Initially the rule was that patients weren’t supposed to receive over three steroid injections in their lifetime. Now that somehow became a rule where patients receive several per year! Steroid injections
do not heal anything. They represent a huge anti-inflammatory that relieves pain with no disease modifying effect at all.
Bracing represents an excellent option for knee pain when it comes to arthritis or soft tissue injury. Bracing is instant, safe and easy. It’s also cumbersome and also doesn’t modify one’s condition at all. So it can be difficult with regards to patient compliance.
NSAIDS, short for nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, are a first line treatment for knee pain. While they may be well tolerated and safe when taken according to manufacturer’s instructions, they may lead to GI symptoms or kidney issues over time. Over 100,000 hospitalizations occur annually due to NSAID related complications.
Lastly, hyaluronic acid procedures have become very common over the past decade. The knee joint naturally contains hyaluronic acid as a “lubricant”. The products are made from “rooster combs”, with the HA being biologically identical to that of human. Results for the knee with HA products have been good enough so that most insurance companies cover their use.
The newest, revolutionary treatment option for chronic knee joint pain is with amniotic fluid allograft injections. Called Stem Cell Recruitment Therapy, the procedures are very effective at
amping up one’s own body’s processes to regenerate and repair soft tissue damage.
The procedures have a 92% long term effective outcome, with pain relief being dramatic and patients often getting back to performing more recreational activities, playing with kids and grandkids and being able to avoid the need for potentially risky surgery!
The amniotic fluid injections contain a significant amount of growth factors, cytokines and hyaluronic acid which act to lubricate, cushion and protect joint surfaces. This also calls in the body’s own regenerative cells to promote a healing cascade. Amniotic fluid is amazing, it doesn’t lead to a rejection reaction and the fluid is obtained through an ethical, FDA regulated process that causes no harm to baby or mother.
Most insurance companies including Medicare cover the amniotic allograft procedures for knee pain. The procedures are changing the paradigm for joint pain treatments. Who wouldn’t want an amniotic fluid injection that is not only covered by insurance, but also helps to repair and regenerate soft tissue damage while dramatically relieving pain and helping patients become more active!