Biologic Therapy: Treatment Options for Healing

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If you are suffering from an injury impacting your tendons, joints or other musculoskeletal tissue, you are likely exploring options for the best treatment. Historically, surgery, rest, casting and physical therapy would be the best options to help heal and find long term relief. But have you considered Biologic Therapy? Perhaps this is a term you have heard of but are unsure what it is or if it is right for you.

What is Biologic Therapy?

Biologic Therapy is a type of treatment that uses substances made from living organisms to treat disease. It is designed to heal injuries in tendons, joints, and musculoskeletal soft tissues.

 Why Choose Biologic Therapy?

Biologic Therapy offers an alternative to surgery and traditional pain management. It enhances the body’s ability to heal using your platelets and stem cells to repair muscles, tendons, ligaments, and cartilage. This treatment option is low-risk and minimally invasive.

 How Biologic Therapy May Help You

Agility Orthopaedics uses biologic therapy to treat a variety of orthopedic conditions and injuries, ranging from knee pain to heel pain. The conditions we treat include arthritis and cartilage damage as well as tendon, ligament, and muscle disorders. Some common diagnoses that can benefit from biologic therapy are: plantar fasciitis, achilles tendonitis, knee arthritis, peroneal tendonitis and posterior tibial tendonitis.

 

Treatment Options

 

Amnion Therapy:

Amnion therapy is an off-the-shelf option that helps stimulate the healing of tendons, muscles, and soft tissues for patients that prefer a non-invasive biological option.  Amnion helps provide supplemental support, protection, and growth factors to assist in the healing process.

 

Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Therapy:

Platelets are rich in growth and healing factors that activate stem cells to regenerate new, healthy tissue. Utilizing the body’s natural healing process, PRP therapy is a concentration of platelets that are injected into the damaged ligaments, tendons, and joints. These injections promote tissue repair and accelerate healing.

 

Because Biologic Therapy is still investigational, most insurance companies do not cover these procedures. This form of therapy is not for everyone, and surgery may be the best choice. Contact Agility Orthopaedics to schedule an appointment and find out which option is the best for you.

Plantar Fasciitis: Treating Heel Pain Effectively

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Do you suffer from unexplained pain in your heels? Does this pain seem to be markedly worse when you get out of bed in the morning? If you answered yes to these questions, it is possible that you are suffering from plantar fasciitis.

What exactly is plantar fasciitis? This term refers to a condition that results when the plantar fascia (a thick band of tissue on the bottom of your heel) becomes inflamed.

Risk Factors

There are a number of factors that can contribute to plantar fasciitis. Runners frequently report suffering from this condition. But you don’t have to be an endurance athlete to experience plantar fasciitis. People that spend a lot of time on their feet are also at risk to experience this painful issue. People who are overweight and people that wear shoes without the proper type of support, have a higher likelihood of developing plantar fasciitis as well. Foot mechanics can also play a role in developing this type of foot pain. Having a high arch or inversely, having flat feet, can lead to developing plantar fasciitis.

Treatment Options 

  • The first step to getting proper treatment is getting an accurate diagnosis from an orthopaedic surgeon. Surgeons with training in the area of foot and ankle orthopaedics have focused training in foot issues.
  • Working with a physical therapist can bring some relief. Doing some stretching exercises in addition to massage and contrast baths can result in healing.
  • Non-steroidal Anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) can help reduce some of the inflammation in the heel region.
  • Steroid injections can help decrease both the inflammation and pain in your plantar fasciitis. Consult with you orthopaedic surgeon about whether or not this could be a viable option for your specific case.
  • Shoe inserts can help change the weight distribution on your feet therefore alleviating the strain on your plantar fascia. Consult with your foot and ankle orthopaedic surgeon about getting a custom set of orthotics for your shoes.

Don’t let the chronic pain associated with plantar fasciitis impact your daily life. Make an appointment with an orthopaedic surgeon today to get an accurate diagnosis and to formulate a plan for treating the underlying issues.