Don't wait any longer to find relief for your Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) for Sciatica.
Sciatica is an umbrella term for pain, tingling, or numbing sensations in the lower back, buttocks, or legs caused by compression and irritation of the sciatic nerve root. The sciatic nerve root is a collection of nerve fibers that exits the spinal cord and courses down both legs. Sciatica can result from structural changes in the spine, such as disc herniation, degenerative disc disease, or spinal stenosis.
Pain is the most common symptom of sciatica. Sciatic pain can be mild or severe and typically extends from the low back, through the buttocks, and into one or both legs. Other symptoms of sciatica can include muscle weakness, tingling, or numbness in the affected leg(s). The pain may worsen with certain activities, such as sitting or standing for prolonged periods of time.
Once sciatica is diagnosed, a traditional doctor will usually recommend either medication or surgery to help address the symptoms. It’s important to note that any medications a doctor prescribes may help provide temporary pain relief, but they will not address the actual cause of the condition. Also, certain medications can cause side effects and can even be habit-forming, depending on the dose and duration of use.
Additionally, surgery should always be a last resort. Because of how invasive surgery is, it can lead to various complications, including infection and nerve damage. Moreover, there is no guarantee that surgery will provide permanent relief from the symptoms of sciatica – and the procedure can be expensive and require a long recovery period.
Keeping this in mind, the following are the conventional treatment options that doctors often recommend for sciatica:
Corticosteroid injections are commonly prescribed for sciatica. These injections contain a combination of steroids and anesthetics that aim to reduce inflammation, and they both numb and reduce pain.
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are another common treatment for sciatica. Examples of NSAIDs include ibuprofen, naproxen, and aspirin. These medications help reduce pain and inflammation in the affected area.
Microdiscectomy is a surgical procedure that treats sciatica caused by lumbar disc herniation. The surgery aims to alleviate the pressure on the sciatic nerve root by removing a piece of the lumbar disc that is causing compression. The procedure typically uses minimally invasive surgical techniques, resulting in minimal tissue damage.
Laminectomy is a surgical procedure that relieves sciatica caused by spinal stenosis. The surgery involves the removal of part of a vertebral bone (called the lamina) to create more space for the nerve roots and alleviate pressure on them.
Facetectomy is a surgical procedure that relieves pressure from the spinal nerve roots near the facet joint. During the procedure, the surgeon will remove or trim one or both of the facet joints of a vertebra to create more space for the nerve roots and reduce compression.
Foraminotomy is a surgical procedure that relieves sciatica caused by foraminal stenosis, which is when the nerve root is compressed in the small opening where it exits the spinal cord. During this procedure, the doctor will widen this area to reduce pressure on the nerve root. This is done by removing any blockage, such as bone spurs or discs, that may be causing the compression.
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is a natural therapy that can treat various conditions, including sciatica. It works by introducing high concentrations of platelets into the affected area. These platelets contain growth factors that help promote tissue repair and regeneration, reduce inflammation, and improve blood flow.
To create the PRP solution, a small amount of your blood is drawn and placed in a bedside centrifuge or prepared in a lab. The platelets are then isolated from other components and concentrated into a PRP solution which is then injected into the area of injury or inflammation.
At Orthagenex, we use PRP injections to help relieve sciatic pain and promote the regeneration of damaged tissues. PRP is a safe, effective, and non-surgical treatment option for sciatica. It’s proven to be effective in providing relief from sciatic nerve pain without the need for medications or surgery. Moreover, it can help to reduce inflammation and speed up regeneration and tissue repair in the affected area.
In addition to stimulating your body’s natural repair processes, PRP also helps to improve blood flow in the affected area. This helps reduce inflammation and ease pressure on the sciatic nerve. Additionally, studies have shown that PRP can encourage the formation of new nerves and help repair damaged ones.
PRP injections are not uncommon; however, the procedure must be carried out safely and effectively. Orthagenex uses state-of-the-art technology to produce the highest quality PRP solutions available on the market. We also employ highly skilled orthopedic doctors with years of experience to ensure that all procedures are performed with precision and care. The following are a few specific reasons why our PRP injections at Orthagenex are superior:
At Orthagenex, our PRP injections are guided by MSK (musculoskeletal) ultrasound and fluoroscopy. MSK ultrasound uses sound waves to create a real-time image of the muscles, nerves, and tendons in the area being treated. The use of MSK ultrasound provides much better visibility of joint motion and function.
Combined with fluoroscopy, which uses X-rays to create a more detailed image of the area, this allows us to precisely place the PRP solution in the affected area. This method of injection is superior to blind injections as it greatly reduces the risk of complications and increases the chances of successful treatment.
We use a lab setting to process all of our platelets, instead of traditional PRP treatments, which are processed using a bedside centrifuge.
This ensures that our PRP solutions contain higher concentrations of platelets (20 to 40 times more than regular PRP solutions), produced in cleaner isolation, than standard treatments on the market. Moreover, this platform also allows us to customize each treatment for individual patients, based on their specific needs.
There are two types of PRP treatments: amber PRP and red PRP. Red PRP treatments are red and white blood cell rich, whereas amber PRP treatments are red and white blood cell poor. Lab tests indicate that the red and white blood cells found in red PRP treatments can inhibit the same stem cells that the platelets are attempting to stimulate, thereby causing excessive inflammation. Therefore, we use amber PRP treatments instead.
At Orthagenex, we also offer next-generation platelet lysate (PL). PL treatments are less likely to trigger inflammation than traditional PRP solutions and tend to be safer for use around the nerves, which is why we tend to recommend PL injections when dealing with sciatica.
PL solutions consist of highly concentrated platelets processed in a laboratory to create a unique solution. Unlike PRP, which, once introduced, slowly releases growth factors over the course of a week (in a similar manner to a time-release pill), PL injections are an immediate release variation.
At Orthagenex, we don’t treat PRP as a one-size-fits-all solution. All our PRP treatments are completely tailored to the individual needs of our patients. Our experienced team of medical professionals takes the time to thoroughly assess each individual patient and create a personalized plan of care. This ensures that our patients receive the most effective and safe treatments available.
At Orthagenex, we also offer bone marrow concentrate (BMC) injections, which contain stem cells found in your bone marrow, to help promote tissue repair and regeneration. Whether PRP treatment or BMC treatment is more appropriate depends on what is being treated. For instance, PRP is better suited for mild arthritis, whereas BMC is more effective for severe arthritis.
At Orthagenex, we take pride in our team of highly skilled medical professionals. Our board-certified doctors are fellowship-trained in interventional orthopedics, meaning they have extensive training and experience in treating musculoskeletal conditions with minimally invasive procedures. This ensures that all of our treatments are performed with the highest level of precision and care.
Moreover, only 1% of US physicians are trained in interventional orthopedics. This makes Orthagenex one of the few medical centers in the nation that can offer such specialized treatments with this level of expertise.
We are proud to offer the most advanced treatments and techniques available for musculoskeletal conditions at Orthagenex. Our core competencies include the use of image guidance to place injectates, SANS evaluations, lab processing of platelet solutions, and customized treatments based on individual patient needs.
Our lab protocol allows us to customize PRP and BMC solutions for maximum efficacy. This combination of expertise and technology allows us to provide the highest level of care available when treating musculoskeletal injuries and conditions, such as sciatic nerve pain.
At Orthagenex, we understand the struggles of living with chronic sciatic pain. Our PRP treatment solutions offer a safe and effective alternative to prescription medications and invasive surgeries. With the help of our cutting-edge technology and customized treatments, Orthagenex can help bring you relief from sciatic pain without the risks associated with surgery. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help improve your quality of life.
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