FAQs: Understanding ECM Therapy
Extra Cellular Matrix therapy (also known as Stem Cell therapy or ECM) is an exciting new field. It has been recognized by the medical community worldwide as potentially being the biggest breakthrough in regenerative healing. The procedure is safe and can make a big difference in getting you back to your desired activities. But as a new modality, you probably have questions.
Below is a list of frequently asked questions we've compiled just for you.
ECM (Extra Cellular Matrix) has regenerative power. When injected into an area that needs healing, your body's response is to accelerate the natural healing process and repair the damage.
Our ECM (Extra Cellular Matrix) technique is minimally invasive. ECM (Extra Cellular Matrix) is injected into the injured or arthritic area and can be combined with your own PRP (Platelet Rich Plasma).
The concentrated growth factors can help the body naturally repair damaged tissue allowing you a rapid return to your desired activities without ongoing discomfort.
ECM (Extra Cellular Matrix) Injections can accelerate the healing of a number of conditions for the hip, knee, arm, shoulder, lower leg, foot and ankle. Please consult our page of conditions treated by ECM (Extra Cellular Matrix) therapy for a more complete listing, but here is an abbreviated list:
- Knees - Osteoarthritis, Patellar Tendonitis (Jumper's Knees), "cartilage tears", tendon injury, muscle injury, ligament injury
- Shoulder - Arthritis, Partial rotator cuff tears, labral tears, tendon injury
- Hip- Osteoarthritis, tendon injury, muscle injury, labrum tears
- Ankle - Osteoarthritis, ankle pain, tendon injury, Achilles tendonitis/tendinopathy, ligament injury, plantar fasciitis
- Foot - Arthritis, Plantar fasciitis
- Elbow- Tennis elbow, golfer's elbow, osteoarthritis, ligament injury
- Wrist/Hand - Osteoarthritis, wrist/hand pain, carpal tunnel, ligament sprain, DeQuervain's syndrome
Local anesthesia will be used for the procedure, which does not require general anesthesia or hospitalization. The injected area should be comfortable following the local anesthesia injection immediately before the ECM (Extra Cellular Matrix) injection.
Following the procedure there may be discomfort for 1-3 days. Prescription analgesics will be discussed, and prescription provided on an individual basis.
Most patients report very little discomfort with the procedure and mild pain afterward. In weeks 1 and 2, there may be noticeable inflammation in the treated area, which is normal since your immune system is getting to work.
With any medical procedure, there is always some amount of risk. However, the risk for ECM (Extra Cellular Matrix) therapy is extremely low. We use amniotic fluid combined with your own PRP (Platelet Rich Plasma). Hip aspirations using your own ECM (Extra Cellular Matrix) are also available. Your cells are a perfect match with little to no chance of rejection or infection.
You may be a candidate for ECM (Extra Cellular Matrix) injections if you have been diagnosed with tendonitis, mild-to-severe degenerative joint disease, tears of the cartilage or ligament tissue, or any type of musculoskeletal injury if it has not responded to traditional treatments such as rest, icing, physical therapy, and pain medication.
If you have an active infection or cancer, you may be excluded from receiving ECM (Extra Cellular Matrix) injections. Such patients must undergo treatment for the infection prior to any regenerative medicine procedure.
If you have a bleeding disorder, or you are taking certain blood thinning medications, you will require special consideration, as do severely ill patients, before being considered for ECM (Extra Cellular Matrix) procedures.
It is possible that ECM (Extra Cellular Matrix) injections could be inhibited if you are taking other medications or are currently receiving some other type of medical treatment.
During your initial consultation, you should take great care to disclose any medications you are taking and any treatments you are undergoing so that the Dr. Ruht can determine your eligibility for the ECM (Extra Cellular Matrix) procedure.
For some patients, positive results may be felt within a week. Other patients may require more time, and may feel no improvement for at least 3 weeks, possibly up to 6-8 weeks.
Keep in mind that the ECM (Extra Cellular Matrix) treatment is activating your body to heal itself by regenerating soft tissue. You have to give the cell structures time to grow back.
You may experience some mild soreness in the joint for up to a week after your procedure, in which you'll want to avoid heavy exertion. Anti-inflammatory products such as aspirin, Motrin, Advil, and Aleve should be avoided for the first 2 weeks, since they can adversely affect ECM (Extra Cellular Matrix) function. Taking Tylenol is considered fine. Prescription medication is also available.
THE ECM (EXTRA CELLULAR MATRIX) PROCEDURE IS PERFORMED IN THE OFFICE WITH LOCAL ANESTHESIA AND DOES NOT REQUIRE GENERAL ANESTHESIA OR HOSPITALIZATION.
ECM (Extra Cellular Matrix) has regenerative power. When injected into an area that needs healing, your body's response is to accelerate the natural healing process and repair the damage. Our ECM (Extra Cellular Matrix) technique is minimally invasive. ECM (Extra Cellular Matrix) is injected into the injured or arthritic area and can be combined with your own PRP (Platelet Rich Plasma). The concentrated growth factors can help the body naturally repair damaged tissue allowing you a rapid return to your desired activities without ongoing discomfort.
ECM (Extra Cellular Matrix) Injections can accelerate the healing of a number of conditions for the hip, knee, arm, shoulder, lower leg, foot and ankle. Please consult our page of conditions treated by ECM (Extra Cellular Matrix) for a more complete listing, but here is an abbreviated list:
- Acute muscle tears and strains
- Chronic Tendinopathies (tennis elbow, Achilles tendon, patellar tendon and rotator cuff)
- Ligament injuries (ie: medial or lateral collateral ligament—MCL/LCL)
- Osteoarthritis
Local anesthesia will be used for the procedure, which does not require general anesthesia or hospitalization. The injected area should be comfortable following the local anesthesia injection immediately before the ECM (Extra Cellular Matrix) injection. Following the procedure there may be discomfort for 1-3 days. Prescription analgesics will be discussed, and prescription provided on an individual basis. Most patients report very little discomfort with the procedure and mild pain afterward. In weeks 1 and 2, there may be noticeable inflammation in the treated area, which is normal since your immune system is getting to work.
With any medical procedure, there is always some amount of risk. However, the risk for ECM (Extra Cellular Matrix) therapy is extremely low. We use amniotic fluid combined with your own PRP (Platelet Rich Plasma). Hip aspirations using your own ECM (Extra Cellular Matrix) are also available. Your cells are a perfect match with little to no chance of rejection or infection.
You may be a candidate for ECM (Extra Cellular Matrix) injections if you have been diagnosed with tendonitis, mild-to-severe degenerative joint disease, tears of the cartilage or ligament tissue, or any type of musculoskeletal injury if it has not responded to traditional treatments such as rest, icing, physical therapy, and pain medication.
If you have an active infection or cancer, you may be excluded from receiving ECM (Extra Cellular Matrix) injections. Such patients must undergo treatment for the infection prior to any regenerative medicine procedure. If you have a bleeding disorder, or you are taking certain blood thinning medications, you will require special consideration, as do severely ill patients, before being considered for ECM (Extra Cellular Matrix) procedures. It is possible that ECM (Extra Cellular Matrix) injections could be inhibited if you are taking other medications or are currently receiving some other type of medical treatment. During your initial consultation, you should take great care to disclose any medications you are taking and any treatments you are undergoing so that the Dr. Ruht can determine your eligibility for the ECM (Extra Cellular Matrix) procedure.
For some patients, positive results may be felt within a week. Other patients may require more time, and may feel no improvement for at least 3 weeks, possibly up to 6-8 weeks. Keep in mind that the ECM (Extra Cellular Matrix) treatment is activating your body to heal itself by regenerating soft tissue. You have to give the cell structures time to grow back.
You may experience some mild soreness in the joint for up to a week after your procedure, in which you'll want to avoid heavy exertion. Anti-inflammatory products such as aspirin, Motrin, Advil, and Aleve should be avoided for the first 2 weeks, since they can adversely affect ECM (Extra Cellular Matrix) function. Taking Tylenol is considered fine. Prescription medication is also available.
THE PRP PROCEDURE IS PERFORMED IN THE OFFICE WITH LOCAL ANESTHESIA AND DOES NOT REQUIRE GENERAL ANESTHESIA OR HOSPITALIZATION.
DR. RUHT
Find out about our ECM (Extra Cellular Matrix) therapy physician, Dr. Barry A. Ruht.
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