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If your tendon or ligament injury isn’t responding to physical therapy, corticosteroids or other conventional treatments, you’re likely anxious for a solution. For many, that solution is regenerative injection therapy (RIT). Also known as stem cell therapy or tendon and ligament injections, this treatment not only provides chronic pain relief but also facilitates healing.

A Guide to Regenerative Injection Therapy

What Is RIT?

There are two types of regenerative injection therapy: prolotherapy and platelet-rich plasma therapy. For the former, a chronic pain management specialist injects a highly concentrated glucose solution into the damaged tendons, ligaments or other musculoskeletal tissues.

Platelet-rich plasma therapy, on the other hand, involves collecting a blood sample and running it through a centrifuge to increase the concentration of platelets. The resulting compound is then injected into the affected tendon or ligament.   

How Does It Help Tendons & Ligaments?

chronic pain reliefYour body is programmed to protect itself when injured. It does so through inflammation. Although inflammation can be uncomfortable or even painful, it is how the body removes harmful stimuli and promotes new tissue growth. Tendons and ligaments, however, have a poor blood supply. As a result, these structures often can’t get the nutrients they need to heal properly, causing the patient to develop chronic shoulder, back or neck pain.

RIT addresses this issue by retriggering the body’s natural healing mechanisms. In prolotherapy, the glucose solution activates the body’s inflammatory signals, which allows the damaged tissue to grow and heal. In platelet-rich plasma therapy, on the other hand, the platelets repair damaged blood vessels as well as accelerate tissue repair. Essentially, RIT gives tendons and ligaments a second chance at healing and chronic pain relief.  

Are You a Good Candidate?

RIT is minimally invasive and safe for most patients. Regardless, your doctor will still need to determine whether this treatment is right for you. They will first perform a thorough examination of the affected area. Then, they may complete an ultrasound or MRI to gather more information about the injury. From there, they will develop a personalized treatment plan catered to your unique symptoms and needs.

 

With offices in Chaska, Crystal, Delano and Maple Grove, MN, iSpine Pain Physicians is the Twin Cities’ leading chronic pain management specialist. They offer a variety of non-operative treatments and chronic pain relief solutions including tendon and ligament injections. Call (763) 201-8191 today to schedule an appointment or visit them online.

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