Regenerative Medicine

Regenerative medicine draws from substances found in your body to repair musculoskeletal damage and relieve chronic pain. At Sporting Medicine in Charlotte, North Carolina, sports medicine specialist William Graham, MD, has extensive experience performing regenerative medicine treatments, like platelet-rich plasma (PRP), hyaluronic acid, and cell injections. Call Sporting Medicine today or schedule an appointment online to learn more about regenerative medicine.

What is regenerative medicine?

Regenerative medicine is an area in health care that focuses on repairing internal damage using your body’s healing mechanisms. These techniques draw from substances already found in the human body to activate your healing response. Regenerative medicine may help accelerate healing, bolster new tissue growth, and reduce inflammation at the injection site.

When combined with physical therapy and other rehabilitation techniques, regenerative medicine may be an effective addition to your recovery plan.

What are the types of regenerative medicine?

The three most popular types of regenerative medicine for healing musculoskeletal damage include:

PRP injections

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is a substance in your blood that contains healing growth factors. During PRP therapy, Dr. Graham draws your blood and runs it through a centrifuge to separate the PRP from the rest of the materials in the blood. He then injects the PRP directly into your injury site to activate your body’s healing response.

Hyaluronic acid injections

Hyaluronic acid is a natural substance your body already produces to lubricate the joints and absorb shock. Injecting hyaluronic acid directly into the space surrounding the joints, particularly in the knees, can help reduce inflammation and pain to improve your mobility.

Cell injections

Mesenchymal stem cells are versatile cells in your bone marrow. When injected into an injury site, these stem cells may self-regenerate to repair tissue damage and promote healing.

How many regenerative medicine treatments will I need?

The number of regenerative medicine treatments each patient needs depends on the injection type and injury. Many patients respond well to a single PRP injection, but some need two or three treatments for lasting relief. Dr. Graham typically recommends up to three cell treatments and five hyaluronic acid injections.

After a comprehensive physical exam and medical history review, Dr. Graham can determine the best type of regenerative medicine for your condition.

Which conditions can regenerative medicine treat?

Regenerative medicine is a minimally invasive treatment that can improve your musculoskeletal function. Dr. Graham may recommend regenerative medicine if you have:

• Arthritis
• Plantar fasciitis
• Achilles tendonitis
• Tennis or golfer’s elbow
• Shoulder pain
• Hip pain
• Scar tissue from surgery

Call Sporting Medicine today or schedule an appointment online to learn more about regenerative medicine.