WHAT IS PRF/PRP? ARE WE USING IT TO GET THE BEST POSSIBLE RESULT?

Through exposure to various stressors and toxins (free radicals), the tissues of the body become damaged and begin to age. But, there are mechanisms in the body set up to repair this damage and lay down brand new tissue: STEM CELLS.

ABOUT US
At Missoula Osteopathic Clinic, we are using at least three different ways to stimulate the body’s regenerative process. Our goal is to reverse these changes that come with age at many levels including, but not limited to, organs, blood vessels, brain, eyes, joints, and skin. We strive to bring a comprehensive regenerative experience to our patients, solving medical problems and pains by addressing the root-cause in a safe, effective, natural and non-toxic method, to the extent possible. We avoid, where possible, drugs that cause degeneration to accelerate, and surgeries that are avoidable.

The three ways we are stimulating regeneration at Missoula Osteopathic Clinic, which we are very excited to share with our community in Missoula and surrounding areas, are:

• Platelet-rich plasma/fibrin injections (PRP/PRF)
• Class IV Laser Therapy (PBMT)
• Photobiomodulation Light Therapy Patches

PRF/PRP vs PROLOTHERAPY

Prolotherapy:
A technique of injecting ligaments and other tissue surrounding a joint area with a concentrated solution of sugar water and non toxic irritants. The injection stresses the area and mimics a condition of injury, which attracts stem cells to the region, stimulating the repair process with the non-toxic irritants. This process accelerates the body’s healing process (inflammation) and has been very effective.

PRF/PRP:
As of late, a more effective technique has emerged, known as Platelet-rich plasma or fibrin injections. The process remains the same, but now, rather than injecting sugar water, a patient's own platelets are used as the injected agent. Platelet-rich plasma and fibrin are much more powerful in attracting and invigorating the stem cell movement to replace old damaged tissue with new tissue.

RESULTS:
Our clinical experiences have proved with one session of PRP or PRF (DONE PROPERLY-see below), it essentially takes 20 years of wear and tear off the joint. The second injection takes an additional 30 years of wear and stress off of the joint.

PRF/PRP DONE PROPERLY

How do we yield better results than a cortisone injection?

Although it is still being adopted, more and more practices are implementing platelet-rich injections. There are many studies showing its benefits in various joint areas. These studies how benefits, however, the results concluded that PRP and PRF are about as impactful as a steroid injection. Based on the technique used in these studies: injection on the joint itself and one to two other spots surrounding, this result is unsurprising.

At Missoula Osteopathic Clinic, we use this profound regenerative therapy in a way that is vastly more effective than a steroid treatment.

When a steroid injection is administered, the injection is placed directly in the joint. This is a very common procedure among orthopedists and family physicians. It is the hallmark of what we refer to as degenerative medicine. Cortisone and other steroids used for injecting painful joints are not regenerating to the tissue, they further damage the joints: a short term fix, if it works, that leads to long term complications that worsen the problem, hastening degeneration. The acceleration of degeneration leads to earlier disability and surgery interventions. In the majority of cases, steroid injections and surgery are not what we consider the best solution.

We consider this to be a less than ideal medication (degenerative) in a less than ideal location (at the result of the problem, not the problem itself).

The injection location of the worn out joint is not the optimal injection site. The ligaments surrounding the joint allowing too much movement is what deteriorates the joint. The joint is the affected area, not the problem area.

If the regenerative injection is placed: at the site of the problem, the loose ligaments surrounding the joint area that are allowing extra motion and damage, then a much better
result can be achieved.

When we treat the consequence of the problem and not the problem itself, the issue persists and gets worse. We see this often in medicine, and so refer to it as Degenerative Medicine.

Most clinics using PRP/PRF are using this amazingly regenerative tool in suboptimal manner, in the wrong injection site. Missoula Osteopathic Clinic uses PRF/PRF (the right treatment) in the joint itself as well as the stabilizing structures surrounding the joint (the right place) to get the most rejuvenating outcomes.