Regenerative Medicine, the Shoulder, and the Rotator Cuff

Shoulder pain from any cause can be a debilitating experience. For many people, the pain in their shoulder may come from an injury to the rotator cuff tendons. The pain and disability can be so significant that they are unable to sleep or work for any length of time. The good news is there are nonsurgical options like regenerative medicine that have been shown in clinical research to significantly reduce pain and increase function without surgery.  A complete tear of the rotator cuff tendon may still be an injury that requires arthroscopic surgery to maximize strength and protect the joints from arthritis.  An evaluation with an orthopedic surgeon skilled in both surgery and regenerative medicine can give you all of the information you choose the right course of action for your specific situation. At Texas Orthobiologics, we can give you all of your options in one visit.

What Are Regenerative Medicine Injections?

Regenerative medicine is an exciting field of medical science that takes advantage of your body's natural healing abilities. There are many different types of regenerative medicine options and injections that are being studied for use in shoulder injuries and rotator cuff tears. In fact, Dr. Don Buford of Texas Orthobiologics has published three clinical studies and presented on this topic to other orthopedic surgeon colleagues at regenerative medicine meetings.

One treatment is platelet-rich plasma (PRP). PRP is made from your own blood in a process that concentrates the platelets to take advantage of their role in healing and tissue repair. Although PRP is not approved by the FDA as a drug, it has been used around the world for 20+ years. There is an ongoing study to further fine-tune treatment protocols and PRP processing to improve results for patients.  We are always striving to minimize the patient’s need for more expensive or invasive procedures or even for long-term medications for pain.

Because PRP should be delivered precisely, it is most commonly injected with ultrasound guidance.  Clinicians who are getting the best results will spend extra time learning advanced ultrasound guidance techniques for regenerative medicine injections...ask your doctor!

Am I A Candidate for Regenerative Medicine?

If you've tried other types of treatment without significant relief, you might want to consider regenerative medicine. Regenerative medicine works by stimulating the body to heal, while also reducing pain and inflammation.

What Should I Do Next for My Shoulder Injury?

If you have any shoulder pain or a rotator cuff injury and you have yet to experience the kind of relief you need, contact us at Texas Orthobiologics. We'll be glad to arrange for an in-person or telemedicine consultation to answer any questions about regenerative medicine or orthopedic surgery.  When nothing else is working for you, we just might be able to put you on the road to recovery.