Chronic joint pain impacts over 20% of the adult population in the US. And lower back and joint pain are the top two most diagnosed chronic pain conditions.
Do you suffer from chronic joint pain? If so, there is good news. Regenerative joint injections treatment can potentially get rid of your pain for good.
Joint injections are a type of regenerative medicine. Regenerative medicine works by encouraging your body’s natural repair system to heal the pain from the inside out.
Sound too good to be true? Then you need to keep reading this guide. We’ll tell you everything you need to know about these promising pain treatments.
Types of Regenerative Injections for Chronic Joint Pain
Regenerative therapy’s goal is to repair damaged joint tissue. That’s because damaged tissue is often one of the top chronic joint pain causes. But not all regenerative therapies are created equal when it comes to treating pain.
Here are the two most efficacious types of regenerative therapies for chronic joint pain management.
Platelet-Rich Plasma Therapy
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy targets the growth factors in your blood. These growth factors are responsible for regulating the healing process.
To get started with PRP, your doctor will draw your blood. Then, the sample goes to a medical lab, where scientists concentrate the growth factors in your plasma. The final step is injecting the concentrated blood into your system.
The growth factors in your blood will circulate to damaged tissue. They will then encourage regeneration of the damaged tissues causing your knee or hip joint pain or chronic joint and muscle pain.
Stem Cell Therapy
Elements in your blood aren’t the only healing factors in your body. Your stem cells are also an excellent source of natural healing, especially when it comes to tissues regeneration.
There are two types of stem cells used in stem cell therapy: adipose-derived and bone marrow stem cells. Adipose-derived stem cells come from your fat tissues, while bone marrow stem cells come from inside your bones.
The cool thing about both of these types of stem cells is that they’re undifferentiated. Undifferentiated means that stem cells can grow into almost any type of cell in the body. This makes them perfect for healing joint pain.
Everything You Need to Know About Platelet-Rich Plasma Therapy
PRP is an excellent solution for people who want to heal their joints, not just slap a bandaid on the problem with another cortisone shot. PRP may also be a less invasive and more affordable alternative to surgery.
Do PRP Injections Really Work?
In a study of patients with chronic knee joint pain, a PRP knee joint injection delayed total knee replacement in 74% of participants. After five years, 85.7% of participants still hadn’t needed a total knee replacement.
In other studies, scientists have compared the efficacy of cortisone injections to PRP. The researchers showed that one PRP injection provided immediate pain relief without any side effects. In the long term, PRP also:
- Alleviated joint pain symptoms
- Improved quality of life
- Enhanced activities of daily living (ADL)
It’s important to note that one PRP injection isn’t sufficient for significant results. The exact number of injections you’ll need varies based on the extent of joint damage and where the damage is located.
However, on average, doctors recommend at least 12 months of PRP therapy. You’ll have an injection at one month, two months, three months, six months, and twelve months for a total of five PRP injections.
How Long Does PRP Therapy Last?
PRP therapy is the best treatment for chronic joint pain if you’re looking for lasting relief. In many cases, PRP can permanently regenerate joint tissue, offering long-term pain relief.
What Are the Side Effects of PRP Injections?
PRP injections are considered low side effect therapies. The most commonly reported symptoms post-injection are pain and bruising at the injection site. Less commonly, people report allergic reactions, blood clots, and infections.
But what about the shot itself — is it painful? PRP injections can be painful, depending on the injection site. However, joint injections tend to be less painful than other types of injections.
Does Insurance Cover PRP Injections?
Insurance doesn’t typically cover PRP therapy. That includes Medicare. You may have to pay out of pocket to the tune of up to $2000, depending on which joints need treatment and how many rounds of PRP you need.
Everything You Need to Know About Stem Cell Therapy
If PRP doesn’t work for you, your doctor may recommend stem cell therapy. This treatment is usually the last resort for chronic, long-term chronic joint pain before recommending a total joint replacement.
How Successful Are Stem Cell Injections?
Research shows that stem cell injections can reduce joint pain, especially in the knees. Participants in one study reported up to a 75% reduction in knee joint pain after undergoing stem cell injection therapy.
How many injections you’ll need to see results depends on the severity of the damage. For example, if you’re dealing with a recent injury, you may only need two rounds of injections. For arthritic damage, you’ll likely need several rounds.
How Long Do Stem Cell Injections Last?
How long stem cell injections last depends on a wide range of factors. One of these factors is the additional treatments you’re undergoing for your joint pain.
Healing the damaged joint tissues often isn’t enough. You need to also address the problem that’s causing the damage in the first place. That way, you can prevent your joint pain from coming back.
Are Stem Cell Injections Safe?
Stem cell injections are relatively pain-free. They also come with few side effects. The most common adverse reactions to stem cell therapies are injection and/or swelling and pain at the injection site.
How Much Does It Cost to Get Stem Cell Injections?
Like PRP therapy, most insurance companies and Medicare won’t cover stem cell injections. However, depending on the clinic you go to, you may have to pay up to $5000 for a single round of stem cell therapy.
At the Desert Wellness Center, we rely on PRP and exosome treatments to address chronic joint pain and save you money. These treatments work just as well as stem cell injections without the added cost.
Ready to Book Your First Regenerative Joint Injection?
Regenerative joint injections include platelet-rich plasma and stem cell therapies. These treatments may help treat or even eliminate chronic joint pain. The only downside is that you’ll have to pay out of pocket for treatment.
Sick of the pain and want to do something about it with PRP or exosome treatments? Then it’s time to book your first PRP injection at the Desert Wellness Center.