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Regenerative Injection Therapy
Our advanced orthobiologic procedures can help you heal bothersome injuries with the power of your own body
Regenerative Injection Therapy (RIT) is an innovative technique that tricks the body into repairing itself
RIT is a nonsurgical procedure used to treat connective tissue injuries that have not healed by either rest or other nonsurgical therapies. Regenerative injections promote a healing response in small tears and weakened tissue, with the goal of alleviating pain and improving function. While many medical treatments may provide only temporary benefits, this treatment can offer you lasting relief from your pain.
RIT has been used in pain management and in the treatment of numerous conditions, including:
Osteoarthritis
Sprains or tears
Tennis or golfer’s elbow
Degenerative hip and knee disease
Chronic tendonitis
Back and neck pain
Disc or facet degeneration
Joint instability
Acute and chronic sports/motor vehicle injuries
Degenerative knee cartilage
Partially torn ligaments, cartilage, or tendons
Frozen shoulder
How does RIT work?
When ligaments or tendons (connective tissue) are stretched or torn, the joint they are holding destabilizes and can become painful. Since most of these injuries occur where there is relatively poor blood supply, most conventional therapies are not helpful. Injecting a natural agent next to the injured area triggers a mild inflammatory response, which causes an increase in blood flow to the area. This response encourages growth of new ligament or tendon fibers in the surrounding area. By utilizing specific agents, such as adult stem cells or platelet-rich plasma (PRP), we are able to enhance the body's natural healing mechanisms further. Repeating this treatment over a set amount of time, the body gradually builds up healthy tissue to restore your body’s original strength, thereby reducing or eliminating the pain.
Why use platelet-rich plasma (PRP) or stem cell therapy?
Platelet activation plays a key role in the process of wound and soft tissue healing. The use of platelet-rich plasma (PRP), a portion of the patient’s own blood having a platelet concentration above baseline, to promote healing of injured tendons, ligaments, muscles, and joints, can be applied to various musculoskeletal problems. To learn more, click here!
Stem cells have the ability to develop — through a process called differentiation — into many different types of cells, such as skin cells, brain cells, lung cells and so on. Stem cells are a key component of regenerative medicine, as they may be used to replace, repair, reprogram or renew your diseased cells. Learn more here!
Preparing for RIT
Utilizing fluoroscopic or ultrasound guidance, RIT is performed in our office in approximately 30 minutes. Patients usually require two to three successive treatments, spaced approximately one month apart to allow the body to completely respond to the treatment. Most patients feel the treatment’s benefits within the first two sessions, with completed treatment resulting in pain reductions from months to years.
Most commonly patients experience soreness and stiffness at the treatment site for several days. However, patients usually experience improvements to this reaction after each visit. To help counteract this, your physician may recommend:
Take acetaminophen for pain, but not aspirin or anti-inflammatory medications which would inhibit the healing response
Apply ice to the area 3-5 times a day, for 10 minutes each, as needed
Performing moderate exercise such as walking, but avoid strenuous exercise or work with heavy lifting
Follow-up the RIT treatments with a good physical therapy program
