The concept of regenerative injection therapy (RIT), an approach to pain management, is traceable to one used by Hippocrates (460 BCE-370 BCE). The renowned “father of medicine” used it on Greek soldiers with dislocated or torn shoulder joints. Today, RIT has become an umbrella for several protocols that alleviate pain and may eliminate the need for surgery on joints such as knees, hips, elbows, wrists and thumbs, and may help with conditions such as whiplash, plantar fasciitis, bunions and TMJ.  

The RIT umbrella covers a solution known as H3 prolotherapy, platelet-rich plasma (PRP) treatments, and stem cell therapy, which has its own umbrella. Each of these involves injections into the ligament or tendon attached to the bone. The body’s response, a localized inflammation in the weak area, increases the blood supply and flow of nutrients, thus encouraging the tissue to repair itself.

H3 Prolotherapy

The basic mechanism of H3 Prolotherapy is a hypertonic dextrose solution that includes sarapin to treat nerve irritation. The solution, along with procaine (an anesthetic) administered into and around the entire painful/injured area is injected to begin stimulating a reparative action. Injections create a localized inflammation triggering the immune system to create the building blocks of ligaments, tendons, cartilage and bone.

Through a series of injections, joints are rebuilt from within.

PRP Therapy

A PRP treatment is frequently used to treat muscle, tendon or soft tissue injuries. PRP re-introduces the individual’s own concentrated blood platelets into areas of chronic joint and spine deterioration. Blood platelets are rich in growth and healing factors and are concentrated through simple centrifuging. Platelets play a central role in blood clotting and wound/injury healing.

The procedure and preparation of therapeutic doses of growth factors consists of an autologous blood collection from the individual, plasma separation (blood is centrifuged), and injection of the plasma into the area.

Stem Cell Therapy – Cellular Prolotherapy

In stem cell therapy, an individual’s healing cells from bone marrow or fat are injected directly to the area, which has a cellular deficiency, along with injections to all of the supportive joint structures.

Stem cells are progenitor cells which differentiate into various cell types including osteoblasts (secretes the cellular matrix necessary for bone formation), osteocytes (the bone cell formed when the osteoblasts embeds itself in its matrix) and cartilage. These cells also have demonstrated the capability to inhibit T cell growth, thus showing that they have the ability to down-regulate the natural inflammatory response in osteoarthritis.

“The original philosophy of anti-inflammatory methods such as rest, ice, elevation and compression (RICE), anti-inflammatory medications or cortisone shots to heal injury was totally flawed,” says Dr. Ross Hauser, founder of Caring Medical & Rehabilitation Clinics, with offices in Oak Park, Illinois, and Fort Myers. “Regeneration and healing are pretty simple. No inflammation, no healing.”

Caring Medical Rehabilitation Clinics, located at 9738 Commerce Center Ct. in Fort Myers, offers H3 prolotherapy, PRP treatments and stem cell therapy. For an appointment, call 239-308-4701. For more information, visit CaringMedical.com.