Battle of the Procedures: Regenerative Medicine vs. Interventional Medicine

Here at Ospina Medical…

Our doctors, Dr. Matthew Kohler and Dr. Raj Maniam, pride themselves in offering the premier Regenexx-patented regenerative medicine procedures for chron ic musculoskeletal pain,  as well as an even larger array of interventional medicine procedures. We will dive into how these two approaches differ, as well as look at what we offer for each at Ospina Medical!  

Regenerative Medicine Procedures vs. Interventional Pain Management

Chronic musculoskeletal pain has far predated the field of regenerative medicine, and with this came an array of non-regenerative medicine treatments for treating pain. A key distinction between most non-regenerative medicine treatments and the regenerative medicine treatments is whether the symptoms or the condition itself are being treated, respectively. By treating the symptoms, chronic pain is delayed until it likely later requires attention; by treating the condition, the problematic tissue generating pain may be restored to its original state, or at least a state with improvements to the baseline pathology. 

Treating only the symptoms of pain is not to say that interventional pain management treatments are not valid; in fact, they can be very impactful to a patient’s quality of life and may provide significant improvements to their pain and function. For many, this is the case for impressive durations. Unfortunately, the patients who do not have their pain return represent the minority of cases; thus, there may be a requirement for repeat action for most individuals seeking musculoskeletal treatments. Fortunately, for many, the pain comes back in the same or a similar way, and may continue to qualify for an assortment of treatments. This may even include regenerative medicine, which offers the potential for long-term healing without need for continued treatment to qualifying patients.

Ospina's Interventional Medicine Procedures

Fortunately, the wide variety of available interventional procedures often promotes the ability for a patient to receive effective, long-term care by one of our pain management specialists. As chronic pain waxes and wanes, there are about six main categories of interventional treatments that may be considered, if applicable to circumstances.   

• The first category refers to steroid injections of the joints and epidural spaces of the cervical, lumbar, thoracic, sacral, or caudal regions of the spine. The synthetic steroids injected into the space between discs are particularly helpful at reducing inflammation, and therefore pain, associated with disc herniations (pinched nerves), neuropathy (damaged nerves), and more.   
• The second category refers to nerve blocks and medial branch blocks (MBBs) of the cervical, lumbar, thoracic, sacral, or caudal regions of the spine. These nerve blocks are placed by targeting problematic sensory neurons with anesthetic to quiet the perceived intensity of pain by reducing the frequency of neuronal action.   
• The third category refers to radio-frequency ablations (RFAs) of the cervical, lumbar, thoracic, sacral, or caudal regions of the spine. This involves the minimally invasive cauterization of problematic afferent nerves to prevent pain signals from transmitting. Performing two MBBs prior to an RFA is actually a required step when determining if a candidate responds well to ‘turning off the neuron(s). An RFA procedure has a similar but more intense impact than an MBB in the same area. These are effective for an average of 6 months, or until the treated nerves recover and resume neuropathic behavior.      
• The fourth category refers to trigger point injections (TPIs) of the skeletal muscles. Either containing an anesthetic or anesthetic/steroid combo, the needle injection helps to disrupt knots formed in the muscle as well as quiet the intensity of pain with selected medication.   
• The fifth category refers to the versatility of gel injections for joints. A series of three injections, each of a uniquely formulated concentration of hyaluronic acid, is injected into a joint with approximately 1-week between sessions. Joints prone to increased friction from either injury or osteoarthritis (cartilage breakdown) are often good candidates for this procedure. The knees are the most common joint to receive this treatment, but it is possible for others as well!   
• The sixth category refers to Botox injections and their versatility not only in cosmetics, but also pain management. Injections of the Botulinum toxin can be strategically placed in 31 locations across the head and neck to relieve pain due to migraines and chronic headaches.    
• There are additional interventional procedures offered, but these cover the most commonly sought after treatments!

With relatively low cost and the generally broad coverage by insurance considered, interventional medicine offers very realistic means of treatment for individuals seeking pain relief and will continue to remain a useful branch of pain management medicine in the future.

Ospina's Regenexx-Patented Regenerative Medicine Procedures

Regenexx is a biotechnology and healthcare company that has patented the leading forms of regenerative medicine, most notably platelet rich plasma (PRP) injections and stem cell procedures. Each of these treatments utilize products sourced from your own body, and may heal nearly all types of musculoskeletal tissue.    

• For PRP injections, your platelets from a collected blood sample are super concentrated to up to 30-times their normal blood concentration. This is done using our specialized laboratory processing techniques, which allow us to personalize the platelet serum products to concentrations and volumes most beneficial for the tissue regions receiving treatment. The platelet injections bring healing to the damaged tissues by promoting tissue regrowth and the attraction of healing factors and stem cells that “fill in the gaps” wherever necessary.    
• For stem cell procedures, a sample of your bone marrow is collected and similarly processed to produce isolated stem cell products. These are then injected to the damaged tissues in a similar manner as is done with PRP, but these offer the potential for even more direct and long-term healing.

While Regenexx procedures are not covered by insurance, they offer the potential for the healing of chronic long-term pain and the chance at not needing continuous treatment. As more studies and research continue to support the already well-supported effectiveness of the stem cell procedures and platelet rich plasma injections for chronic musculoskeletal pain, these will hopefully become even more accessible in the future!

Here at Ospina Medical…

Our doctors, Dr. Matthew Kohler and Dr. Raj Maniam, pride themselves in offering the premier Regenexx-patented regenerative medicine procedures for your chronic musculoskeletal pain, as well as an even larger array of interventional medicine procedures. We will dive into how these two approaches differ, as well as look at what we offer for each at Ospina Medical!  

Regenerative Medicine Procedures vs. Interventional Pain Management

Chronic musculoskeletal pain has far predated the field of regenerative medicine, and with this came an array of non-regenerative medicine treatments for treating pain. A key distinction between most non-regenerative medicine treatments and the regenerative medicine treatments is whether the symptoms or the condition itself are being treated, respectively. By treating the symptoms, chronic pain is delayed until it likely later requires attention; by treating the condition, the problematic tissue generating pain may be restored to its original state, or at least a state with improvements to the baseline pathology. 

Treating only the symptoms of pain is not to say that interventional pain management treatments are not valid; in fact, they can be very impactful to a patient’s quality of life and may provide significant improvements to their pain and function. For many, this is the case for impressive durations. Unfortunately, the patients who do not have their pain return represent the minority of cases; thus, there may be a requirement for repeat action for most individuals seeking musculoskeletal treatments. Fortunately, for many, the pain comes back in the same or a similar way, and may continue to qualify for an assortment of treatments. This may even include regenerative medicine, which offers the potential for long-term healing without need for continued treatment to qualifying patients.

Ospina's Interventional Medicine Procedures

Fortunately, the wide variety of available interventional procedures often promotes the ability for a patient to receive effective, long-term care by one of our pain management specialists. As chronic pain waxes and wanes, there are about six main categories of interventional treatments that may be considered, if applicable to circumstances.  

• The first category refers to steroid injections of the joints and epidural spaces of the cervical, lumbar, thoracic, sacral, or caudal regions of the spine. The synthetic steroids injected into the space between discs are particularly helpful at reducing inflammation, and therefore pain, associated with disc herniations (pinched nerves), neuropathy (damaged nerves), and more.  
• The second category refers to nerve blocks and medial branch blocks (MBBs) of the cervical, lumbar, thoracic, sacral, or caudal regions of the spine. These nerve blocks are placed by targeting problematic sensory neurons with anesthetic to quiet the perceived intensity of pain by reducing the frequency of neuronal action.  
• The third category refers to radio-frequency ablations (RFAs) of the cervical, lumbar, thoracic, sacral, or caudal regions of the spine. This involves the minimally invasive cauterization of problematic afferent nerves to prevent pain signals from transmitting. Performing two MBBs prior to an RFA is actually a required step when determining if a candidate responds well to ‘turning off the neuron(s). An RFA procedure has a similar but more intense impact than an MBB in the same area. These are effective for an average of 6 months, or until the treated nerves recover and resume neuropathic behavior.     
• The fourth category refers to trigger point injections (TPIs) of the skeletal muscles. Either containing an anesthetic or anesthetic/steroid combo, the needle injection helps to disrupt knots formed in the muscle as well as quiet the intensity of pain with selected medication.  
• The fifth category refers to the versatility of gel injections for joints. A series of three injections, each of a uniquely formulated concentration of hyaluronic acid, is injected into a joint with approximately 1-week between sessions. Joints prone to increased friction from either injury or osteoarthritis (cartilage breakdown) are often good candidates for this procedure. The knees are the most common joint to receive this treatment, but it is possible for others as well!  
• The sixth category refers to Botox injections and their versatility not only in cosmetics, but also pain management. Injections of the Botulinum toxin can be strategically placed in 31 locations across the head and neck to relieve pain due to migraines and chronic headaches.   
• There are additional interventional procedures offered, but these cover the most commonly sought after treatments!

With relatively low cost and the generally broad coverage by insurance considered, interventional medicine offers very realistic means of treatment for individuals seeking pain relief and will continue to remain a useful branch of pain management medicine in the future.

Ospina's Regenexx-Patented Regenerative Medicine Procedures

Regenexx is a biotechnology and healthcare company that has patented the leading forms of regenerative medicine, most notably platelet rich plasma (PRP) injections and stem cell procedures. Each of these treatments utilize products sourced from your own body, and may heal nearly all types of musculoskeletal tissue.   

• For PRP injections, your platelets from a collected blood sample are super concentrated to up to 30-times their normal blood concentration. This is done using our specialized laboratory processing techniques, which allow us to personalize the platelet serum products to concentrations and volumes most beneficial for the tissue regions receiving treatment. The platelet injections bring healing to the damaged tissues by promoting tissue regrowth and the attraction of healing factors and stem cells that “fill in the gaps” wherever necessary.   
• For stem cell procedures, a sample of your bone marrow is collected and similarly processed to produce isolated stem cell products. These are then injected to the damaged tissues in a similar manner as is done with PRP, but these offer the potential for even more direct and long-term healing.

While Regenexx procedures are not covered by insurance, they offer the potential for the healing of chronic long-term pain and a chance at not needing continuous treatment. As more studies and research continue to support the already well-supported effectiveness of  stem cell procedures and platelet rich plasma injections for chronic musculoskeletal pain, regenerative medicine will hopefully become even more accessible in the future!

Author: Camden Rowe