Shoulder Rotator Cuff Patients Avoid Surgery With Stem Cell, Platelet Therapy

By Mayo Friedlis, MD

National Spine & Pain Centers

. http://www.treatingpain.com

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Shoulder Rotator Cuff Patients Avoid Surgery With Stem Cell, Platelet Therapy

Biologic regenerative treatments utilize advanced technology to offer patients suffering from shoulder and rotator cuff issues a non-surgical solution to pain. Significant results have already been documented for patients suffering from pain related to shoulder issues. Regenexx, a proven leader in Regenerative treatments, released 2013 data that reported an average of 70% improvement with rotator cuff tears or arthritis of the shoulder for patients treated with stem cells. This improvement was reported approximately 15 months after receiving Regenerative treatment.*

What Causes Rotator Cuff Pain?

The rotator cuff is primarily composed of ligaments, tendons, and muscles. This combination of structures enables the shoulder to have 180 degrees of rotation. The shoulder relies on these muscles to control the motion of the shoulder and give it strength. If these structures become torn or strained, the result is known as rotator cuff syndrome. The rotator cuff can also degenerate through natural aging.

Whatever the cause, rotator cuff problems can be very debilitating considering how much the body uses the shoulder. Athletes, including tennis players, baseball players, and golfers, are particularly affected. Without full use of the shoulder, athletes have a difficult time playing at the optimal level.

Treating Rotator Cuff Pain

Surgery is a common treatment for rotator cuff problems. However, in many cases, the surgery repairs the tear but does not entirely relieve the pain or restore the full function of the shoulder. For athletes, surgery can also mean long periods away from their sport to recover. Rotator cuff tears may also occur in conjunction with other shoulder conditions that are not easily detected. These conditions can include lax ligaments, shoulder instability, and chronic inflammation. Correcting these conditions can result in pain relief and increase range of motion in the shoulder. Surgery to treat both the aforementioned conditions and rotator cuff tears can be avoided with the use of regenerative therapies.

Regenerative medicine can include stem cells and platelet procedures. Stem Cell therapy uses the body's supply of stem cells to help repair injured and degenerated tissues. Rotator cuffs tears can be repaired with the use of stem cells, as long as the tear is not completely retracted. If successful, the patient can avoid surgery, altogether. Stem Cell therapy is also extremely useful in the treatment of osteoarthritis of the shoulder.

Platelet procedures use the body's growth factors that are found in the platelets to attract cells that repair the body, including critical stem cells, to the site of injury. The use of platelets result in a targeted, faster healing process.

Regenerative therapies address rotator cuff tears and the hidden issues behind shoulder pain. Patients can avoid a lengthy recovery time that is typically associated with surgery enabling continued participation in the activities they enjoy.

*Patient registry data provided by Regenexx. http //tinyurl.com/pnzpeav.