Regenerative Medical Procedures

Regenerative medicine is an advanced form of molecular biology and tissue engineering used to regenerate your body’s own tissue at a cellular level. Able to target the root cause of your disease or injury, regenerative procedures are designed to give your body a boost in the healing process, or stimulate it altogether.

At STAR Spine & Sport, our board-certified physiatrists use regenerative medicine to treat a wide range of injuries that have not responded to other treatment methods. Our patients have been able to finally experience relief from years of agonizing pain stemming from work, accident, and sports injuries when other treatment options have failed. [su_pe_article_anchor articleid=”609″ target=”_self” title=”no”]Degenerative disc disease[/su_pe_article_anchor] and other causes of low back pain also respond well to regenerative medicine.

Staying ahead of the latest medical advancements, we offer platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy, stem cell therapy including mesenchymal (MSC), and prolotherapy. We are the West Denver area’s leading experts in regenerative medical procedures, which offer rapid pain relief with no down time, incision, or scarring. Performed on an outpatient basis, you are able to leave after your procedure.

Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Therapy

Platelet-rich plasma therapy, or PRP therapy, is used to treat acute and chronic tendon, ligament, and muscle injuries, and fractures. Our sports medicine specialists use PRP for athletes who have suffered from rotator cuff tears, tendonitis, golfer’s elbow, and many other painful conditions.

Platelet-rich plasma is obtained by drawing your blood, placing it in a centrifuge to separate the platelets from the blood, and extracting the plasma with rich growth factors. This is then injected into the affected area using ultrasound guidance to ensure it reaches the proper tissue. By injecting the growth factors into the injured area, healing times are reduced.

You can expect to spend about 45 minutes to an hour for your injection. After your procedure, one of our providers will give you instructions on when to return for another therapeutic injection, as well as how many injections may be necessary for you to experience complete healing. Though PRP injections are not painful, you may feel sore for a day or two following therapy.

Stem Cell Therapy

We all carry adult stem cells that are ready to be used by the body to make new tissues, and to carry out activities that the body requires to maintain and rebuild tissues. Stem cell therapy utilizes these stem cells from your own body to treat disc-related back pain, osteoarthritis, meniscus tears, and other chronic pain conditions.

Stem cell therapy at STAR is performed using your cells that are isolated from bone marrow (mesenchymal stem cells, or MSCs) to virtually eliminate your risk of infection or rejection. The sample of stem cells drawn from your body is filtered and concentrated, then injected into the affected area for rapid healing.

After your stem cell therapy procedure, Dr. Hemler or Dr. Morgan will let you know whether you need further injections. Many patients only need one stem cell injection to stimulate an accelerated healing response. You may be sore for a couple of days after your treatment.