Don't wait any longer to find relief for your Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) for Meniscus Tears.
The meniscus is a semilunar fibrocartilage that provides cushioning between your upper and lower leg bones and helps with the stability of the knee joint. If the meniscus is damaged or torn, it can cause pain, swelling, and difficulty walking or bending the knee. Although a torn meniscus will eventually heal on its own, it can take four to eight weeks or longer, depending on the severity of the damage. Not to mention that without proper care, you risk making the tear worse and further damaging your meniscus.
Pain is the most common symptom of a meniscus tear, but there can be other symptoms that include:
If you’ve been diagnosed with a meniscus tear, then there are several conventional treatment options that a traditional doctor may recommend, including the following:
Corticosteroid injections are meant to reduce inflammation and pain in the affected area. A corticosteroid injection contains a combination of corticosteroids and anesthetics, which can help reduce swelling and alleviate pain. However, there are several potential side effects associated with these injections, including infection and bleeding. Not to mention that they can only offer short-term relief and won’t address the underlying issue.
Many doctors prescribe non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to reduce pain and inflammation. NSAIDs can usually be taken orally or applied topically. While they can provide temporary relief, potential side effects are associated with their long-term use, including gastrointestinal issues. Additionally, the more you use them, the less effective they become due to the body’s tolerance.
In more severe cases, meniscus repair surgery may be necessary. Meniscus repair is done via arthroscopic surgery. This type of surgical procedure involves making small incisions in the knee and inserting a tiny camera to guide the surgeon. This allows the surgery to be as minimally invasive as possible. The procedure involves trimming, sewing, or repairing the meniscus to restore its normal shape and function.
However, despite the use of arthroscopic surgery helping to minimize the risk of complications, there is still a chance that you may experience pain, swelling, or infection following the procedure, as with any type of surgery.
If the meniscus tear is too severe to repair or the blood supply is too limited, then a partial meniscectomy may be recommended. A partial meniscectomy procedure involves removing the damaged portion of the meniscus to reduce pain and discomfort. Like meniscus repair, this is done via arthroscopic surgery. As with any surgery, there is a risk of pain, swelling, bleeding, or infection. Not to mention, because a part of the meniscus is removed, it can lead to instability in the knee joint.
PRP is a regenerative medicine. It’s used to treat various conditions, including meniscus tears. PRP is made from your own blood plasma, which contains platelets as well as other growth factors that help promote healing in the body.
PRP solutions are created by extracting platelets from your blood and then concentrating them in a plasma-rich solution. This solution can then be injected directly into the affected area to help stimulate healing by reducing inflammation and speeding up the body’s natural healing process. It does this by stimulating stem cells to the area, which can help rebuild and repair damaged tissue.
PRP treatment is especially effective on meniscus tears. Since the meniscus has little vascularity, meaning it does not get much blood flow, the body’s natural healing process is drastically slowed down. However, PRP injections can help speed up the healing process by providing the platelets with access to the injured meniscus. As a result, the injured tissue can be repaired faster, leading to quicker recovery time.
PRP injections are widely considered a safe and effective solution throughout the medical community. However, like any form of treatment, its effectiveness is highly dependent on the skill of the practitioner and the quality of the injections. Here at Orthagenex, we offer superior PRP injections due to the following reasons:
Some practitioners deliver PRP solutions blindly. A blind injection is when an injector does not use any imaging technology to guide them in placing the PRP solution in the correct area. As a result, there is a greater risk that the PRP solution will be injected into an area other than the intended one, thus decreasing its efficacy.
At Orthagenex, we use advanced imaging technologies such as MSK ultrasound, which is a type of imaging used to visualize the structures within the joint, as well as fluoroscopy, which is a technique used to visualize the injection needle in real-time. These technologies allow us to precisely place the PRP solution right where it’s needed, eliminating the guesswork and increasing its efficacy. As a result, we can maximize their effectiveness and speed up your recovery time.
At Orthagenex, we use a lab setting for our PRP solutions, allowing for a higher concentration of platelets than what can be achieved through the traditional bedside centrifuge method. It also means that we can customize the solution to suit your particular injury or condition much more effectively, thus creating a solution tailored to your needs. The following are a few examples of how the use of a lab setting allows for superior PRP treatment:
Amber PRP refers to PRP treatments that are red and white blood cell poor, whereas red PRP treatments are red and white blood cell rich. Traditional PRP providers typically use red PRP treatments. However, studies have indicated that red and white blood cells can inhibit stem cells from migrating to the area and healing the tissue. That’s why at Orthagenex, we use amber PRP treatments, which have been found to be more effective in promoting healing because they are red and white blood cell poor.
In general, PRP treatments slowly release platelets at the site of injury over the course of the week following injection. Although this can still be very effective since it works similarly to a time-release pill, we also offer next-generation platelet lysate (PL) injections.
PL treatment is made up of a higher concentration of platelets and growth factors, which are released more quickly than traditional PRP treatments, therefore providing faster relief. PL injections are also less likely to cause inflammation, making them safer to use on injuries near nerves. As such, we often use PL injections for spinal column procedures.
We understand that every condition and injury is different and, as such, requires a unique approach to treatment. That’s why we offer customized PRP solutions tailored to each individual patient’s needs. Our team of experts will assess your condition and develop a personalized plan of care that is based on your goals, lifestyle, medical history, and more. The following are a few examples of how we can customize your PRP treatment:
Bone marrow concentrate (BMC) is a solution created by processing bone marrow. It is rich in mesenchymal stem cells, which aid in tissue regeneration and healing. We may recommend BMC treatment over traditional PRP treatment, depending on what’s being treated.
At Orthagenex, we are proud to have some of the best doctors in the field of interventional orthopedics on our team. Our physicians are board-certified and fellowship-trained, meaning they have undergone extensive training in non-surgical treatments like PRP injections. In fact, only 1% of US physicians have completed a fellowship in interventional orthopedics, so our team is truly top-notch.
Our physicians also ensure you receive the highest quality of care by staying current with the latest advancements in PRP treatments and technologies. This ensures that you get the most effective treatment possible and can recover as quickly as possible.
We specialize in core competencies such as performing SANS evaluations (which are assessments of the strength and function of a patient’s muscles and joints) and utilizing advanced imaging technologies such as MSK ultrasound and fluoroscopy. These techniques allow our team to deliver superior PRP injections that maximize their effectiveness in treating musculoskeletal infections, thus leading to quicker recovery times.
Meniscus tears can be tricky to treat, especially if they are severe. Unfortunately, many traditional doctors will recommend surgery, which can be costly, result in a long recovery period, and involve various complications and risks.
At Orthagenex, we specialize in providing non-surgical treatments for meniscus tears and other musculoskeletal conditions. By using our advanced imaging technologies and lab-processed PRP injections, we can tailor your treatment to meet your individual needs and help you recover faster without the risks involved with surgery.
Not sure where to go? See all locations we offer treatment for Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) for Meniscus Tears pain.
Imagine a life without the limitations of Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) for Torn Rotator Cuffs.
Fill out our candidate form to see if our procedures are right for you.