PRP Therapy for Rotator Cuff Tears

September 3, 2015/0 Comments/in PRP /by Matthew Thorson

Rotator cuff tears are common shoulder injuries that can be quite painful and make daily tasks difficult. Identifying and treating these tears when the happen is essential to maintaining a good quality of life. This article will focus on rotator cuff tears and injuries. We will discuss the anatomy of the shoulder, the causes of a rotator cuff tear, and how PRP therapy and regenerative medicine can help treat shoulder injuries.

What is a Rotator Cuff?

Your rotator cuff is a group of muscles that connect your arms to your shoulders. They also facilitate arm movements like lifting and rotating. Tearing these muscles can lead to a lot of pain and decreased mobility.

Rotator cuff tears are divided into two categories: acute tears, and degenerative tears. Acute rotator cuff tears are the result of a single injury, while degenerative tears develop over time as the tendon wears down. Here are some of the most common injuries and factors that can lead to a rotator cuff tear:

Slip & Fall accidents
Sports injuries
Car accidents
Improper lifting techniques
Reduced blood supply to the area
Repetitive stress
Bone Spurs

Certain activities (like playing high impact sports) can increase a person’s risk of a rotator cuff tear. But many of these injuries are caused by normal wear and tear on the tendons over time. No matter what causes a rotator cuff tear, there are options for treatment.

Treat Options for Shoulder Injuries

Rotator cuff tears can get worse over time if left untreated, so it’s important to address the injury right away. Treating a rotator cuff tear first requires a full examination, and possibly imaging tests like MRI scans. Once a physician accurately diagnoses the condition, you can work with your doctor to develop a treatment strategy. Treatment options range from pain medications, to steroid injections, to surgery.

PRP therapy can be just as effective as these traditional methods, and allows the patient to avoid surgery. PRP injections work by drawing a sample of the patient’s own blood, and then re-injecting portions of it into the shoulder near the site of the rotator cuff tear. The platelets in the patient’s blood go to work repairing the damaged tissue and reducing pain in the process.

PRP Therapy in Minneapolis

Shoulder injuries like a rotator cuff tear can really disrupt a person’s everyday life. The shoulder pain, coupled with the inability to lift your arm can make even the most mundane tasks difficult. Don’t just deal with the pain – seek medical help. Regenerative medicine therapies like PRP injections can provide significant pain relief while repairing your damaged rotator cuff tendons. Best of all, there is no surgery involved in this procedure. To see if PRP injections can help heal your rotator cuff injury and reduce your shoulder pain, call Advanced Spine & Pain Clinics of Minnesota to make an appointment with Dr. Matthew Thorson today.

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.

PRP Therapy Explained

July 29, 2015/0 Comments/in Health, Regenerative Medicine /by Matthew Thorson

We have talked briefly about Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) Therapy in previous blogs. In this article, we are going to walk you through the details of PRP injection therapy – the concept behind PRP and what you can expect during the procedure.

The Concept Behind PRP

PRP Therapy is a regenerative treatment that repairs, restores, and rejuvenates degenerative tissue using completely natural methods. Platelets are the component of human blood responsible for clotting a wound. When you accidentally cut yourself while chopping food, your platelets immediately rush to the site of the wound and begin rebuilding tissue to stop the bleeding (without platelets you would simply bleed out). In PRP therapy, the patient’s own tissue-rebuilding platelets are used to stimulate regrowth and repair in injured or degenerative areas of the body. Here are a few conditions PRP can successfully treat:

Ligament injuries (ACL, MCL tears)
Damaged or destroyed cartilage
Wrinkled or damaged skin

The PRP Procedure

The PRP injection procedure is relatively quick an easy. First, your physician will take a small blood sample from you. This sample is then placed in a centrifuge, which separates out the various aspects of the blood (the platelets, red blood cells, white blood cells, and plasma). Once that is finished, the platelet rich plasma is injected into the injured area of the patient’s body (for example, the knee for a patient suffering from an ACL tear or osteoarthritis). The whole process takes about an hour and patients are able to go home shortly after the procedure is finished.

Minnesota PRP Therapy

If you are interested in learning more about how PRP injection therapy can help you, contact Advanced Spine & Pain Clinics of Minnesota today. Dr. Matthew Thorson is trained in regenerative medicine techniques and can tell you if PRP therapy is a good option for treating your condition. Make an appointment in Edina with Dr. Thorson by filling out our appointment form or calling 612.223.6227.

Deciding between Injections & Surgery

July 22, 2015/0 Comments/in Regenerative Medicine, Surgery /by Matthew Thorson

For most painful conditions and injuries there are numerous treatment options available to a patient. From prescription painkillers, to pain injections, to surgery – it can be overwhelming trying to find the best treatment course for your condition. In this article, we will discuss options for deciding between injections and surgery for various conditions and injuries.

Arthritis & Osteoarthritis

Generally, arthritic and osteoarthritic conditions are not treated with surgical approaches. Regenerative injections (such as PRP or BMAC injections) can be incredibly effective at reducing pain from arthritis and regenerating lost tissue.

Ligament Injuries

Ligament tears and injuries (such as ACL & MCL tears, and rotator cuff tears) can be treated with surgery to repair the torn ligaments. You often hear of professional athletes undergoing ACL repair surgery so they can get back on the field as soon as possible. While these surgeries are often successful, regenerative injections can be just as effective in reducing pain and repairing the torn tissue. This procedure takes longer for the patient to completely recover, but unlike professional football players, most people do not need to return to high intensity exercise quickly after a ligament tear.

Spine Conditions & Injuries

Certain spine conditions and injuries need to be treated surgically. This is especially true if an injury or condition puts the spinal nerves in immediate danger. In these cases, repair surgery may be necessary to prevent permanent nerve injury and paralysis. In many other cases, pain relief injections and regenerative injection therapy will provide significant relief to patients, without the hassle and cost of surgery.

If you suffer from any of the conditions or injuries listed above, make an appointment with a pain management physician to discuss your treatment options. Dr. Thorson has years of experience treating Minnesotans with painful conditions. Contact us today to set up your appointment with Dr. Thorson and get on the path to a pain-free life.

BMAC Regenerative Therapy

July 13, 2015/0 Comments/in Regenerative Medicine /by Matthew Thorson

BMAC (short for Bone Marrow Aspirate Concentrate) therapy is a method of regenerating damaged or lost tissue using a patient’s own cells. It is an all natural way to avoid surgery and still reduce pain and heal injuries. This article will explain BMAC therapy – how exactly it works, and the various conditions and injuries it can treat.

What is BMAC Therapy?

BMAC stands for Bone Marrow Aspirate Concentrate. BMAC therapy uses regenerative medicine techniques to naturally rebuild tissues in the body.

The procedure involves first removing a sample of your bone marrow (generally from the hip bone). This is done with local anesthetic. After it’s collected, the marrow is placed in a centrifuge, which separates the red blood cells from the platelets, white blood cells, and serum. The concentrated platelets are then injected back into the patient’s body at the area of injury. BMAC injections essentially jump start your body’s natural healing system and encourage tissue regeneration without using any unnatural materials.

Conditions & Injuries that BMAC can Treat

BMAC therapy can be helpful in treating a number of conditions, including:

Tendon Injuries
Broken Bones
Damaged Cartilage
Wrinkled Skin

Is BMAC for Everyone?

As with any therapy, BMAC may not work well for every patient. Patients with severe bone fractures may require immediate surgery, for example. That being said, BMAC can work for many patients suffering through pain. To determine whether or not you are a good candidate, Dr. Thorson will perform various exams and diagnostic tests and walk you through all of your options.

If you have suffered an injury or condition that has resulted in bone fractures, damaged tendons, or damaged cartilage, BMAC may be a great alternative to surgery for you. Make an appointment with a Dr. Thorson to talk about your condition and the possibilities for treatment.

The Difference between Tennis Elbow & Golf Elbow

July 6, 2015/0 Comments/in Health, Regenerative Medicine /by Matthew Thorson

Tennis elbow and golf elbow are overuse injuries that get their names from the repetitive motions required while playing tennis or golf. But you don’t have to be a tennis player or a golfer to develop either condition. In this article, we will investigate the similarities and differences between two related conditions: tennis elbow and golf elbow. Read on to learn about the causes, symptoms, and regenerative medicine treatment options for these conditions.

Tennis Elbow vs. Golfer’s Elbow

Tennis elbow and golf elbow are both repetitive stress injuries. They occur most commonly in tennis and golf players (hence the names) who repeatedly swing racquets or clubs during play. Despite their names, these conditions are not exclusive to the golfers and tennis players of the world. They are also relatively common in people whose jobs require repetitive manual labor (for example, a construction contractor who uses a hammer on a daily basis).

Medically speaking, tennis and golf elbow are both marked by an inflammation of the tendons attached to the elbow. The basic difference between tennis and golf elbow is where exactly the inflammation occurs – tennis elbow impacts the outside of the tendon, while golfer’s elbow impacts the inside.

Symptoms of tennis and golf elbow can include any of the following:

Pain in the elbow that may radiate to the forearm and wrist.
Tenderness or swelling near the elbow.
Weakness in the arms or hands.

If you experience any of these signs of tennis or golf elbow, make an appointment with a physician to diagnose the condition and discuss options for treatment.

Regenerative Medicine Treatment Options

PRP (Platelet Rich Plasma) Therapy is a regenerative treatment method that can significantly reduce pain from tennis and golf elbow. The procedure involves injecting your own cells into the elbow region. These cells help jump-start the body’s natural healing process and aid in the regeneration of tissue.

Tennis elbow and golf elbow can be annoying at best and debilitating at worst. If you are experiencing any of the symptoms of tennis or golf elbow, contact Advanced Regenerative Minnesota to discuss your treatment options.

Regenerative Medicine vs. Traditional Treatment Methods

June 24, 2015/2 Comments/in Regenerative Medicine /by Matthew Thorson

You may have heard the term “regenerative medicine” before – it pops up every so often in the news. But few people have a firm grasp on what regenerative medicine actually is and how it can be used as an effective therapy method. In this article, we will talk about regenerative medicine as a method for treating pain, and how it differs from other traditional treatment options.

First off, What Exactly is Regenerative Medicine?

Regenerative medicine involves using the body’s cells to replace, regenerate, or rejuvenate tissues, organs, and other bodily elements. The full extent of regenerative medicine’s ability to treat various diseases and conditions is still being studied. That being said, there are several cellular therapy techniques that have been approved, including:

PRP (aka Platelet-Rich Plasma) Therapy, which uses platelet’s from a patient’s blood to regenerate tissues, tendons, and more. PRP helps reduce pain and accelerate the body’s natural healing process.

How is Regenerative Medicine Different from Other Treatments?

While many traditional treatment methods focus on relieving pain and controlling symptoms of a given condition or injury, regenerative medicine is aimed at fixing the root cause of the problem.

Example:

Using PRP therapy to stimulate tissue regrowth and healing in a patient with osteoarthritis of the knee. Traditional treatments include mitigating symptoms of the arthritis with pain medications, physical therapy, and bracing.

Every patient has a different situation, and the best treatment approach depends on your unique set of circumstances. A pain management physician can help guide you through your options and recommend the best course of action for your situation.

Regenerative Medicine in Edina, MN

Regenerative cellular therapies can provide pain relief to patients with many different conditions. If you have tried other treatment options and nothing has worked to reduce your pain, contact a regenerative medicine doctor in Minnesota to talk about your options.