Knee arthritis pain and biologics

You have knee arthritis. You are in pain. Your surgeon tells you that you have severe arthritis and you have tried:

• physical therapy
• anti-inflammatory medications
• knee braces
• knee injections

AND YOU STILL HAVE PAIN!

Now your surgeon is telling you that your only option is Knee replacement surgery.  Is there anything else that can help?

In short, there is a good possibility that there is something else that can help.

Bioplasty Procedure

Knee arthritis affects hundreds of thousands of people in the United States.  Those patients all do the same things to treat their pain and it includes the list above. When all else fails, most often they are told they need knee replacement, a surgery with a difficult recovery and a one in three chance of chronic pain afterwards. The surgeons who evaluate these patients use x-rays as their imaging of choice, knowing that it is unlikely that any surgery other than replacement will help.

When we look at the correlation between x-ray findings and pain, we find that there is little. Some patients with severe knee arthritis findings have little pain and some with less severe findings have much more pain. However, there are findings on MRI that correlate highly with the degree of pain. This includes the finding of subchondral edema, a swelling in the bone matrix that may happen from mild fracture, persistent bone bruises, osteoarthritis, and early stages of avascular necrosis. This is quite often the cause of pain in chronic knee arthritis and when treated, can relieve pain.

Arthrex is a major orthopedic equipment supplier and developed a procedure to treat this issue.  The IOBP^® procedure treats these pathologies through a core decompression and use of platelet-rich plasma concentrate (cPRP) from bone marrow aspirate (BMA) using the Arthrex Angel^® cPRP and bone marrow processing system. The IOBP procedure encourages physiologic bone remodeling and repair. It can provide rapid pain relief.

At Southcoast, we believe the IOBP procedure can be miraculous in relieving pain for patients with edema. The use of biologics is gaining traction in medical fields in the U.S. and we believe it is the future of medicine. These treatments heal tissue and do not require big surgeries, general anesthesia, prolonged post op pain and difficult rehabilitation.

If you have knee pain and have been told you need knee replacement surgery, why not consider an alternative treatment that can relieve your pain first. Once total knee replacement is done, if you have a poor outcome, there is little that can be done at that point to help.  Contact us for more information, or come in for an assessment.  Let us help!

You know that your body can heal itself in many ways from cut skin to broken bones. But, did you know that there are also many conditions that exceed your body’s ability to repair the damage? In these cases, traditional medicine seeks to relieve symptoms and manage progression, but regenerative medicine takes it a step further and helps the body regenerate and restore itself. That’s right! The answer to stopping your pain is in your own blood! We’re talking about Regenerative Medicine and its most effective and proven innovative treatment called- PRP therapy.

In this blog we’re going to share with you our top 5 rated benefits of this amazing treatment! But first, let’s go over a little more about what Regenerative Medicine is.

What is Regenerative Medicine?

Our bodies have remarkable capacities for self-healing. We see evidence of it every day, from a shaving nick that quickly scabs over to a broken bone that knits itself inside a cast. The body is not only designed to protect itself from disease by way of its immune system, but it’s also designed to repair its own damages using an incredibly sophisticated network of microscopic healing agents. Which is how regenerative medicine became the forefront in revolutionary medicine.

Regenerative Medicine encompasses a wide range of therapies. The core idea behind these regenerative medical techniques is to strategically aim these restoring agents directly toward an injured or compromised area so that worn or damaged tissue can be “rebuilt’ with fresh new tissue. For many painful conditions, regenerative medicine is a revolutionary option that is fast becoming a new standard of care.

One of the most effective and proven innovative treatments under the regenerative medicine umbrella — platelet-rich plasma therapy (PRP) — has been proven particularly effective in orthopedic injuries and diseases.

PRP therapy uses a nutrient-rich concoction of healing agents collected from the patient’s own blood that is injected into the trouble site. From there, these agents not only start to heal and rebuild damaged tissue, but they also summon other bodily healing agents to join them.

At Southcoast Medical in Mt. Pleasant, SC., our team of experienced physicians offers PRP treatments to our patients suffering from sports injuries, arthritis, and other musculoskeletal damage and pain. Here’s what you need to know.

Demystifying PRP

Platelet-rich plasma may sound like a complicated science experiment, but it’s actually quite simple.

We draw a small sample of blood from your arm, just like any normal blood test. Then we process it in a centrifuge, which spins it at a high speed and separates your blood into its different components. We isolate the plasma (the liquid part of your blood), which contains growth factors and proteins essential for blood clotting and healing.

Finally, we inject this concentrated serum into your injured or diseased tissue, where it goes to work stimulating your body’s natural ability to produce reparative cells that regenerate the tissue much faster and more completely than it would on its own.

Our top 5 rated Benefits of PRP therapy

Whether you have a torn ligament, knee osteoarthritis, or plantar fasciitis, your main goal is probably to stop the pain so you can get back to an active life. But masking the pain with drugs is only a temporary fix, and surgery is the last thing you want. PRP addresses the root of the problem, repairing the damage quickly so the pain goes away for good. Here are the advantages of PRP:

1. Reduces healing time

Waiting for your injury to heal is like watching paint dry — the process is long and it’s hard to see progress. PRP is like a fast-forward button for the healing process. It kicks your body’s natural resources into high gear and significantly reduces the time it takes to reach full recovery.

2. Reduces inflammation

When you experience an acute injury, your immune system floods the area with blood to deliver oxygen and other healing properties to the site. But when inflammation sticks around, it hinders healing and worsens pain. That’s why so much emphasis is placed on getting rid of swelling during rehab — elevation, ice, compression, rest, and anti-inflammatory drugs.

But PRP takes care of the problem from the inside out, suppressing inflammatory agents so your tendons, muscles, ligaments, and joints can heal in peace.

3. Minimally invasive

Sometimes surgery is the best and only solution for a particular injury or disease, but let’s face it, we’d all like to avoid going under the knife if at all possible. PRP makes it possible (in many cases).

The only invasion is a needle stick to withdraw a blood sample, and another one to inject the plasma. There’s no downtime involved and no surgical incision to deal with.

4. Low risk

PRP uses your own blood, so there is virtually no risk of an allergic or adverse reaction, and there are no side effects. Although there is a minuscule chance of infection at the injection site, it’s very rare, especially when compared to surgical procedures.

5. Reduces need for medication and surgery

By reducing the amount of time it takes for your tissues to heal, dramatically reducing inflammation and pain, and requiring no incision, PRP can make it possible to avoid drug use completely.

See A PRP Specialist

If you have an acute injury or chronic pain that won’t respond to traditional treatments, schedule a consultation with one of our PRP specialists at Southcoast Medical in Charleston/ Mt. Pleasant, SC

and find out whether the answer to your pain is in your own blood. Book online by Clicking Here or call us today (843) 990-8390

Knee pain is a frequent ailment among individuals of all ages. Knee discomfort can be caused by an injury, such as a torn ligament or cartilage. Knee discomfort can also be caused by medical disorders such as arthritis, gout, and infections. People affected by knee pain often face difficulty in their everyday life. Below are a couple of ways in which knee pain affects everyday life.

Falls

Falls are the most common effect of knee discomfort. Falls, especially in the elderly, can cause serious damage, disability, and even death. Fall injuries can take a long time to heal. They frequently require therapy before they can return to their normal lives. Falls can occur during routine tasks such as bathing or cleaning for those suffering from knee discomfort. Anyone with difficulties walking owing to knee discomfort must take precautions to avoid falling.

Arthritis

Arthritis is the most common cause of knee discomfort. Arthritis is characterized by swelling and discomfort in one or more joints. The most common symptoms are joint discomfort and stiffness, which increase with age. The two main types are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Osteoarthritis is caused by wear and tear on a joint’s cartilage — the tough, slippery covering on the ends of bones that form a joint. The body’s immune system targets the lining of the joint capsule, a thick membrane that encloses all joint elements in rheumatoid arthritis. This lining swells and becomes irritated.

Depression and Anxiety

Knee discomfort can have a negative impact on a person’s mental health. Depression and anxiety are the most prevalent symptoms. Furthermore, patients with arthritis and depression have more functional limits, are less likely to stick to their treatment regimens, and are more likely to acquire other health issues. Chronic stress caused by knee discomfort has been shown to alter chemical levels in the brain and nervous system. Stress hormones and neurochemicals impact a person’s mood and behavior. It also upsets the body’s chemical equilibrium, leading to depression in certain people.

Difficulty Walking

Knee discomfort caused by direct damage or injury to the lower extremities causes weakness, making walking physically difficult. The knee muscles’ absence of flexibility and strength also impacts alignment and gait. These mechanical factors can alter how you walk and generate symptoms of walking difficulty. It also limits the ability of affected people to perform physical activities that involve the use of the knee, such as running, jogging, climbing the stairs, etc. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, among adults in the United States with doctor-diagnosed arthritis, 4.8 million report having difficulty climbing stairs.

Knee pain adversely affects the daily life of those affected by it. That said, many treatment regimens that incorporate medication and exercise can help bring relief to people living with knee pain. Give us a call today for more information.

If you’re experiencing pain in and around the knee, this typically indicates there’s something wrong with the knee joint or the soft tissue surrounding the knee joint. Knee pain is often common in older people and can prevent these elders from leading the active life they desire. It’s important to seek treatment if you have knee pain and to also learn as much as you can about the topic. Here are three surprising facts you might not have known about knee pain.

Knee Pain Is Not All the Same

Knee pain can be categorized into an acute injury, a medical condition, or a chronic condition. For acute injuries, the most common cause is a meniscus tear, though the cause can also be a broken bone or a torn ligament. Medical conditions that commonly cause knee pain include arthritis and infections. Last but not least, chronic knee pain can be caused by osteoarthritis or other conditions, such as tendinitis. Given this, it’s important to figure out what’s causing your knee pain so you can get the best treatment.

It Happens to the Best of Us

According to reported research from the Washington Post, 25% of adults suffer from chronic knee pain. So, if you are currently dealing with knee pain, it can help to know that this is a condition that affects many people. Truth be told, anyone can have knee problems, regardless of their age, ethnicity, or background. That said, some people are at increased risk of knee pain, especially if they carry extra weight or do a lot of heavy lifting.

Surgery Isn’t the Only Option

If you have knee pain, you might be hesitant to seek treatment because you’re afraid it will mean going under the knife. The good news is that this doesn’t have to be the case because surgery is not the only treatment option for knee pain. There are many natural ways to treat pain, such as resting as much as possible and using heat, ice, or compression to manage the pain. You can also try physical therapy and medication if you prefer non-invasive treatments.

Is knee pain affecting your golf game? Don’t let it! The good news is that there are natural methods for improving knee pain that can do wonders for your prowess on the golf course. Contact Southcoast Medical today to find out more about your golf or tennis membership options so we can help you keep playing the sport you love.