Posted in Medical Studies

Joint replacement surgery patients benefit from reduced opioid use

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March 6, 2016???? Decreased opioid use prior to joint replacement surgery has been linked with improved patient satisfaction and outcomes, fewer complications and a reduced need for post-surgical opioids, according to two new studies.

They found nearly 59 percent of the patients (49,617) did not use opioids prior to surgery, while 41.4 percent did. The top three prescribed opioids were hydrocodone/acetaminophen, oxycodone/acetaminophen, and oxycodone.

In opioid users, the study showed that a 50 percent or greater preoperative reduction of opioid use leads to better patient outcomes,” said lead author Kevin Bozic from the University of Texas at Austin.

“We recommend that chronic opioid users who are considering hip or knee replacement work with their primary care physician or pain management team to reduce their use of opioids prior to considering elective surgery,” Bozic said.

Read more at https://www.thestatesman.com/news/science-and-tech/joint-replacement-surgery-patients-benefit-from-reduced-opioid-use/128167.html#o1zdW1d2EZGBFzzK.99… Read the Rest

Posted in PRP

Platelet-Rich Plasma Injections

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Platelet-rich plasma injections offer a promising solution to accelerate healing of tendon injuries and osteoarthritis naturally without subjecting the patient to significant risk. Dr. Odell became one of the first sports medicine doctors in the Midwest to begin offering platelet-rich plasma injections (PRP). PRP is an innovative treatment that uses a patient’s own “supercharged” blood to heal soft-tissue injuries. Dr. Odell performs this procedure the same way as conventional injections for arthritis, or injections for knee pain.

Physicians have successfully used PRP injections with professional athletes to treat acute injuries, but the therapy has only recently made its way into the chronic injury arena. Midwest Sports Medicine offers the therapy as an effective treatment for recreational athletes, people with chronic injury, arthritis sufferers and candidates for knee pain injection.

What are platelets?

Platelets are the first cells to arrive at the site of a new injury, and they are a … Read the Rest

Posted in Knee Treatments • PRP

How Prolotherapy, PRP, & Stem-Cell Therapy Work by Jeff Ericksen, MD

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Published on Sep 12, 2013

Jeff Ericksen, MD, an expert in Regenerative Medicine at the Kaplan Center for Integrative Medicine in McLean, Virginia, describes the effectiveness of using Prolotherapy, Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) Injection Therapy, and Stem-Cell Therapy to treat joint, tendon and muscle pain caused by injury, arthritis or other diseases. These non-surgical therapies amplify the body’s own healing power, enabling a new joint or muscle injury or a longstanding pain condition to heal more quickly and completely. For example, prolotherapy has been found to be effective in treating plantar fasciitis or foot pain, tennis elbow, frozen shoulder, degenerative disc disease, hip pain and some migraine headaches. Whether your condition is best treated with Dextrose Prolotherapy, Platelet Rich Plasma or Stem-Cell Injections, depends upon your unique health circumstances.… Read the Rest