Knees are one of the most commonly injured joints, and arguably, one of the most important joints in your body. As a complex structure, composed of bones, tendons, ligaments, and cartilage, there can be many sources of knee pain. If you are experiencing knee pain or instability, please contact our patient care team to discuss if Regenexx Cayman stem cell or platelet-rich plasma treatments are the right choice for you.
Regenexx-C can also be a non-surgical alternative for those who may be considering total knee replacement surgery (knee arthroplasty), meniscus surgery (meniscectomy), or ACL, PCL, MCL, LCL surgery.
Depending on the severity of your knee issue, and after receiving your imaging and medical history, a physician may recommend platelet-rich plasma or a stem cell treatment. Our physicians use both types of treatment for knee injuries and conditions:
“Before I had the Regenexx treatment, I was constantly dealing with knee popping, and my knee would hurt when I went snowboarding. It would get more and more sore, and at the end of the day, it would be really swollen. Having that treatment fix that issue was a huge help.”
1 year post-treatment, patients reported a functional level of 64%.
6 months post-treatment, patients reported that their pain levels decreased to an average of just 1.3 out of 10.
1 year post-treatment, patients reported an overall improvement of 66%.
This depends on numerous factors, including the condition of the area treated, a patient’s general health, etc. There is usually some early pain relief from our procedures, but healing and regeneration of tissues takes time, and it may take up to a year to achieve maximum results. Most patients notice a continuing decrease in pain and increase in function over many months post-procedure.
PRP patients should see results over 6-12 weeks. Stem cell treatment patients should see results over 3-6 months. However, pain relief is variable, and it may take up to a year to achieve a stronger repair result.
Our Regenexx-C (cultured stem cell procedure) outcome data demonstrates that results peak around 1-2 years post-procedure. Some patients find that one treatment produces the results they were looking for; others may see some improvement but want additional treatments to further improve their outcome.
Our research has shown that small cartilage holes can heal with a precise, bone marrow-based stem cell procedure that delivers high doses of cells, but cartilage regeneration in severe arthritis remains unproven, and there is no evidence that it is possible to regrow cartilage in a “bone-on-bone” joint.
However, lack of cartilage is often not the cause of joint pain. Our patients have seen improved function and a reduction in pain after we’ve treated the surrounding joint structures.
Here is Regenexx registry outcome data for knee patients:
1 year post-treatment, patients reported a functional level of 64%.
6 months post-treatment, patients reported that their pain levels decreased to an average of just 1.3 out of 10.
1 year post-treatment, patients reported an overall improvement of 66%.
We have treated many patients who have been told they need knee surgery or knee replacement. Our treatments may be able to help you, but first our physicians will examine your body as a whole. Damage to the knee could be caused by spine, hip, or ankle issues. It’s important to have a full evaluation so we can identify and treat the root cause of your knee issues, not just the symptoms.
It’s great to hear you’re considering options outside of surgery. Our goal is to improve function and reduce pain, helping you to avoid, or delay, surgery for as long as possible. Only 1 in 20 patients who have knee replacement achieve a normal range of activity following surgery, whereas three months following Regenexx-C knee treatment, patients reported an average functional level of 60%.
Not everyone is a candidate for Regenexx-C, and in some cases, surgery may still be the better option. During your Regenexx Cayman phone review, the physician will provide you with a candidacy rating, so you have a clear understanding of your options and potential outcomes.
We have treated many patients with arthritis, who go on to report improved function and reduced pain after treatment. During your phone review, the physician will provide you with a candidacy score, so you will understand your possible outcome.
Even if you have been told that your joint is “bone-on-bone”, this does not mean the joint should immediately be amputated. Our goal is help patients avoid the need for a more invasive surgery.
Using both PRP and stem cell treatments, Regenexx Cayman has treated hundreds of patients with knee issues. Before booking treatment, you will be required to have a phone review to confirm your candidacy for treatment. During your phone review, the physician will conduct a thorough review of your imaging, medical history, and treatment goals. You will then receive a candidacy rating of good, fair, or poor, so you have a clear understanding of your expected outcome from knee treatment.
Most patients resume normal mobility and light resistance training within one week of treatment, returning to sport and full lateral movement after approximately 7-9 weeks. Patients also report a continued improvement in function and decrease in pain many months after their procedure. You will be given specific post-procedure instructions to follow based on your specific treatment.
Yes, we usually recommend physical therapy after treatment. You will receive specific post-procedure instructions and rehab protocols for your knee. These will detail restricted and permitted activities, therapeutic exercises, rehab progression, and recommendations for physical therapy following stem cell injections for the first three months after treatment.
We can provide joint-specific outcome data (i.e. all knee patients), but not condition-specific data. Regenexx maintains an active patient registry of all patients and publicly publishes the outcomes of those who have been treated by Regenexx-SD and PRP treatments. Regenexx Cayman also regularly compiles Regenexx-C data from the registry. Please contact us if you would like to know more.
Yes; if your Regenexx Cayman physician recommends it, you can have both knees treated at the same time with platelet rich plasma or stem cell treatments.
During your initial consultation, the physician will determine whether you will need crutches or a wheelchair. If required, Regenexx Cayman will provide you with crutches (to take home) or a wheelchair (for use on island).