Natural alternative to Steroid Injections

[annapurna]

PRP or stem cell injections have been shown to reverse cartilage loss and improve joint function. If you had a really good needle jockey and facet arthritis, it might even possible to help that. The names for the techniques vary extensively as it seems like each doc has their own name and their own witches' brew to make the injection work better. That's likely why it's so difficult to find outcome studies on any given technique and combination of injectants. PRP isn't likely to help DDD.

[Slackwater]

Originally Posted by annapurna

PRP or stem cell injections have been shown to reverse cartilage loss and improve joint function. If you had a really good needle jockey and facet arthritis, it might even possible to help that. The names for the techniques vary extensively as it seems like each doc has their own name and their own witches' brew to make the injection work better. That's likely why it's so difficult to find outcome studies on any given technique and combination of injectants. PRP isn't likely to help DDD.

Agree in general.

The spine treatment outcome with Orthokine ACS (Autologous Conditioned Serum) may be better than Epidural Steroid Injection (ESI). The journal article (abstract) in Spine compared ACS to ESI. Triamcinolone is a synthetic corticosteroid, look up was required. The Orthokine ACS treatment was proposed as potentially superior to steroid injection. The orthopaedic profession practices medicine conservatively (good) in varying patterns from the same, possibly limited, diagnostics. The US pattern of spine treatment does not include Orthokine ACS.

The rabbit scenario improved disc height, proteoglycans, ... That is positive, it might occur in a human test. The human test results, as limited by the "Abstract Only", not full article did not include the Disc Height, or other quantitative measures.

VAS improvement is good as noted in the earlier posts about the ISASS abstract and Spine article. Maybe I can remember to find this at the library. A trailing question is human symptoms after tissue remodel and possible neoinnervation (sp).

Neo-innervation: Subcutaneously placed autologous nucleus pulposus displays an ingrowth of newly formed blood vessels and nerve fibers within 7 days.

[annapurna]

My comment about PRP and stem cell improving joint function is based on non-spine applications; that's why I specified joint function and mentioned facets particularly. Your postings cover all of what I know about what has been done addressing DDD and/or disk height.