Alleviate Joint Pain with Regenerative Medicine
At Bothwell Medical Rooms we specialise in minimally invasive, non-surgical regenerative therapies to help treat joint pain caused by osteoarthritis and sporting injuries, using your body’s own healing capabilities. These include next-generation Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) therapy and highly advanced Regenerative Cell Therapies. We are one of a small number of clinics in the UK to provide a revolutionary new adipose (fat) derived cell therapy, called ACP, which our doctors believe is a more advanced treatment compared to other systems available.
Our musculoskeletal system consists of a complex composition of different structures that allow us to move purposefully. In addition to the skeletal musculature, tendons play an important role as the connecting element between muscles and the bony skeleton.
As force transmitters, they make purposeful movements possible. Ligaments, in turn, serve to strengthen and secure our joints.
All of these structures are subjected to enormous mechanical stresses on a daily basis, which often result in injuries. The main causes are permanent unequal load distribution, overloading and external violent impact, such as wrong movements and accidents.
Avoid Surgery Through Natural Treatments
We provide our patients with the highest standards of care and after a comprehensive assessment has been carried out by our medical specialists, we will be able to determine if you are suitable for any of our biological cell therapies.
We treat a variety of painful joint and soft tissue disorders, such as Osteoarthritis and Tendonitis, to help gain long term relief from these chronic, debilitating conditions.
Although there is no cure for osteoarthritis, research has shown that Regenerative Cell Therapies, such as PRP and ACP, address the underlying causes of joint and tendon pain, reduce inflammation and may potentially slow down the degenerative process altogether, therefore presenting an alternative mode of treatment to surgery.
Where and how do injuries occur?
Muscles:Jerky movements, excessive stress and sudden muscle tension often lead to muscle injuries and tears.
Ligaments:
Falls, impact and compression often cause injuries to ligaments and the joint capsule as well as ligament straining and stretching.
Often Affected:
- Ankle, knee and wrist
Tendons: Since tendons consist mainly of collagen fibers, they can tear during jerky, fast movements. Prolonged unilateral or excessive stress can also cause micro-injuries with persistent pain and functional impairment.
Often Affected:
- Tennis and golfer elbow
- Achilles tendon and calcaneal spur
- Shoulder and biceps tendon6
- Jumper‘s knee
How do we recognise these injuries?
- Swelling and pain in the affected area
- Loss of function
- Limited mobility of the joint
- Feeling of instability in the affected joint
Innovative Treatment
Regenerative Therapy for Injuries
Complex and well-regulated natural processes take place in the body during recovery. Special proteins, the growth factors, are involved, which come from small blood components, the platelets. Platelets circulate inactive in the bloodstream and become activated when injuries occur. They collect at the injured site and release these proteins, which in turn promote the healing process.
ACP Therapy
ACP therapy is based on this principle. The body‘s self-healing powers are utilized by obtaining high concentrations of these special proteins and then injecting them.
The form and frequency of administration of these proteins may vary depending on the type of injury. Together with your physician you will design a personalized treatment plan that may schedule several injections in weekly intervals.
ACP Tendo Therapy
For structural injuries such as tendon tears, these special proteins can be mixed with an innovative collagen carrier material and injected into or at the injured site (ACP Tendo). The collagen is degraded within 4 weeks but in the meantime serves as a scaffold, so the cells that close the injury can grow in better.
In addition, the collagen serves as a protein deposit. In this way, the healing process can be optimally supported. ACP Tendo therapy usually only involves one injection.
Viscosupplement Therapy
A viscosupplement is a dose of Hyaluronic Acid (HA) that is injected into a synovial joint such as the hip, knee and shoulder to help alleviate the joint pain associated with osteoarthritis.
HA is a substance that naturally exists in synovial fluid that surrounds joints and acts as a lubricant to enable bones to move smoothly over each other.
However, with ageing and in those patients suffering with osteoarthritis, the levels of HA decrease causing pain and often with a crunching sensation or the feeling of a ‘dry’ joint.
Therefore, visco-supplementation by injection increases the HA levels, which can help to reduce osteoarthritic joint pain.
Combination Therapy
Treatment with a HA visco-supplement, such as Ostenil, is an effective pain relief treatment of mild to moderate osteoarthritis.
Although it may only offer short term improvement, studies suggesting around 6 months on average, the injections can be repeated.
Unfortunately, viscosupplementation cannot reverse the arthritic process or regrow cartilage, but works well to improve joint pain and stiffness.
At Bothwell Medical Rooms our regenerative medicine specialists believe that combining the lubricating properties of HA injections with the regenerative effects of PRP therapy is the most effective solution in reducing joint pain caused from OA – whilst at the same time promoting healing of the damaged cartilage within the joint.