Regenerative Medicine is a specific area of medical care that focuses on using the natural or innate healing/repairing factors found in your body to help treat musculoskeletal issues. This area of medicine is often also referred to as Orthobiologics or Interventional Orthopedics. The target treatment areas include joints, muscles, tendons, ligaments. These treatments are completed as a same-day outpatient procedure without incision or surgery.

While this is an exciting area of medicine that is rapidly advancing, not everyone is a candidate, please consider making an appointment today for further discussion with Dr. Whetstone.

What is Injected during Regenerative Medicine (Orthobiologic) Injections?

Your own cells/cell fragments plus the signaling and growth factors within the blood or bone marrow. This is an autologous treatment, which means that you are being given only tissue from your own body and none from an outside source.

What are the options for Regenerative Medicine (Orthobiologic) Injections?
Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP)- PRP is created by taking a simple blood draw from the patient’s arm and then separating and concentrating the part of the blood that contains the cellular fragments and growth factors that are involved in the body’s healing response. The PRP is then re-injected into the problem area.

Bone Marrow Aspirate Stem Cell Concentrate (BMAC)- BMAC is obtained through what is called bone marrow aspiration. A needle is placed into a thick bone in your hip/pelvis and bone marrow tissue is safely collected. Bone marrow tissue contains signaling cells that can become red blood cells, white blood cells, or platelets. The bone marrow is processed in the lab to concentrate the mesenchymal signaling cells, cell fragments, and growth/signaling factors and then re-injected into the problem area.

What are common diagnoses treated by Regenerative Medicine (Orthobiologic) Injections?

  • Osteoarthritis (knee, hip, thumb, shoulder etc.)
  • Tendon and Ligament Injuries (rotator cuff, meniscus, knee ligaments etc.)
  • Spine (discs, facet joints, spinal ligaments)
  • Radiculopathy (radiating pain into the arms or legs)
  • Sacroiliac Joint

Please note that we do not evaluate or treat foot/ankle diagnoses (for both traditional non-surgical care or regenerative medicine.

Is Regenerative Medicine a cure?
It is more useful to view regenerative medicine as a treatment for pain and improvement of function in problem areas. While the future prospects for regenerative medicine are exciting, these treatments do not fully reverse time (wear and tear) or provide “brand new” body parts. Like any other medical treatment, each patient is going to have an individual response to treatment. We strive to achieve the best possible outcomes for every patient. However, the human body is complex, and each patient and situation are different. We will do our best to set realistic expectations for pain improvement, improvement time frame, and risks and benefits prior to a procedure or treatment.

What is the cost?
The cost varies depending on the type of injection and the body part being treatment. Please see the section of our website titled Direct Pay Practice for more information.

Why Choose PNW Spine and Joint Physicians for Regenerative Medicine (Orthobiologic) Injections?

  • Board Certified Physicians
  • Private Pre/Post Procedure Recovery Areas
  • Focus on Patient Comfort
  • Excellent Communication/Access
  • Coordination with your Physical Therapist for Post Procedure Exercise Protocol
  • Transparent Pricing
  • Membership/Training from the Interventional Orthobiologics Foundation