Southwest Florida's Health and Wellness Magazine Health and Wellness Articles
The Alternative to Surgery and Medications
By Dr. Sebastian Klisiewicz, D.O.
Knee pain is common and potentially disabling. It is often caused by injuries from falls and sporting activities or by wear and tear from years of repetitive use. The supporting structures such as the muscles, tendons and ligaments are often the victims of injury along with the deeper structures such as the meniscus and joint cartilage. If these are left untreated, the joint eventually degenerates leading knee osteoarthritis. This is generally marked by chronic pain, swelling and stiffness, and at times a feeling of the knee “giving out”.
The “Old” Standard Treatment for Knee Pain
The standard “old school” treatment for most knee conditions typically involves anti-inflammatory medications, physical therapy and steroid injections. And if that doesn’t work, surgery is offered as the only other option. Unfortunately, these treatments are not benign.
When anti-inflammatory medications are used regularly, they can cause serious damage to the stomach and kidneys. Steroid injections also come at price. They can temporarily mask the pain, but can cause an array of unwanted side effects such as increased blood sugars, weight gain and increased risk of infections. Worse yet, repeated steroid injections can actually damage the joint cartilage and increase the likelihood of ending up with a knee replacement.
Luckily for knee pain sufferers, there is a new non-surgical option that is natural, safe and effective for most knee conditions.
The New Frontier of Non-Surgical Knee Care
The knee, like all other tissues in our body, can heal naturally without surgery if given the right stimulus and a proper healing environment. Regenerative Medicine Injections such as Prolotherapy, Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) or Stem Cells can be that stimulus that starts the healing process. And when combined with physical therapy and proper nutrition, Regenerative Medicine can actually heal the tendons, ligaments and cartilage. This can resolve pain and restore normal knee function, all without the need for surgery or toxic medications.
Regenerative Medicine Injections work by stimulating the body’s natural healing response. Prolotherapy is a type of Regenerative treatment that uses injections of a natural dextrose solution to heal and strengthen loose and injured ligaments. This can improve the stability and function of the knee joint, thus providing pain relief.
Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) and Stem Cells are a gift from your own body to help you heal. PRP is a solution of concentrated platelets taken from your own blood. The platelets are packed with growth factors that kick start the healing response. Stem cells are the “master orchestrators” of healing and regeneration. They release growth molecules that regulate the immune response, decrease inflammation and stimulate tissue healing. The best and most studied stem cells for orthopedic conditions are safely obtained from the bone marrow of the pelvis.
Many research studies have shown that Regenerative Medicine Injections are safe and effective at providing long term results. In long-term studies, patients with mild to moderate knee arthritis have significantly improved for many years after a series prolotherapy or PRP injections. Other studies have shown that about eighty percent of patients with severe osteoarthritis who underwent bone marrow stem cell injection into to the knee joint were able to avoid surgery when followed for 5 years.
The choice of using Dextrose Prolotherapy, PRP or Bone Marrow Stem Cells is based on the severity of the condition. These products are carefully injected into the injured area under ultrasound guidance, then the body starts the repair process. This may take weeks to months, but it can provide real long term results.
An Integrated Team Approach Provides Best Results
The best way to heal injuries and treat chronic knee pain is to combine the above Regenerative Medicine Injections with personalized physical therapy, laser therapy and proper nutrition.
At Integrative Rehab Medicine, we educate our patients on nutritional support for optimal healing.
A well-balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables and high-quality proteins as well as specific nutritional supplements are used to prepare the body for healing.
We complement our Regenerative injections with personalized physical therapy that may include manual therapy, muscle strengthening, balance training, and or bracing protocols. We also incorporate state of the art energy modalities such as low-level laser and pulsed electromagnetic field therapy to expedite the healing process.
If you are looking to heal your knee pain without surgery, schedule a consultation today! We look forward to helping you with your healing journey.
DR. SEBASTIAN KLISIEWICZ, D.O.
Board Certified in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Dr. Sebastian is a leading physiatrist in Estero, Fort Myers and Bonita Springs (Southwest Florida). He is the founder and medical director of Integrative Rehab Medicine in Estero, FL. He combines his extensive knowledge in Regenerative Medicine, Osteopathic musculoskeletal medicine, Physical Rehabilitation and Functional & Natural medicine to create personalized and integrated treatment plans for each patient.
Dr. Sebastian completed his medical studies at the Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine (CCOM) followed by a residency in Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation (PM&R) at the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee. After residency, he worked as an Assistant Professor for Loyola University Medical Center in Chicago. In 2014, he moved his family to Southwest Florida to work at Lee Health’s Spine Center. In August 2019, Dr. Sebastian opened his private clinic, Integrative Rehab Medicine. Dr. Sebastian has extensive training in prolotherapy, PRP injections and Bone Marrow Stem Cells. During his time in Florida, he further advanced his knowledge in Integrative Medicine through course work with the Institute for Functional Medicine. Since, he has educated doctors and the public on the Integrative approach at numerous medical conferences and community events.
Integrative Rehab Medicine
9250 Corkscrew Rd, #15 Estero, FL 33928
(239) 687-3199 | www.iRehabMed.com
