Mandy was playing softball with her friends a few weeks ago when she slipped and sprained her ankle. Her friends helped her to the sidelines and gave her some ice for the area. She rested the ankle for two weeks, and since it felt fine afterward she resumed her life as usual. However, this morning when she went for a run, she had to end it early because her ankle started hurting again and when she looked at it, it was swollen. That afternoon while at work, she was talking to her colleague about it, and they told her she might want to look into regenerative medicine treatment. The first thing Mandy asked was “What is regenerative medicine treatment?”
Regenerative medicine treatment can be a great recovery option, especially for areas that are slow healing. For example, an ankle sprain can be slow to heal, especially because once you sprain it there is a high chance that you will sprain it again and again. Similarly, knee injuries are notoriously known for being slow to heal, if they heal at all. Regenerative medicine can be a great option for treating such areas by speeding up the process and helping the body complete the healing phase with more efficiency. When you consult with the RxWellness Spine & Health Arlington care team, we will look into various treatment options to determine which option is best for you. 
What is Regenerative Medicine
Regenerative medicine is a branch of treatment that prioritizes tissue replacement over symptom management. This means that instead of prescribing medication to relieve pain, the nurse practitioner attempts to speed up healing by introducing specialized cells to the injured area. The goal is to assist the body in that natural healing process to provide lasting change in a way that is holistic and minimally invasive.
What is Regenerative Medicine Treatment at RxWellness Spine & Health?
Regenerative medicine treatment at RxWellness Spine & Health in Arlington focuses on two prominent types of regenerative medicine: Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and trigger point injections. Both treatments differ in their approach but are similar in their goals for recovery. When you consult with your care team, they will determine which option is best for you based on your symptoms and needs.
What Is Platelet Rich Plasma Therapy?
Platelet Rich Plasma or PRP is a treatment that uses the patient’s blood to treat injuries. The blood is composed of various components such as plasma, red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. Platelets contain proteins called growth factors that are very important in the healing process. PRP treatment uses the centrifugal process to create a dense concentration of platelets to then reinject into the injury site. The treatment exposes the injured area to a high concentration of platelets to speed up the healing process in areas of acute pain and injury. The PRP process follows these simple steps:
- Draw the patient’s blood.
- Spin the blood in a centrifuge.
- Separate components of the blood, and isolate the platelets.
- Reinsert the platelet-rich blood into the patient at the site of pain or injury.
What are Trigger Point Injections?
Trigger point injection is the process of relocating unspecialized adult stem cells to injured areas of the body. This process floods the affected area with unspecialized cells that can develop into the surrounding tissue to provide additional support to the problem area. Some chronic conditions that Trigger Point injections can treat include:
- Chronic pain as a result of poor posture
- Injury to the muscle
- Poor techniques (like incorrect lifting form) that cause stress to the muscle
- Joint disorders
- Fibromyalgia
- Myofascial pain syndrome
- Tension headaches
RxWellness Spine & Health
When you work with the RxWellness Spine & Health integrative medical team, we will help you understand your condition and how your recommended treatment will help you see lasting improvement. You will have the opportunity to consult with a nurse practitioner and ask any questions you might have about regenerative medicine and what to expect. They do a fantastic job of explaining every step of the process while managing overall expectations.
Our goal is to help you heal and see significant improvements in your condition. Sometimes the body just needs a little extra boost to help it do what it already knows how to do, and when you work with the RxWellness Arlington team, we will provide that little extra boost in a way that’s holistic and minimally invasive.
Contact Us
So, what is regenerative medicine treatment? In simplest terms, regenerative medicine treatment is holistic care that targets painful and injured areas using the body’s healing methods. When you consult with the RxWellness Spine & Health Arlington integrative medical team, they will determine which method is best for your specific concern. They might recommend either platelet-rich plasma or trigger point injections, and then help you understand the benefits and walk you through the entire process. If you have any questions or would like to schedule a consultation, give us a call at (571) 348-1541 or book an appointment online. We are located at 932 N Highland St Suite A, Arlington, VA 22201.