Regenerative medicine was a hot topic in the headlines back in the mid-2010s thanks to a number of procedures that went wrong. In the years since, regenerative medicine has taken an unnecessarily bad rap. But those who believe in it continue to research, study, and develop new avenues of treatment.

In the 2020s, the two main forms of regenerative medicine being offered at health clinics and doctor’s offices are platelet rich plasma (PRP) and stem cell injections. Both are on offer at Lone Star Pain Medicine in Weatherford, TX. Lone Star doctors say that regenerative therapies may be recommended for osteoarthritis, back pain, hair loss, and a small number of additional conditions.

The doctors also say that regenerative medicine is not appropriate for every patient or condition. They recommend considering the following five things before moving ahead with a regenerative medicine procedure:

1. Other Treatments Might Be Available

Regenerative medicine isn’t necessarily a last-ditch option. However, it is typically recommended only after more conservative treatments have failed. Consider an osteoarthritis patient who has tried pain medications, physical therapy, exercise, and even surgery – all to no avail. PRP or stem cell injections may be the only two options she has left.

Also consider that regenerative medicine procedures are minimally invasive. PRP and stem cell injections are certainly less invasive than joint replacement surgery. So in a sense, you could say they are more conservative than surgery.

2. Results Vary Among Patients

Patients should always be aware that results vary. Some people report remarkable success with PRP injections. Others report moderate success or none at all. Although this is something to be aware of, it should not necessarily deter a person from taking a look at regenerative medicine. Why? Because results vary with every treatment under the sun. No medical treatment is 100% effective for every patient.

3. FDA Approval Is a Gray Area

One of the knocks against PRP and stem cell injections is the fact that they are not FDA approved. Such claims are only half true. While it is correct that the FDA has never directly approved a specific PRP or stem cell injection therapy, the agency has approved the use of minimally manipulated autologous material for therapeutic purposes.

Both PRP and stem cell injections qualify as minimally manipulated, autologous procedures. Therefore, they have FDA approval without the need to undergo further clinical testing.

4. Clinics Do Make Unsubstantiated Claims

Regenerative medicine is a business, just like every other form of medicine in this country. Therefore, patients need to be aware of marketing messages. A minority of regenerative medicine clinics do make unsubstantiated claims. They make regenerative medicine out to be a miracle cure for all sorts of injuries and diseases. Be extremely cautious about claims that seem too good to be true.

5. Foreign Clinics Can’t Always Be Trusted

Finally, Americans have been known to travel abroad in order to access regenerative treatments that aren’t available in the U.S. Others visit foreign clinics because procedures are cheaper. Here is the bottom line: foreign clinics cannot always be trusted to provide treatment to the same standards we have here. If you are traveling abroad for regenerative therapies, you are taking a risk.

Regenerative medicine continues to show promise as a therapy for a lengthy list of medical conditions. Right now, however, its effectiveness is limited to musculoskeletal diseases and soft tissue injuries. Perhaps science will one day unlock the secrets of regenerative medicine and transform how we deliver healthcare. I would not be surprised to see it, given the nature of regenerative therapies and their focus on natural healing.