The Difference Between PRP and Stem Cell Therapy
The doctors at the Stem Cell and Pain Management Center of Irvine are committed to using the most advanced equipment and technology to treat our patients. Two leading technologies available to patients in Orange County and the surrounding area are Platelet-Rich Plasma and Stem Cell Injection Therapy.
What is Platelet-Rich Plasma?
The platelets in your blood are central to the healing process. Platelet-Rich Plasma, or PRP, involves taking a sample of blood from a vein and placing it into a centrifuge where the platelets are concentrated to several times their normal amount. Then, the platelets are injected into the treatment area to enhance the body’s natural healing process. PRP helps kick start or speed up healing for injuries to muscles and ligaments.
What is Stem Cell Injection Therapy?
Stem cell therapy is an innovative form of regenerative medicine that involves extracting cells before they have been specialized. Stem cells are prepared in cutting-edge laboratories by cell biologists. These cells are basically “raw potential,” as they can differentiate into any type of cell needed by the body. After injection into a damaged area, they provide a foundation for entirely new tissues to develop, encouraging advanced healing, new cell growth, and pain relief.
The body naturally has stem cells, but age and repetitive injuries contribute to a reduction of these cells. While PRP may generate some stem cells to promote the body’s healing mechanism, stem cell injection therapy does not count on the body’s existing stem cells to foster healing. This treatment stimulates entirely new healing solutions in the body.
Stem cell therapy is ideal for degenerative conditions, such as:
- Arthritis
- Chronic bursitis
- Joint cartilage problems
- Chronic knee pain
- Osteoarthritis
- Tears and partial tears to tendons
- and some degenerative bone conditions.
In comparison to arthroscopic surgery or knee replacement surgery, both treatments are relatively safe and require minimal downtime. However, PRP generally requires up to 6 injections for optimal results. Stem cell therapy can achieve even greater results in as little as 1 to 2 injections.
Contact Pain Management Center of Irvine to learn more about stem cell injection therapy and schedule a free consultation by calling 949-857-4712 today!