Living with pain can make everything in life a little bit — or a whole lot — worse. Whether you’ve been in an accident and sustained an injury or you’re dealing with a chronic condition (like osteoarthritis), long-term and consistent pain robs you of so many of life’s joys.
That’s why treatments like regenerative medicine for pain are not only important but necessary to many people’s happy, healthy lives.
Here at our Monterey, California, clinic, Terry L. Franklin, MD, offers regenerative medicine treatments to help you regain the most important thing: a life without pain.
Let us give you the breakdown of all you need to know about regenerative medicine, including how it works and whether you might be a good candidate for it.
What is regenerative medicine? First, let’s discuss what it’s not. Regenerative medicine is not the same as surgery, pharmaceuticals, or other ways doctors normally repair injuries or soothe pain.
In fact, regenerative medicine is a treatment option that harnesses your body’s own ability to heal itself.
We utilize stem cells to create the beneficial effects of regenerative medicine for our patients. We carefully separate these cells and inject them into your body at the site of the pain. Stem cells can transform into whatever cells are nearby, which allows them to promote healing.
While regenerative medicine doesn’t regrow lost tissue, it does stimulate a number of beneficial effects. Normally, the human body can produce many of these effects on its own, but sometimes your body’s natural healing properties need a boost.
There are many reasons people turn to regenerative medicine. They may have found little to no help with traditional medicine, or they’re not healthy enough for an invasive treatment like surgery.
They might also be concerned or skeptical about taking pain medications for a chronic issue, particularly if the medication is potentially addictive.
Regenerative medicine also has a cumulative effect, allowing additional treatments to compound and create better health and mobility. While we can’t reverse a chronic pain condition like osteoarthritis, we can improve it and manage the pain with regenerative medicine.
You might be a good candidate for this kind of treatment if you can’t get the help you need from traditional medicine.
You may also be in too much pain to start a physical therapy regimen, which is something regenerative medicine can help with. The treatment can often help those whose quality of life is affected by constant or long-term pain.
Like all treatment types, regenerative medicine does have some potential for side effects. Infection and nerve damage are possible but unlikely.
A recent study showed that most patients who were given stem cell therapy as a part of regenerative medicine treatment tolerated the program well and reported that they were satisfied with the procedure.
Most of our patients require more than one treatment to see results, but as we mentioned above, regenerative medicine has a cumulative effect on the body. Over time, you’ll notice better and better results, decreasing your pain.
With less pain, you can begin a physical therapy regimen you might not have been able to tolerate in the past, pick up activities you may have given up, and simply live a life with less discomfort than before.
This option can be extremely beneficial, especially for patients who struggle with traditional medicine. If you think you might be a good candidate for regenerative medicine, reach out today.
Call our Monterey, California, office at 831-647-3190 to make an appointment. We look forward to helping you begin your healing journey.
