Regenerative Medicine
Intra-Articular Laser Therapy
It has long been known that laser therapy can stimulate the bodies anti-inflammatory response and promote healing of injured tissue and joints. Interstitial and Intra-articular Laser Therapy differs from other “laser hype” procedures by being the first medical grade laser to be able penetrate the skin deep enough to reach spinal discs and other joints within the body. With most “laser” treatments, the laser is only able to penetrate the first few layers of the dermis (skin) and never reaches the affected spinal disc or joint. With this technique, damaged joints can be irradiated directly, resulting in significantly improved therapeutic results. This laser treatment is painless and requires no anesthesia.
Pain Physicians NY is the first US based practice to implement this form of therapy. This therapy has been shown to effective for many conditions, including:
- Herniated discs
- Spinal Stenosis
- Osteoarthritis of the knee, hip and ankle
- Deep tendon inflammation and sprain
- Scar tissue build up after surgery
Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) Injections
PRP therapy is an FDA approved injection procedure that uses the body’s own cells to repair injury and reduce inflammation. During a PRP procedure, a small sample of blood is taken from the patient. This sample is then placed in a centrifuge where the PRP cells are isolated. Once isolated, these naturally restorative cells are then multiplied. After a sufficient number of cells (in the millions) are captured, the plasma is then reintroduced to the site of injury or pain via injection. This injection insures the cells are applied directly to the underlying cause of your pain.
Once these cells have be reintroduced the natural healing process is expedited. This procedure is performed on an outpatient basis and requires no anesthesia.
Athletes including Kobe Bryant, Brandon Roy, and Tiger Woods have traveled as far as Germany to undergo these therapies. Now, the team at Pain Physicians NY have brought these therapies to Brooklyn.
Intradiscal Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) Injection for Discogenic Low Back Pain
Pain Physicians NY (Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan, Bronx NY) is one of the first practices in New York to offer lumbar intradiscal PRP injections. This stem cell therapy is used for patients suffering with low back pain that stems from the intervertebral discs. Discogenic pain often originates from a damaged vertebral disc, sometimes resulting from degenerative disc disease. This can occur as our bodies age naturally.
What is PRP?
Platelet-rich plasma, or PRP, injection is a procedure in which we use your own blood to treat a painful condition. A small amount of blood is drawn and then placed in a centrifuge for processing. Much of the plasma and red blood cells are removed to obtain a high concentration of platelets which hold the growth factors used to promote healing. We then inject your own platelet-rich plasma back into the specific area causing your pain. Studies have shown that PRP releases a high concentration of growth factors and even stimulates stem cells which help to heal injured or degenerated tissues.
What is an intradiscal PRP injection?
Up to about half of chronic low back pain is felt to stem from the intervertebral disc, specifically from small tears in the outer portion of the disc. This is often referred to as “discogenic pain.” Intradiscal PRP is a procedure in which we use platelet-rich plasma in hopes of healing the disc tissue.
What occurs during the intradiscal PRP procedure? 
Immediately prior to the treatment, your blood will be drawn and processed. Some patients are given oral or IV sedation at their request before the spinal injection portion of the procedure. The region to be injection is numbed with a local anesthetic. Under x-ray guidance, a needle is placed into the disc or discs that are felt to be causing your pain. A small amount of contrast dye, antibiotic, and anesthetic is injected into the disc. The PRP previously prepared from your own blood is then injected into the disc. All of this is performed in our office. Although the spinal procedure itself takes about 30 minutes, the entire process takes about 1-2 hours.
Would intradiscal PRP help me?
We begin the process by determining if we feel your pain is likely coming from the intervertebral disc. We make this determination from your clinical history, physical exam, imaging, and other diagnostic tests. Research has shown that PRP is likely helpful for conditions in other areas of the body with similar structural makeup as intervertebral discs. Studies have shown that PRP promotes tissue regeneration when injected into other areas of the body. Lumbar intradiscal PRP can heal a painful disc and may be a viable alternative for lumbar injections or, in some cases, surgery.
More information visit Stem Cell Therapy for Back Pain
PRP is an FDA-approved, minimally-invasive and less costly pain treatment option compared to surgery.