Regenerative Medicine Specialist

What is regenerative medicine?

Regenerative medicine involves the use of different cells to help the body regenerate organs, tissues, or cells to restore or establish function. In podiatry, regenerative medicine generally applies to damaged tissue, synovial fluid, cartilage, tendons, ligaments, or muscles.

Why are regenerative medicine injections more effective than steroid injections?

In the past, inflammation and pain have been managed using steroid injections that contain cortisone. While these injections offer anti-inflammatory properties that can effectively reduce inflammation, they don’t actually correct the underlying problem. This means that whatever caused the inflammation in the first place, such as plantar fasciitis, continues to cause inflammation after the steroids metabolize. Additionally, because of the risks associated with steroid injections, only a limited number of injections can be given in a certain period of time. Regenerative medicine injections vary in three primary ways:

• They don’t contain any steroids, which means there is no risk of potentially damaging cartilage
• The injection material has an anti-inflammatory quality as well as ingredients that help lubricate joints
• The injection material has potential ability for cell regeneration, which can actually alter the state of the disease rather than simply address symptoms

For these reasons, regenerative medicine injections can be safer and more effective than cortisone injections.

Where do the regenerative medicine cells come from?

The material does not involve any fetal tissue and is not embryonic. The material used at Extremity Health Centers contains mesenchymal cells from consenting donors that have undergone culturing and toxicity testing of the samples by the lab. Amniotic fluid is known as a rich source of regenerative medicine cells that maintain the capacity to form multiple tissue types. This may contain potential for several clinical applications around the foot and ankle both for wound healing and for joint treatments, along with soft tissue injections.

Why has my doctor recommended laser treatment following regenerative medicine injections?

Laser treatments often are utilized to allow difficult wounds to heal faster as well. When a diabetic patient has either a foot ulcer or a surgical procedure on the foot and ankle, wound healing may be an extremely difficult task.