REGENERATIVE MEDICINE: Indications: Degenerative Joint Disease (arthritis) in the TM Joint, pain and inflammation, jaw locking
Explanation: Regenerative medicine, (also known as stem cell injections) treat conditions by leveraging the body’s natural ability to heal and regenerate. They involve using stem cells, which are individual cells with the potential to develop into many different cell types in the body. Stem cells are the body's raw materials, from which all other cells with specialized functions are generated.
The process begins with extracting healthy stem cells from a donor. The source utilized is umbilical cord blood. These cells are then processed and prepared for injection. The preparation process also involves rigorous testing to ensure the cells are healthy and safe for injection.
The prepared stem cells are then injected directly into the body area that requires healing or regeneration. The injected stem cells then work to repair and regenerate the damaged tissues. This is how stem cell therapy works: the stem cells differentiate into the required cell types and integrate into the existing tissue. They also secrete factors that promote healing and recruit other cells to aid in the repair process.
Benefits: Regenerative Medicine injections are used to treat joint pain, particularly in patients with osteoarthritis. They can potentially reduce inflammation, promote tissue repair, and improve joint function, providing significant pain relief. This is a substantial advancement in the treatment of joint pain, which often involves long-term use of pain medications that can have serious side effects. Stem Cell injections ideally should be combined with oral appliance therapy for best outcomes.
The effects of regenerative medicine can vary depending on the individual and the condition being treated. Some patients may experience immediate relief, while others may notice improvement gradually over weeks or months. The longevity of the results also varies, with some patients experiencing long-term benefits. It is important to note that while stem cell injections offer great promise, they are not a cure-all, and their effectiveness can depend on a variety of factors, including the patient's overall health, the severity of the condition being treated, and the quality of the stem cells used in the treatment.
TRIGGER POINT INJECTIONS (TPI):
Indications: Painful and tender areas of muscle, myofascial pain syndrome, tension headaches
Explanation: Trigger point injection (TPI) is used to treat painful and tender areas of muscle. Normal muscle contracts and relaxes when it is active. A trigger point is a discreet knot or tight, ropy band of muscle that forms when muscle fails to relax. The knot often can be felt under the skin and may twitch involuntarily when touched (called a jump sign). The trigger point can trap or irritate surrounding nerves and cause referred pain- pain felt in another part of the body (i.e., pain from a heart attack that is felt in the jaw or arm). Scar tissue and loss of range of motion and weakness may form over time. A small needle is inserted into the trigger point and a local anesthetic (e.g., lidocaine, procaine) or anti-inflammatory steroid is injected. Trigger point injections have been found to be very effective in relieving pain, best when used in combination with a home exercise, heat, cold and medication program.
Benefits: Improvement or alleviation of myofascial pain syndrome (chronic pain involving tissue that surrounds muscle), tension headaches, and fibromyalgia that does not respond to other treatments, although there is some debate over its effectiveness. Many muscle groups, especially those in the arms, legs, lower back, and neck, are treated by this method.
SHENOPALATINE GANGLION “SPG” BLOCK:
Indications: chronic headache, atypical facial pain
Explanation: Sphenopalatine ganglion block is a procedure that involves the delivery of a local anesthetic to the sphenopalatine ganglion (SPG)—a group of trigeminal nerve cells located in the back of the nasal passages—to relieve of chronic headache and atypical facial pain syndromes.
The anesthetic is delivered to the SPG through a thin plastic tube that is placed in the nose.
The local anesthetic works by blocking or reducing pain signals carried by the nerve cells in the sphenopalatine ganglion. The duration of pain relief varies greatly, with some people experiencing no pain relief and others seeing improvement for days, weeks, or months. The procedure can be repeated, as necessary.
Benefits: Pain relief from headache and facial pain which may last for days, weeks, or months.