Traditional treatments for knee pain have often been NSAIDs or surgery. NSAIDs reduce inflammation, therefore reducing pain. Unfortunately, inflammation is our body’s natural method of healing. Millions of tiny cells rush to the injury to perform their individual role in the healing process. So, when inflammation stops, healing stops also. Surgery is often not necessary. 86% of musculoskeletal injuries can be effectively treated without surgery. Discover your options.
Healthy function of joints is controlled by “chondrocytes,” mesenchymal stem cells that regulate replacement of damaged cells. When the balance between the supply of new cells is adequate to maintain healthy function, the body is in homeostasis. However, imbalance in this function leads to degeneration of tissue, such as osteoarthritis.
Every time you move, your muscles contract and relax. This process only takes a few seconds, but it is actually a quite complex process. Every activity in our body is controlled by muscles: breathing, circulation of blood, digestion. Even a simple smile is a result of muscle action. Muscles also help keep our body warm, maintain posture, and stabilize bones and joints. The body contains several types of muscles, some that work involuntarily, such as heart and organ muscles, and skeletal muscles that work primarily through voluntary action that is controlled consciously.
As we age, chronic injuries, along with normal wear and tear on our joints, often lead to arthritis. The smooth articular cartilage between the joints that cushions and protects begins to wear down, causing bones to rub against each other. Bone spurs often develop. The resulting friction leads to pain and swelling. This chronic inflammation results in arthritis and further degeneration of tissue.
Renaissance means rebirth or regeneration. Every few generations medicine takes a major turn. We’re at one of those junctures now with regenerative medicine — where healing is triggered from within the human body. It’s bringing a whole new universe to how physicians provide care.