3 Famous Athletes who Have Benefited from PRP Therapy

August 25, 2015/0 Comments/in PRP /by Matthew Thorson

Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) injections have helped countless people since the procedure was developed. Typically the only time PRP makes news headlines is when famous athletes decide to undergo the procedure. In this article, we are going to look at some famous athletes who have used PRP injections and other regenerative medicine techniques to bounce back from injuries.

Bart Starr

One of the most recent athletes reportedly using PRP therapy is former Green Bay Packers quarterback and Hall-of-Famer, Bart Starr. While Bart wasn’t getting PRP injections while he was an active player (PRP hadn’t been developed at that time), he has found use for them off the field. The aging Starr was in pretty bad shape after suffering a heart attack, four strokes, and numerous seizures. PRP therapy helped him walk again.

Read more about Bart Starr’s experience with PRP here.

Tiger Woods

Tiger has had a lot of injuries and medical issues over the past few years – he has torn his Achilles tendon, blown out his ACL, and more. He utilized PRP injections in conjunction with surgery to repair his ACL, and opted for PRP instead of surgery to repair his Achilles. In both instances, he was able to return to competitive play.

Here is some additional information on Tiger’s history with PRP.

Rafael Nadal

Back in the mid-2000s, Nadal had serious knee tendon issues that threatened to prematurely end his career. But after PRP therapy (and a lot of hard work and physical therapy), he returned to the tennis court and made his way back to the number one player in the world.

PRP Injections for Carpal Tunnel Hand Pain

August 19, 2015/0 Comments/in PRP /by Matthew Thorson

Many people suffer from the effects of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) every day. The pain, numbness, and loss of functionality can have a negative impact on a person’s day-to-day activities. Thankfully, there are treatment options available to help reduce the symptoms of carpal tunnel and treat the condition in the long-run. In this article, we are going to focus on PRP Therapy for treating carpal tunnel syndrome and its symptoms.

Carpal Tunnel and Hand Pain

Carpal tunnel syndrome is a painful condition in which the nerves that run through the wrist and into the fingers are impacted. These nerves run through a small channel called the carpal tunnel, and provide feeling and control to the hands and fingers. When these nerves are pinched or otherwise effected, the results are not good. Common symptoms of carpal tunnel can include any or all of the following:

Pain in the wrist, hands, and fingers.
Tingling, numbness, or loss of feeling in the hands.

If you recognize any of these symptoms in yourself, you may have CTS and should seek medical attention for diagnosis and treatment.

PRP for Carpal Tunnel Sundrome

Traditional treatments for carpal tunnel include pain medications, wearing a brace, and surgery. The more conservative treatment options typically only provide short-term relief. Surgery can be an effective treatment, but it is invasive, painful, and requires time to recover. Regenerative medicine therapies, on the other hand, offer an effective alternative to surgery for CTS. PRP injections use your own blood platelets to stimulate regrowth and pain reduction in carpal tunnel. Best of all, the procedure is quick, pain-free, and effective.

If you are suffering from the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome and have tried other treatments with no luck, contact a regenerative medicine expert to see how PRP therapy can help.

Platelet Rich Plasma Therapy Benefits

August 11, 2015/0 Comments/in Regenerative Medicine /by Matthew Thorson

Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) Overview

Platelet rich plasma (PRP) therapy is a medical procedure that promotes the growth of cells and the regeneration of tissues. Patients have a small sample of their blood taken. The sample is put into a centrifuge and spun around at high speed while patients wait. When the sample is done spinning it has separated into its constituent parts based on the specific gravity of each of the parts. The middle layer is densely packed with blood platelets. This layer is the one PRP therapy is based around.

The platelet rich layer of the blood sample is then injected back into the patient’s affected area. Blood platelets promote the natural healing process by attracting white blood cells to the area. Platelet Rich plasma therapy induces this process in places where the tissue regeneration rate is too low to heal effectively.

PRP has gained popularity in the media in the past decade through sports icons who have used the treatments to continue their careers after otherwise devastating injuries.

PRP Benefits

PRP therapies have a wealth of benefits for patients. It is completely safe and has a range of applications. PRP has shown to repair tissue and shorten recovery times. Since the blood sample is taken from the patient there is no risk of infection or rejection of the treatment.

Most patients find increasing pain relief over time after the procedure. For patients who suffer from tendonitis or osteoarthritis, pain relief results are particularly apparent. Success rates are also high for PRP therapy, with most patients seeing lasting results after one injection.

Therapy can be performed in under an hour, and most patients go back to performing normal activities after the procedure. It is also not necessary to have this operation performed in a hospital setting, which can save a lot of time in waiting rooms.

Schedule an appointment with a Minnesota pain physician who specializes in regenerative medicine today to see if PRP therapy can help reduce your pain.

Low Back Pain Conditions, Injuries & Treatments

August 3, 2015/0 Comments/in Back Pain /by Matthew Thorson

Low back pain is incredibly common – most people will suffer from it at some degree throughout their lives. But back pain can be caused by many different factors, and narrowing those down can be difficult. In this article, we are going to talk about the common conditions and injuries that can lead to low back pain. We will also talk about the exciting new treatment options regenerative medicine offers for treating these conditions.

Low Back Pain Conditions & Injuries

Pain in the lower back (or lumbar region of the spine) may be caused by a host of issues. Here are a few of the common conditions and injuries that can result in low back pain:

Muscle sprains & strains
Bruising
Vertebrae Fractures
Pinched Nerves & Herniated Discs
Sciatica
Acute injury to the back or spine

These are just a few of the many potential causes of low back pain. Narrowing down the specific cause is the first essential step in curing the back pain. If you know what’s causing the pain, then you can move forward and treat the pain effectively.

Treating Back Pain with Regenerative Medicine

There is a vast array of treatment options when it comes to low back pain. From pain relievers, to physical therapy, to surgery – patients have a lot of options to choose from. And while each of these has its merits, regenerative medicine treatment options have been shown to provide excellent pain relief with minimal invasion.

If you are living with low back pain, learn more about what regenerative medicine can do for you by contacting Advanced Spine & Pain Clinics of Minnesota. Dr. Matthew Thorson is an expert in regenerative techniques and has years of experience treating Minnesotans with low back pain. Make your appointment today by calling 612-223-6227.