Regenerate, Recover, and Return: A New Way to Treat Joint Pain

Regenerate, Recover, and Return: A New Way to Treat Joint Pain

By Orthopedic Surgeon James Slauterbeck, MD

If you have arthritis, a sports injury, or an aching joint that just won't get better, you've probably heard about some of the newer treatments available today. Many of these treatments are called orthobiologics, but the idea behind them is actually very simple. They use your body's own natural healing ability to help reduce pain and improve movement.

Instead of only treating the symptoms, these treatments are designed to help injured tissues heal. In some patients, they may even delay or prevent the need for surgery.

Several types of orthobiologic treatments are now available through UNC Health Orthopedics at Southeastern Health Park.

One uses a small sample of your own blood to create a healing injection called platelet-rich plasma (PRP). Another uses cells taken from your own bone marrow. Stem cell therapy is also being studied because it may help repair damaged tissue. For people with arthritis, hyaluronic acid injections can replace some of the natural lubrication that is lost as joints wear out, making movement easier and less painful.

These treatments may help people with knee, hip, or shoulder arthritis, tendon injuries such as tennis elbow or Achilles tendon problems, rotator cuff injuries, ligament sprains, cartilage injuries, and some fractures that are slow to heal. Not every treatment is right for every patient, so your orthopedic specialist can help decide which option is best for you.

Most procedures are done in the office and take less than an hour. Many involve only a simple injection. Patients usually return home the same day, and recovery is often quick. Mild soreness for a day or two is the most common side effect.

It is important to remember that these treatments are not miracle cures. They work best when combined with other healthy habits, including exercise, physical therapy, maintaining a healthy weight, and staying active. Some patients feel better within a few weeks, while others improve more gradually over several months.

Research in this field is growing quickly, and doctors are learning more every year about which patients benefit the most. While these treatments may not be right for everyone, they are giving many people new options for treating pain and staying active.

If joint pain or an injury is keeping you from doing the things you enjoy, talk with an orthopedic or sports medicine provider at UNC Health Orthopedics at Southeastern Health Park and UNC Health Southeastern. Together, you can decide whether one of these newer treatments may help you regenerate, recover, and return to the activities you love.

James Slauterbeck, MD, is an orthopedic surgeon whose special interests include sports medicine, adolescent sports medicine, female sports medicine, and high school and college athletic injuries. He is affiliated with UNC Health Orthopedics at Southeastern Health Park and UNC Health Southeastern. To learn more, call (910) 738-1065 or visit https://www.unchealth.org/care-services/doctors/s/james-r-slauterbeck-md.