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THE WARREN-WATCHUNG CONNECTION
JUNE/JULY/AUGUST 2016
The Beauty Exquisite Custom Jewelry S uza n n e E rma nn European Flair A Place of Sophistication A refuge from the ordinary Unique Like You Landmark Destination We invite you to experience extraordinary summer styling at Sabine’s Boutique The Elegance SONIA ARORA DESIGNS EVOCATEUR A S P E N T R U E Sabine’s Boutique Sabine’s Boutique $20 off ANY PURCHAS E over $50 This gift expires August 31, 2016 231 Moutainview Road Warren NJ sabinesboutique.net | 908.647.3600 CONSIDERING SURGERY? ADULT STEM CELL THERAPY MAY BE FOR YOU. By: Joseph Mejia, D.O., F.A.A.P.M & R and Ronald Spiaggia, DC One of the fastest growing sectors of medicine is the exciting new subspecialty of Regenerative Injection Therapy, which is more descriptively referred to as “ortho-biologics.” The deconstructed term relates to, “ortho” referring to orthopedic medicine and “biologics”, relating to a substance derived from human sources (usually stem cells or platelets) to treat painful joints, muscles and ligaments. Anyone who follows a professional sports team and their superstar players, has undoubtedly heard of the cutting- edge procedures of Adult Stem Cell and Platelet Rich Plasma therapy. These ther- apies are most often used for the treat- ment of rotator cuff and meniscus tears, golfer’s and tennis elbow, osteoarthritis of the hip and knee, plantar fasciitis and Achilles tendon injuries, to name a few. Until recently, these treatments were only available to elite athletes. Fortunately, this technology is now available in Watchung, NJ for both athletes and non- athletes that desire conservative, non- surgical solutions for pain reduction and to return to full function. The Basics of Adult Stem Cells Adult Stem Cells are undifferentiated, special cells found in the human body which are responsible for healing and repairing damaged tissue as well as regeneration of bone, ligament, tendon, cartilage and muscle. It is important to understand that Adult Stem Cells are obtained directly from the patient and reintroduced back to the patient. They are different than the controversial embryonic stem cells. Adult Stem Cell procedures are safe for human use. Adult Stem Cells are found in large quantities in fat tissue, which is the primary donor site for patients. Fortunately, the quantity of stem cells does not diminish with age. Harvesting & Grafting of Stem Cells Due to recent improvements in modern medicine, Adult Stem Cells can now be obtained through a simple medical proce- dure directly from the patient in a painless process done in the office. The donor sites for adult stem cells are typically the but- tock or abdomen. Once the physician obtains the stem cells they are processed in the office the same day to create a heal- ing matrix of stem cells. The Stem Cell matrix is then injected onto the injured site aided by advanced computer guided ultrasound imaging and MRI evaluation. Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) injection – the catalyst During the stem cell procedure, the doc- tor will also include a PRP injection. PRP is also obtained directly from the patient’s own blood. Simply put, platelets are rich in growth factor and bioactive proteins, which are an essential source of nutrients and healing. PRP will essentially “turn on” the stem cell process. Four to six weeks after the first PRP injection, the doctor may recommend a second PRP treatment to continue the healing process. A common metaphor that is used to help explain the process is the stem cell is analogous to the lawn seed and the PRP is the fertilizer. Both are essential for complete repair and healing of tissue. Stem Cell Therapy is a repair process not a “quick fix.” It is essential to understand that these pro- cedures are reparative and restorative processes that take 2-3 months to com- plete. However, in most cases patients do report improvements several weeks after the procedure. We encourage our patients to undergo 4-8 weeks of physical therapy and rehabilitation after the stem cell / PRP procedure to regain full strength, function and return to an active lifestyle. If you feel you are a candidate for a Regenerative Medicine procedure or have questions, we recommend you make an appointment to discuss it with one of our doctors. For more information, visit us at: www.PerformanceRehabNJ.com or call us at 908-274-1009. About the authors Joseph Mejia D.O., F.A.A.P.M.&R, Is a graduate of the University of Michigan and West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine. He is Board Certified in Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation and Sports Med- icine. Dr. Mejia received his Fellowship Training in Interventional Pain Management from the Universi- ty of Medicine and Dentistry. He has advanced train- ing in Regenerative Medicine and is the Medical Director and Partner of Performance Rehabilitation & Integrated Medicine. Ronald Spiaggia, DC is s a graduate of New York Chiropractic College. He is a Board Certified Chiro- practic Physician. His expertise is in conservative, non-surgical treatment of acute and chronic spinal and extremity disorders, with a clinical focus on her- niated discs, spinal rehabilitation and sports injuries. He is the Founder and Clinical Director of Perform- ance Rehabilitation & Integrated Medicine. www.theconnectionsnj.com