If you have been dealing with foot or ankle pain for some time now, chances are that you may be losing hope of ever finding the relief you need. But the team of experts at North Austin Foot & Ankle Institute is here to tell you otherwise.
The truth is the human body is truly a wondrous thing, and nowhere is this more evident than through the process by which our bodies heal from injury. Any harm done is immediately addressed through warning sensations, blood clotting, and rebuilding of tissue in order to restore your body back to health.
But what happens when the body does not heal itself the way it should? What happens if rehabilitation and physical demands are increased before the injury has completely healed? What happens when healthy tissue cells are replaced by scar tissue and degenerated cells?
The solution to these difficult problems comes in the form of regenerative medicine!
What is Regenerative Medicine?
Regenerative medicine is a branch of medicine that uses tissue engineering and molecular biology as a way of replacing, engineering and regenerating human cells, tissues or organs. There are a variety of regenerative medicine treatments, and we are proud to offer some of the most common right here at North Austin Foot & Ankle Institute.
Some of these techniques may be part of a comprehensive surgical approach, but many of these treatments can be used in office as an effort to avoid surgery altogether!
Regenerative medicine treatments include:
- MLS Laser Therapy
- Topaz Radiofrequency Ablation
- Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP)
MLS Laser Therapy
This is a noninvasive technique for treating certain strains, sprains, and even general inflammation. MLS laser therapy uses energy produced by concentrated levels of light (lasers) to promote pain relief and soft tissue healing.
During MLS laser treatment sessions, the laser’s energy penetrates deeply into the soft tissue and reaches damaged cells at the injury site. This energy stimulates natural healing processes by speeding up cellular reproduction and growth, initiating strong anti-inflammatory responses by the cells in these tissues. All of which are essential for reducing swelling and pain.
MLS laser therapy is most commonly used to treat these foot and ankle conditions:
- Heel pain
- Neuromas
- Arthritis
- Sports injuries, and more.
Often times, even patients with chronic issues will experience continued improvement during the course of regular treatment sessions. In fact, the results are cumulative and will continue to provide symptom relief over time.
Topaz Radiofrequency Ablation
Topaz radiofrequency ablation is a minimally-invasive surgical technique that uses radiofrequency waves to generate a gentle microscopic “trauma” to damaged tendon or fascia tissue. This gentle injury of the tissue stimulates an ingrowth of blood flow and growth factors, which allows the body to go through the healing process, as nature intended.
This type of treatment is used to address:
- Plantar fasciitis
- Achilles tendinitis
Topaz radiofrequency ablation is a good alternative over other more invasive surgical procedures, like those used to release the fascia. Recovery time is much shorter, and the results are essentially the same, if not better.
Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP)
Platelet rich plasma (PRP) is a process that has been instrumental in starting this new wave of regenerative medicine treatments. PRP uses a patient’s own blood, drawn through an IV, to concentrate the growth factors. Once the growth factors are concentrated, they are injected into the damaged tissue, causing a stimulation of the healing response.
PRP can be a great option when other regenerative treatments, such as stem cell therapy, are not covered by insurance.
Conditions treated with PRP include:
- Plantar fasciitis
- Achilles tendinitis
- Lateral ankle instability
- Posterior tibial tendinitis
- Cartilage injuries (OCD), and more.
Regenerative medicine is most commonly used to re-stimulate a chronic condition back into the healing process, but it can also be used after athletic injuries, or surgery, to decrease inflammation and speed up the healing process.
Find Expert Non-Surgical Treatments at North Austin Foot & Ankle Institute
Don’t tolerate a life with pain and limitations – we can get you back to the life you love!
If you experience pain or injury to the foot or ankle, you may benefit from these regenerative medicine treatments. So give us a call a (512) 593-2949 to schedule an appointment with one of our specialists today.