PRP STEM CELL THERAPIES

• ❍ Early stage osteoarthritis or cartilage damage (e.g., knee, hip, shoulder, elbow, ankle)
• ❍ Tendon injuries (e.g., Achilles tendon, tennis elbow, plantar fasciitis, rotator cuff)
• ❍ Ligament injuries (e.g., elbow, knee, foot and ankle)
• ❍ Articular cartilage damage

Research suggests the best patients are in the early stages of
osteoarthritis or have persistent tendon injuries. They have exhausted other non- surgical treatments such as rest, physical therapy and cortisone injections, but are not yet thinking about joint replacement or other surgeries.

Biologic injections are not typically recommended for severe cases of osteoarthritis in which patients are told they are a better candidate for joint replacement.

If you answer ‘yes’ to these statements, you may benefit from biologics:

• I have joint pain or a soft tissue injury
• I tried rest
• I tried medication
• I tried physical therapy
• I tried other standard injections
• I’m not ready for surgery

Yes. However, bilogic procedures are not an effectivev solution for all patients. Our physicians only recommend the safest, most effective treatment based on a patient’s condition, history and overall health.

Unfortunately, at this time, stem cell injections are not covered by any insurance.

After a blood sample is obtained from a patient, the blood is put into a centrifuge which separates the blood into its many components. Platelet rich plasma can then be collected and delivered to an injured area of bone or soft tissue, such as a tendon or ligament, via an injection. Ultrasound guidance can assist in the precise placement of PRP in a process that takes a total of 20-30 minutes. There may be  soreness at the site of the injection that can last for a few days. Most  حeople return to work and normal day to day activities immediately after the injection.

A local anesthetic is used, resulting in minimal discomfort.
PRP is prepared from your own blood, so there is no risk of rejection or
disease transmission and virtually no risk of infection.

There have been numerous clinical studies that show significant healing and long lasting reduction in pain for a variety of injuries.  Common injuries include tendon and ligament damage, disc degeneration, sports injuries as well as joint pain and arthritis. Results are proving PRP to be an effective and natural alternative to steroid  injections which temporarily alleviate pain but do not heal the source of your pain.

You may gain considerable to complete relief after the first PRP injection.
In some cases, especially when the problem has been chronic, additional
PRP injections may be necessary. Up to three injections may be given
within a six month period performed at 4-6 week intervals.

PRP therapy does not provide immediate relief; instead, it sets in motion a repair mechanism that takes 2-3 weeks before pain relief is felt. A study in the American Journal of Sports Medicine showed the following results in patients with elbow tendinosis:

• 46% pain relief by week 4
• 60% pain relief by week 8
• 81% pain relief by 6 months

At the conclusion of the study, 93% of patients were  completely satisfied with their PRP treatment and had avoided surgery.

The need for surgical intervention can be greatly reduced by treating injured tissue before the damage progresses and the condition  becomes irreversible.

Through a simple 30 minute office procedure, the patient’s stem cells are obtained from his hip bone. The practitioner then concentrates the stem cells in a special centrifuge. The stem cells are then reinjected back into the patient’s site of injury or damage.

A local anesthetic is used, resulting in minimal discomfort.

Numerous clinical studies show significant and lasting reduction in pain for a variety of injuries. Common injuries include early to advanced arthritis, knee, hip, and shoulder pain. Multiple clinical studies have shown that when effective, the results last many years.

85%

Yes! Our treatment plans are comprehensive. Not only will we provide
you with the most cutting-edge treatment options, but we will also
assist you through rehabilitation. Following the custom program
created for your specific needs will thoroughly increase the
effectiveness.

Generally it takes 6-8 weeks to feel improvement, with continued
progress for up to 6 months.

There may be some mild soreness in the joint for up to a week after the injection. Heavy exertion should be avoided during this period. Anti-inflammatory products such as aspirin, Motrin, Advil, and Aleve should be avoided for the first 2 weeks, as it can adversely affect the stem cell function. Taking Tylenol is ok.

Adult stem cells are found in mature adult tissues, including bone marrow
and fat, while embryonic stem cells (ESCs) are not found in the adult
human body. Adult stem cells do not raise ethical issues nor pose any
risks for immune rejection.

No. The stem cells come from your body and are used immediately eliminating the risk of rejection. A large safety study of over 800 patients showed no associated risk of cancer.

Stem cells can be highly effective in substantially reducing pain in patients with even advanced arthritis. In addition to stem cells, Bone marrow also contains many powerful growth hormones and anti-
inflammatory proteins that will greatly reduce inflammation and Promote healthier tissue.

The growth of new cartilage in hip and knee joints has been demonstrated in case studies only. The latest evidence indicates that stem cells support a pro-growth environment within a joint and help the cartilage cells that are present within the joint to multiply and produce more cartilage.

While adult stem cells have been used for decades to treat a variety of diseases, their application in the treatment of pain is relatively new. Because of this, insurance companies do not currently cover the therapy.

The cost of a stem cell treatment varies based on the procedure performed. Our office staff can assist you with payment options and any other questions you may have.

We accept check, credit or debit cards, or cash. We also accept
payments from HSAs or FSAs. If you have any more questions about
alternative payment methods, please call for more information.

For most patients, the answer is that a single stem cell injection is likely to reverse years and even decades of arthritic damage to the joint. Over
85% of patients gain 50-100% improvement in pain and function after a
single stem cell injection. This may last a few years or it may last much longer. Some patients do elect to have stem cell injections every few years if the improvements begin to wear off, but most patients can plan for many years of relief.

We perform the procedure under local anesthetic at our outpatient offices in Valparaiso, Munster or Crown Point.

There is very little downtime. Impact activities should be limited for the first few weeks, so no running, hiking, dancing, skiing, etc. However, you will be able to drive yourself to and from the procedure and resume all normal daily activities within a few days.

We harvest bone marrow from your hip This is a quick and nearly
painless procedure that takes about 7 minutes to complete.

Not at all. In a few days the area will be healed and a few weeks later it will actually be stronger than before due to new bone growth.

There are a number of factors that affect when you will see improvements, but most patients begin to notice significant changes between 4-6 weeks which plateau after about 6 months.

Age is less of a factor than the extent of arthritic damage in the joint. Patients who are truly at a “bone on bone” stage should expect modest pain and function improvements, while patients at an earlier stage of arthritis achieve greater results.