If you suffer from chronic joint pain, you're likely looking for ways to find relief without surgery. At Orthopaedic Specialists, Dr. Brandon Downs and our team help patients regain their mobility using advanced, non-surgical treatments. We provide personalized care across Tennessee, with convenient offices in Nashville, Dickson, Ashland City, Centerville, and Gallatin.
Regenerative therapies like PRP Injections and Bone Marrow Therapy are among our most requested treatments. Both options use your body's own natural healing cells to target joint pain and lower inflammation. But how do you know which therapy is right for your joint? Let's compare them.
Bone marrow concentrate and PRP therapy both offer excellent, long-term relief for joint pain, with clinical studies showing similar success for moderate joint issues. Instead of masking pain like a steroid shot, these biological therapies trigger a prolonged healing response that recruits local repair cells and calms inflammation.
A clinical trial published in the American Journal of Sports Medicine evaluated patients with knee osteoarthritis over 24 months. The researchers found that a single injection of either PRP or bone marrow concentrate improves pain and joint function. Neither therapy proved superior over the two years; both are highly effective options for managing joint discomfort.
The main difference between these treatments lies in how we harvest the healing cells. For PRP, we draw a small blood sample and spin it in a centrifuge to concentrate your platelets. For bone marrow therapy, we extract a small amount of bone marrow from your hip or shin bone, which contains a mixture of platelets, growth factors, and a small number of regenerative cells.
Neither therapy physically regrows new cartilage in a bone-on-bone joint. According to research published by the National Institutes of Health, post-treatment MRI scans show that neither PRP nor bone marrow concentrate alters the physical joint structure or grows new cartilage.
Instead, they act as signaling medics, altering the chemical environment of your joint to stop further wear and tear and dramatically reduce pain.
Choosing the right therapy depends on the severity of your joint damage and your specific goals. PRP injections are highly effective for mild-to-moderate joint wear and chronic tendon pain. Because bone marrow therapy involves a slightly more detailed harvesting process, we often recommend it for more complex joint issues or as a helpful boost during surgical procedures.
To maximize your recovery and rebuild joint strength, we often pair these regenerative treatments with a customized Physical Therapy program. Our physical therapists work closely with you to restore your range of motion and protect your joints.
At Orthopaedic Specialists, Dr. Downs and our dedicated team are here to help you find the safest, most effective path to pain relief. Whether you are exploring non-surgical regenerative options or need a comprehensive joint evaluation, we design a treatment plan tailored to your lifestyle. Ready to take the first step toward pain-free movement?
Schedule a consultation with our team today at one of our convenient Tennessee locations.
