellular level.
Regenerative tissue therapy is particularly effective for patients with moderate to severe osteoarthritis or other degenerative conditions. The procedure has a high success rate, with many patients experiencing significant pain reduction and increased mobility after just one injection. It is also less invasive than knee replacement surgery, with little to no downtime after the procedure.
When to Consider Regenerative Therapies
As the knee progresses through stages of damage from osteoarthritis or other degenerative conditions, the amount of healthy tissue left to work with lessens, reducing the likelihood of being helped by these treatments. Therefore, it is important to consider regenerative therapies as soon as you are aware of the knee pain or the possible prognosis.
If you have been diagnosed with OA, rheumatoid arthritis, or post-traumatic arthritis and told surgery is your only option, there is hope. To find out more information, call St. Petersburg Pain Relief Clinic today at (727) 866-4420.