Solutions Integrated Medicine Blog

     Even though it’s been practiced for numerous years now, regenerative medicine is considered a new(er) branch of medicine. While treating joint problems with allografts and regenerative tissue products have been deemed safe and effective by the FDA, the science has not been around long enough for standard treatment protocols to have been established. Just as there are new products constantly coming out that are better and more advanced than the last, the same goes for the understanding and application of treatment. At Solutions, we have also been through a progression of understanding of just how these products work and what works best. 

     For patients suffering with severe knee pain that have exhausted oral medication, injections are commonly the next step. Cortisone is usually the first stop, but unfortunately causes damage to the joint and can be dangerous to use. A safer alternative is called Hyaluronic Acid, or rooster comb injections. Hyaluronic acid is a component of the synovial fluid inside your joints and acts as a lubricant. The degeneration that occurs in osteoarthritis also breaks down this fluid, so hyaluronic acid injections can help replace it. For more information about how this can help you put off surgery and where to get it here.

     If you’re going to spend money outfitting your car with new tires, it makes sense to spend a few more dollars getting them aligned and balanced at the same time. Even though these procedures cost extra, they are important details you don’t want to miss. Without good alignment or the right balance, the new tires are almost guaranteed to wear out faster. It seems few in their right mind would do this, yet we meet numerous patients willing to spend good money for regenerative medicine, but think they’re saving costs by skimping on the ‘extras’ – like orthotics, rehab or nutritional supplements. 

     One of the most common reasons for a total knee replacement is degeneration from Osteoarthritis. Most doctors advise patients to wait as long as possible for a joint replacement, so buying time can be a very important issue. One of the healthiest ways to do this is with a good knee brace. While most knee braces and compression sleeves will provide some amount of support, it’s important to choose the correct style to get the most benefit, particularly when facing surgery. The best type of brace to help with pain and possibly put off surgery is called an ‘unloader’ or offloading knee brace. These braces have hinges on each side and are adjustable in not only size, but also the amount and type of support they offer.

     Dropping items, inability to open jars/lids and trouble buttoning garments are just a few of the aggravations commonly experienced by sufferers of arthritis in the hands and fingers. Deterioration of the thumb joint, arthritic nodules on the knuckles and stiffness in the fingers can make normal daily activities arduous and painful. Severe cases of arthritis in the hands leave many patients literally crippled. Besides pain medication and topical rubs, traditional medicine offers very little hope for this problem. Prescription arthritis medicine is expensive, taxing on the body and rarely does much either.

     A good back brace can be extremely beneficial in both rehabilitation and injury prevention. Lumbar supports and braces for the lower back are readily available over the counter and also as a prescription. While purchasing a back brace from WalMart may be convenient, chances are high the product does not offer the correct support or falls apart after the first use. PLUS without instructions about how to use a lumbar support, there’s a high chance you could also be using it incorrectly. Without knowing when/how to properly wear or how to adjust them, back braces can cause more harm than good! Keep reading to learn the right way to get the most from a lumbar brace here…..

     While undergoing treatment, there is an optimum time frame for putting in the right nutrients. As the body is healing, it requires certain building blocks – all of which are supposed to be supplied by our diet. Unfortunately, the average American diet tends to deplete the body of nutrients rather than add to it. Even many popular weight loss plans that have helped may people lose weight are often missing the right nutrients the body needs during a repair process. This is why we always recommend supplements while a patient is undergoing chiropractic care or regenerative therapy.

     While x-rays are best for viewing joint deterioration and alignment, MRI is the best imaging for diagnosis of muscular, ligamentous/partially torn rotator cuff. In many shoulder pain cases, MRI helps surgeons pin-point exactly where the problem is so they know where to operate. For alternative treatment with regenerative medicine for shoulder pain, an MRI can also be extremely helpful for determining how complete of a resolution may be possible. Regenerative medicine works very well for partial tears but not for complete tears that require surgery and knowing this ahead of time is important for realistic expectations.

     Regenerative medicine is offering new hope to trigger finger sufferers! Also called Stenosing Tenosynovitis, trigger finger is a painful, annoying problem affecting the tendons in the hand that can eventually become disabling. Sufferers complain of pain in the palm or knuckles, weakness of grip and a catching or locking of the involved finger. This problem is usually worse in the morning with the ring finger, thumb and sometimes middle finger most commonly affected. Trigger finger is more of a nuisance than a serious condition, however if left untreated the affected finger/thumb can become permanently stuck (bent or straight) and this can be very disabling.

     Cold therapy (using an ice pack) is commonly recommended by doctors and therapists for acute injuries to help reduce pain and swelling. However despite its common use, its efficacy has actually yet to be proven in clinical studies. In fact, while ice may help with temporary pain relief, it causes a vasoconstriction (narrowing of blood vessels), decreasing the amount of blood flow. This results in a decrease in metabolic/enzymatic activity as well as decreased oxygen demand to the injured area, effectively slowing the healing response initiated by inflammation.