Arthritis
Nearly 55 million people or 1 in 4 adult Americans suffer from arthritis, and far more are burdened by joint pain and inflammation. According to researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine, 1 in 10 people will have a hip replacement and 1 in 20 will have a knee replaced by age 80. Unfortunately, joint replacements are extremely invasive, have a limited lifespan and are performed only after arthritis hits and patients endure lasting pain.
Researchers recommend patients to be proactive and to have regenerative medicine treatments early on so they avoid getting arthritis in the first place and rejuvenate the cartilage in their joints before it is badly degraded.
What is Arthritis?
Arthritis is a condition that causes inflammation and pain in the joints. It can affect people of all ages, genders, and ethnicities. There are many types of arthritis, but the two most common forms are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
Osteoarthritis is caused by wear and tear on the joints over time. As we age, the protective cartilage that cushions our joints can break down, leading to bone-on-bone contact and inflammation. This can cause pain, stiffness, and swelling in the affected joint.
Rheumatoid arthritis, on the other hand, is an autoimmune disorder in which the body’s immune system attacks the lining of the joints, causing inflammation and damage. This can also cause pain, stiffness, and swelling in the affected joint, as well as fatigue and other symptoms.
Arthritis can also be caused by other factors, such as infections, injuries, and genetic factors. While there is no cure for arthritis, there are treatments available to manage symptoms and improve quality of life, including medication, physical therapy, and regenerative therapies like stem cell therapy and PRP therapy.
The main issue is that the cartilage has practically zero regenerative potential in adulthood, so once it’s injured or gone, it is very difficult to treat.
Regenerative treatments such as Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) and Stem Cell therapies help the body regrow cartilage and to control pain and inflammation.
How Can Regenerative Treatments Help With Arthritis:
Regenerative treatments can help with arthritis by promoting tissue regeneration and reducing inflammation. Arthritis causes damage to the cartilage, bones, and other tissues in the joints, leading to pain, stiffness, and reduced mobility.
Regenerative treatments like Stem Cell therapy, PRP therapy, A2M therapy, and Clarix Flo therapy are designed to help repair and regenerate damaged tissues, allowing the joint to function more effectively.
Stem Cell Therapy
Stem cell therapy is a type of regenerative medicine that involves the use of stem cells to treat or prevent diseases and injuries. Stem cells are unique cells that have the ability to develop into many different types of cells, including bone, cartilage, and muscle cells. These cells promote tissue regeneration and repair, reducing pain and improving mobility in the affected joint.
There are two main types of stem cells: embryonic stem cells, which are derived from embryos (mostly used for research only), and adult stem cells, which are found in various tissues throughout the body, including bone marrow, adipose tissue, and blood.
At Miami Stem Cell, we believe the Cure Is Within. Our Stem Cell treatments use autologous (patient’s own cells) adult stem cells extracted from the bone marrow using a procedure called BMAC.
BMAC stands for Bone Marrow Aspirate Concentrate and that is the procedure we use to extract the stem cells from the patient’s bone marrow. The bone marrow is then processed to isolate the mesenchymal stem cells, which are capable of differentiating into a variety of cell types, including bone, cartilage, and muscle cells. The concentration of stem cells in BMAC is higher than that found in normal bone marrow.
Once the stem cells have been isolated, they are concentrated and re-injected into the patient’s body in the form of a concentrated solution. This solution can be injected directly into the affected joint or tissue, where it can promote tissue repair and regeneration.
BMAC therapy has been used to treat a variety of conditions, including osteoarthritis, tendon injuries, and bone fractures. It is a painless and minimally invasive procedure that can be performed in an outpatient setting, with no risks for rejection or cross contamination, and patients typically experience little to no downtime after the procedure.
Book your Free Virtual Consultation
Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) Therapy
Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) therapy involves using the patient’s own blood, which is processed to extract a concentrated solution of platelets. These platelets contain growth factors that can stimulate tissue repair and regeneration, promoting healing and reducing inflammation.
Not all PRPs are the same. The composition and concentration of platelets, growth factors, and other components in PRP can vary depending on several factors, such as the method of preparation, the quality of the equipment used, and the individual patient’s blood composition.
To yield a therapeutic benefit, a dose of over 1 billion platelets per mL is required. That means that the platelet concentration should be 7X-10X higher compared to whole blood. Miami Stem Cell values transparency and that is why we acquired the latest equipment to measure patients’ blood concentration before and after concentration and these results are shown to our patients.
We offer the highest standard of Platelet Rich Plasma available today. We use only the most advanced, FDA cleared, and scientifically proven equipment which includes:
- A therapeutic dose of over 1 billion platelets per mL of PRP
- A high dose of growth factors released at the site of injury
- A high platelet yield which recovers over 80% of the platelets present in your blood
- The purest form of PRP available, removing red blood cells and neutrophils prior to injecting, thereby reducing inflammation and a host of negative effects
Stem Cell Therapy Combined With Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP)
When combined, stem cell therapy and PRP therapy can work together to enhance the regeneration of damaged tissues and promote healing in the affected joint.
The PRP solution can provide a scaffold for the stem cells to attach to and can provide additional growth factors to promote tissue repair. This combination therapy has shown promising results in improving joint function and reducing pain in patients with arthritis.
Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) Therapy Combined With A2M (alpha-2-macroglobulin)
What is Alpha-2-macroglobulin (A2M)?
Alpha-2-macroglobulin (A2M) injections are a type of regenerative treatment that can be used to manage arthritis. A2M is a naturally occurring protein that plays a key role in protecting joint tissues from damage caused by inflammation. A2M works by binding to and inactivating enzymes that contribute to the breakdown of joint tissues. These enzymes, which are called proteases, can break down the cartilage and other tissues in the joints, leading to pain, stiffness, and reduced mobility. When A2M is injected into an arthritic joint, it can help protect the joint tissues from further damage and promote healing. The A2M molecule can bind to the proteases in the joint, inactivating them and preventing them from breaking down the joint tissues. This can help reduce inflammation and pain, while promoting the regeneration of healthy joint tissue.
A2M injections are a minimally invasive treatment option for arthritis that can be performed in our clinic. The procedure involves injecting a concentrated solution of A2M into the affected joint, which can provide fast-acting relief from pain and inflammation.
Overall, A2M injections offer a promising approach to managing arthritis by protecting joint tissues from damage caused by inflammation and promoting tissue regeneration. While results can vary depending on the severity of the arthritis and the individual patient’s overall health, many patients have experienced significant improvements in pain and function following A2M injections.
The main reasons to use A2M injection therapy are:
- To reduce or eliminate inflammation and pain
- To prevent further breakdown of tissue
- To restore joint health
- To prevent or delay costly or invasive surgeries
Book your Free Virtual Consultation
A2M (alpha-2-macroglobulin) combined with PRP (platelet-rich plasma)
A2M (alpha-2-macroglobulin) and PRP (platelet-rich plasma) are two types of regenerative treatments that can be used together to manage arthritis. While they work in different ways, they can be used in combination to provide a more comprehensive approach to treating arthritis.
PRP therapy involves using the patient’s own blood, which is processed to extract a concentrated solution of platelets. These platelets contain growth factors that can stimulate tissue repair and regeneration, promoting healing and reducing inflammation. When PRP is injected into an arthritic joint, it can help reduce inflammation and pain, while promoting the regeneration of healthy joint tissue.
A2M therapy, on the other hand, involves using a protein called alpha-2-macroglobulin, which can help protect joint tissue from inflammation and damage. By injecting a concentrated solution of A2M into the affected joint, inflammation and pain can be reduced, allowing the joint to function more effectively.
When used together, A2M and PRP can complement each other and provide a more comprehensive approach to managing arthritis. PRP therapy can help promote tissue regeneration and reduce inflammation, while A2M therapy can help protect joint tissue from further damage caused by inflammation.
In addition, research has shown that A2M can actually enhance the effectiveness of PRP therapy by increasing the bioavailability of growth factors in the joint. By protecting the growth factors from degradation by enzymes in the joint, A2M can help ensure that they remain active for longer periods of time, promoting tissue regeneration and reducing inflammation.
Stem Cell Therapy Combined With A2M (alpha-2-macroglobulin)
Stem cell therapy can also be combined with Alpha-2-Macroglobulin (A2M) therapy to treat arthritis. A2M is a naturally occurring protein in the body that can inhibit the activity of certain enzymes, including those that break down cartilage in joints affected by arthritis.
When a joint is affected by arthritis, the enzymes that break down cartilage are overproduced, leading to cartilage damage and joint pain. A2M therapy involves injecting a concentrated solution of A2M into the affected joint to inhibit the activity of these enzymes and protect the remaining cartilage.
Combining A2M therapy with stem cell therapy can enhance the therapeutic effects of both treatments. The stem cells can differentiate into cartilage cells and promote tissue regeneration, while A2M can protect the new cartilage from further damage by inhibiting the activity of the enzymes that break down cartilage.
The combination of stem cell therapy and A2M therapy has shown promising results in treating arthritis.
Clarix Flo Therapy
Clarix Flo is a type of amniotic fluid-derived product that contains growth factors, cytokines, and other bioactive components that can help to reduce inflammation and promote tissue healing. By injecting a solution of Clarix Flo into the affected joint, inflammation and pain can be reduced, and tissue regeneration can be promoted.
Clarix Flo is typically used in cases of mild to moderate arthritis, or as a supplement to PRP therapy in more severe cases.
Overall, regenerative treatments offer a promising approach to treating arthritis by promoting tissue regeneration and reducing inflammation. While results can vary depending on the severity of the arthritis and the individual patient’s overall health, many patients have experienced significant improvements in pain and function following these treatments.
Clarix Flo and A2M (alpha-2-macroglobulin) are two types of biologic treatments that can be used in conjunction with platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy for the treatment of arthritis. However, the decision to use Clarix Flo or A2M will depend on a variety of factors, including the type and severity of the arthritis, as well as the patient’s individual needs and medical history.
A2M is a naturally occurring protein that helps to protect cartilage from damage by binding to and neutralizing enzymes that can break down cartilage tissue. It is typically used in cases of more severe osteoarthritis or cartilage damage, where the breakdown of cartilage tissue is a primary concern.
Both Clarix Flo and A2M can be used in combination with PRP therapy to enhance the therapeutic effects of the treatment, by providing additional growth factors and anti-inflammatory components to the affected joint.