Kieborz: Regenerative medicine as new form of treatment

Chronic pain continues to negatively impact the lives of many Arizonans who are forced to experience reduced mobility and takes an extreme physical and emotional toll on the body. Chronic pain is the No. 1 cause of disability in the U.S., according to the American Chronic Pain Association.

Pain is considered a chronic condition if a joint or muscle has been causing pain for a prolonged period of time.

The most common types of chronic pain include osteo and rheumatoid arthritis, worn out cartilage in knees, shoulders and hips, and low back pain.

These are the most common conditions we see at QC Kinetix, among others.

QC Kinetix, a regenerative medicine and joint pain clinic franchise group, opened up a new office in Peoria in November of 2021 to help Arizonans treat their chronic pain through non-surgical pain management. By using natural biologic therapies, QC Kinetix is able to repair and heal damaged tissues and joints instead of relying on steroids, surgery or pain medication.

This improves recovery time, eliminates the need to use opioid-based drugs to treat pain and is not toxic to the body.

Natural biologic therapies, or regenerative medicine, is the study and practice of regenerating and replacing damaged tissues in the human body by using processes to stimulate the body’s own repair mechanisms at the cellular and enzymatic level. Since regenerative medicine uses one’s own tissues and blood products as medicine and avoids introducing new foreign substances and irreversible procedures that are traditionally employed, it is able to reduce the risks of negative outcomes while remaining very effective in decreasing pain and increasing function or mobility.

Typically, standard treatment for chronic pain includes the use of surgery, steroids or even opioids, but these treatments are often very temporary and run the risk of weakening the same tissues they are meant to treat when used repeatedly.

Regenerative forms of treatments, such as Platelet-rich plasma, bone marrow aspirate, and prolotherapy, tend to have longer lasting effects and often prevent the breakdown of the body part being treated. For those who have tried everything from physical therapy to at-home treatments and are still experiencing pain, regenerative medicine may be the best solution for you.

Regenerative medicine has become commonly used by many physicians and patients for treating chronic or acute injuries such as torn ligaments and cartilage. Professional athletes are using these treatments to help assist in faster recovery from injuries as one of the main benefits regenerative medicines provides is a short recovery time compared to surgical treatments.

The best way to determine if your pain is considered acute or chronic is to be evaluated by a physician through the necessary exam, imaging or lab work that will make the most accurate assessment. The majority of the time, a simple in-person exam is all that is needed. However, there are specific diagnoses that benefit from traditional treatments and are easily curable. Physical therapy is one traditional treatment that can help strengthen your muscles and joints, resulting in a higher chance of fully resolving your pain.

It is important to note that not all cases of chronic pain can be treated through regenerative medicine. To determine if regenerative medicine is right for you, please visit qckinetix.com/phoenix to sign up for a free consultation.

Editor’s note: Dr. Tim Kierborz is the medical director at QC Kinetix located in Peoria. QC Kinetix also has locations in Scottsdale as well as Phoenix, and will soon have one in Chandler.