What is regenerative medicine?
Regenerative medicine repairs or replaces damaged tissues by triggering the growth of healthy new tissues. We offer several types of regenerative medicine.
Shockwave therapy
Shockwave therapy delivers shocks to an injured area to induce a healing response.
Ultrasound-guided injections
For some sports injuries, an injection of medicine into the injured area is a relatively quick, non-invasive treatment option. In such cases, ultrasound imaging can help the clinician target the injured joint or tendon with great accuracy.
Tenotomy
Tenotomy is a type of ultrasound-guided injection used to help heal a chronic tendon injury that has not improved with conservative non-surgical treatment. The purpose is to break up scar tissue, ease pain, and increase blood flow to the area.
Your doctor may recommend tenotomy after completing a thorough physical and diagnostic ultrasound evaluation of the tendon. If the physician sees signs of degeneration, tendinopathy, or disruption of the tendon, they may recommend this treatment. Your doctor may also recommend autologous blood injection or one of the other following ultrasound-guided injections with tenotomy.
Autologous blood injection
Autologous blood injection injects a patient’s own blood back into the area of the tendon that has chronic tendonitis or tendinopathy. The purpose is to initiate a physiological response to promote healing.
Platelet rich plasma (PRP) injection
A PRP injection uses a concentrated blood sample that contains high levels of platelets to support the wound-healing process.
Corticoid steroid injection
Also known as cortisone, this type of injection reduces inflammation around an injured muscle or joint.
Are there any side effects of an ultrasound-guided injection?
Side effects that may occur include facial flushing, nausea, swelling, redness, pain at the injection site, temporary numbness and weakness of the extremity, and skin discoloration. These side effects can last from one to three days.
What are the risks of an ultrasound-guided injection?
Ultrasound-guided injection is a safe procedure with few risks. There is a very low risk of infection, which probably lies between one in 10,000 to 20,000 patients. If you have broken skin or infection overlying the joint, let your doctor know. The injection may need to be delayed until the area is healed and free of infection.
There is a one-in-10 chance of a steroid flare for all injections. This is when the pain worsens in the days following the injection, and it usually lasts between three to five days. This may indicate either an aggravation of the membrane that protects the joint from damage or, very rarely, an infection of the joint. If you experience increased pain, contact your referring doctor or the emergency department as soon as possible.
Preparing for an ultrasound-guided injection
Two weeks before your appointment
In most cases, you do not need to do anything special to prepare for an ultrasound-guided injection. Do be sure to drink plenty of fluids to stay hydrated before your appointment.
If you are scheduled for a platelet rich plasma (PRP) injection or an autologous blood injection, DO NOT take any anti-inflammatory medications 14 days before your injection appointment. This includes Naprosyn, Aleve, Advil, Motrin, ibuprofen, Celebrex, Feldene, and diclofenac.
On the day of your appointment
- Bring a person who can give you a safe ride home. We recommend not driving for at least 24 hours after an ultrasound-guided injection.
- Bring any previous x-rays, ultrasound, CT, or MRI scans taken as part of your joint pain history.
- Tell the doctor or nurse if you are allergic to any medications.
- Wear comfortable clothing with easy access to the joint that will be injected.