Surgery is a scary and risky procedure. But when suffering from foot pain, you may think that is your only option. Luckily, that isn’t the case. Thanks to regenerative medicine, those with foot pain can find relief without having to go under the knife.
What is Regenerative Medicine?
Regenerative medicine is defined as a special branch of medicine where tissue engineering and molecular biology are used. It uses the process of replacing, engineering, and regenerating human cells, tissues, or organs to restore normal function.
If you are looking for relief from a torn tendon in foot treatment, regenerative medicine can be the answer. Regenerative medicine can also help those injured find relief from ankle sprains, Achilles tendon injuries, and torn ligaments.
Why is Regenerative Medicine Better than Surgery?
Anytime you undergo surgery, you are putting yourself at risk. Not to mention, the recovery is usually long, and the chances of your pain returning are possible.
Regenerative medicine is virtually pain-free with no known risks. The recovery time is more comfortable and much quicker, not to mention, conditions are less likely to return. Besides, regenerative medicine is more affordable.
Shockwave Therapy
One of the most cost-effective regenerative medicine treatments is shockwave therapy. This has been around for many years and continues to improve. The non-invasive treatment requires very minimal maintenance after treatment. Sessions take anywhere between 5 to 10 minutes, and most patients see results after at least three individual sessions. With no risks or side-effects, 80 percent of patients undergoing shockwave therapy have reported being pain-free after four weeks.
Stem Cell Therapy
Another common form of regenerative medicine is stem cell therapy. This treatment is especially beneficial for those who have arthritis. Stem cell therapy can decrease inflammation while accelerating the healing process. This is done through the process of taking stem cells from an aspiration of bone marrow or a donor. Donor cells are harvested from placental tissues and amniotic fluid. These stem cells will produce cartilage, helping to relieve pain and discomfort.
PRP Injections
PRP injections promote the natural healing of tissue. The platelet-rich plasma injections start with the process of using your blood that is spun down and separated, which then produces a concentration of platelets that are above typical values. Then, these extremely rich platelets are injected back into the injured tissue to start the healing.
Who can Benefit from Regenerative Medicine?
One of the main reasons for the widespread acceptance of regenerative medicine is its possible impacts. The use of the treatment across a broad spectrum of diseases means that it impacts quite a large population. Some of the people who are already overwhelmingly benefiting from regenerative medicine are those with physical disabilities, injuries, and other underlying medical conditions.
Regenerative medicine is also great for the aging population. Aging is caused by an acute loss of stem cells and plasticity. That is why older people are susceptible to several chronic conditions. Stem cells, however, helps in rejuvenating damaged cells, thus reduces the risk of aging and accompanying conditions. The treatment method also helps in faster recovery of athletes by repairing the strained or damaged tissues.
The more lifestyle changes, the more likely that newer medical conditions will surface among humans. The medical conditions often take time to research and come up with proper medications. Regenerative medicine looks to change how the medical world deals with these conditions. The continued intense studies on this field create a possibility that stem cells could soon cure or reverse any disease.
Regenerative medicine and 3D Printing
Fueled by the need to offer the best medical solution with faster recoveries, regenerative medicine is looking for ways to incorporate technology into the medication. Scientists are looking for the possibility of using 3D printing in creating biologically functional body tissues. The scientists have come up with several bioinks to produce the needed organs that eliminate the need for a donor.
The same way regenerative medicine uses stem cells to replace damaged tissues, it seeks to use the printed structures to restore damaged body tissues. Currently, the major challenge with bio 3D printing is the different conditions needed to create different body parts. For example, creating a bone requires a different temperature to that of cartilage. It is also quite challenging creating tissue consistency like in the natural organs.
Even though still in the early stages with more research and improvement underway, medical 3D printing has the possibility of alleviating the shortage of human organs.
The Foot and Ankle Center of Arizona
The Foot and Ankle Center of Arizona offers regenerative medicine by using only the finest equipment. Located in the heart of Arizona, those suffering from foot and ankle pain can find relief without the need for surgery. The Foot and Ankle Center of Arizona is home to efficient and friendly service, offering a variety of treatment options for several different foot and ankle issues, all aimed to help you get back on your feet.
