August 2017 - Advanced Spine & Pain Clinics of Minnesota

Treating Running Injuries with PRP Therapy

August 28, 2017/0 Comments/in PRP /by Matthew Thorson

Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Therapy is an emerging regenerative medicine treatment method that can treat a wide variety of injuries and degenerative conditions. We’ve focused on a few specific conditions in previous articles (tennis elbow, knee injuries, etc.). In this article, we are going to talk about common running injuries and how PRP therapy can act as an effective treatment option.

Common Running Injuries

Avid runners can sustain a wide variety of injuries. Here are some of the most common running injuries that we treat:

Stress Fractures
Ankle sprains, strains, and fractures
Knee injuries (ACL, MCL, Meniscus tears)
Foot injuries

The PRP Process – How it Works

PRP stands for Platelet-Rich Plasma. This therapy uses the patient’s own blood plasma (rich with platelets) to heal, regenerate, and restore damaged tissue. Platelets are an extremely effective element that exists in every person’s blood. These platelets are essentially responsible for repair in times of injury. When you cut your finger and it starts bleeding, your blood platelets go to work immediately to clot the wound and begin the healing process. PRP therapy utilizes these platelets to rebuild damaged tissue. First, a small blood sample is drawn from the patient. Then, after its put through a centrifuge, the solution is re-injected into the patient’s body, where it immediately begins the regeneration process.

Find out if you are a good candidate for PRP Therapy.

Twin Cities PRP Doctors

The Twin Cities pain management physicians at Advanced Spine & Pain Clinics of MN have decades of experience treating patients with acute and chronic pain. Whether you’ve been injured in an accident, you’re recovering from a surgical procedure, or you have a chronic pain condition, our board-certified pain doctors have the knowledge and experience to help you effectively reduce and manage your pain. Give us a call today to set up your appointment with a Minnesota pain doctor. Our primary clinics are conveniently located in Edina and Minneapolis but we treat patients throughout the state of Minnesota!

Medical Cannabis Now Available for PTSD Patients in Minnesota

August 21, 2017/0 Comments/in Medical Marijuana /by Matthew Thorson

As of this month (August 2017), medical cannabis is now available as a treatment option for Minnesota patients with PTSD. Medical marijuana can be extremely effective in treating the symptoms of PTSD in military veterans and other patients who have experienced traumatic events. In this article, we are going to talk about how medical marijuana can be used as an effective treatment option for PTSD and its related symptoms.

What is PTSD?

PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) is a condition in which the patient experiences anxiety and flashbacks resulting from a specific traumatic event – or series of events. Many military veterans returning from combat experience PTSD as they re-integrate into civilian life. However, PTSD does not solely impact veterans. Anyone can experience PTSD if they have been involved in a traumatic event. For example, a serious car accident may cause PTSD in the future. Some of the symptoms of PTSD include:

Insomnia and/or nightmares
Severe Anxiety
Depression & Loneliness
Flashbacks to the traumatic event(s)
Mood swings

Using Medical Marijuana to Treat PTSD

Medical marijuana has been shown to be an effective treatment option for PTSD symptoms. While, medical cannabis likely won’t work to completely resolve the PTSD, it can work wonders to mitigate the symptoms of the disorder. For example, medical marijuana can help reduce anxiety and stress, and help patients sleep through the night.

Minnesota Medical Cannabis Doctors

At Advanced Spine & Pain Clinics of MN, our board-certified pain management doctors are certified and approved to prescribe medical cannabis to qualifying Minnesota patients. We have been treating patients in the Twin Cities area for over two decades and have the experience needed to provide you the treatment you deserve. If you are experiencing PTSD and are curious about medical cannabis as a treatment option, contact our Minnesota medical cannabis doctors today at our Minneapolis or Edina clinics to set up your appointment!

PRP Therapy for Sciatica Pain

August 14, 2017/0 Comments/in PRP /by Matthew Thorson

PRP (Platelet-Rich Plasma) injections use regenerative stem cells to treat a wide variety of conditions and injuries – from knee osteoarthritis, to rotator cuff tears. One condition we have not yet discussed in regards to PRP injections is sciatica. This article focuses on sciatica pain and the benefits of PRP therapy for treating the condition without surgery.

Sciatica Back Pain

Sciatica is a condition in which the sciatic nerve (which runs from the base of the spine down both legs) is irritated, causing pain in the low back and legs. The condition is typically caused by bone spurs or herniated discs in the spine, though it can also be the result of other factors, such as acute injury to the back.

PRP Injections for Sciatica

PRP therapy offers a natural, pain-free, and non-surgical treatment alternative for patients suffering from sciatica pain and related symptoms. Here’s how PRP injections work:

The physician draws a small amount of blood from the patient.
The patient’s blood is placed in a centrifuge that works to isolate the platelet-rich plasma.
The physician then takes that PRP solution and re-injects it into the patient’s body at the affected area.
The plasma solution goes to work immediately repairing damaged tissue and aiding the body’s natural rejuvenation process.

Twin Cities PRP Doctors

At Advanced Spine & Pain Clinics of MN, our goal is to provide specialized and compassionate care to each patient we treat. No matter what your injury or condition, we treat each patient with the individualized care they deserve. Our board-certified pain management doctors have more than two decades of experience treating patients for acute and chronic pain conditions. We are trained in a wide variety of pain treatment methods – including stem cell regenerative medicine techniques such as PRP or Prolotherapy injections. Contact our Twin Cities pain doctors to set up an appointment at our Edina or Minneapolis clinics today.

Medical Marijuana for Glaucoma in Minnesota

August 7, 2017/0 Comments/in Medical Marijuana /by Matthew Thorson

Glaucoma is one of the conditions that qualifies for medical cannabis treatment in the state of Minnesota. In this article, we are going to talk about the benefits of medical cannabis for treating glaucoma in Minnesota.

Treating Glaucoma

Glaucoma is a condition in which the nerve that connects the eye to the brain is damaged. This is typically the result of excessive pressure in the eye. Symptoms of the condition are often very subtle. Sometimes patients don’t experience any symptoms other than a slow loss of vision, but the condition can cause pain in the eyes as well. Treatments can include medications, surgery, and medical marijuana.

The Medical Cannabis Process in Minnesota

If you do have glaucoma and you are interested in receiving medical cannabis as a form of treatment, you first have to go through the appropriate process. In Minnesota, medical marijuana is only available to patients suffering from certain conditions (glaucoma being one of those qualifying conditions). If you do suffer from glaucoma, the first step is to speak with an approved medical cannabis doctor. This physician can diagnose your condition and determine whether or not you are a good candidate for medical marijuana. Once your physician has approved your prescription, you will then receive an email from the Minnesota Office of Medical Cannabis with further instructions. You are required to register with the office before finding a medical cannabis patient center to receive your prescription.

Minneapolis Medical Cannabis Doctor

If you are suffering from glaucoma or another qualifying condition, medical marijuana may be the best treatment option for you. At Advanced Spine & Pain Clinics of MN, our board-certified pain management doctors have over twenty years of experience treating patients throughout the Twin Cities area. Our physicians are also approved to prescribe medical marijuana to patients in the state of Minnesota. Contact us today at our Edina or Minneapolis pain clinics to set up an appointment with one of our skilled pain physicians and see if you qualify for medical cannabis.