Regenerative Injection Therapy (RIT): Time Tested Options for Chronic Joint and Muscle Pain

Imagine a treatment that not only manages your pain but also promotes the reorganization and growth of compromised tissues within your body. RIT is a time-tested form of “anti-aging medicine” that combats and even reverses damage in injured or worn-down structures like ligaments, tendons, and cartilage. Used since the 1930s, RIT has a wide range of medical applications and has undergone numerous clinical trials to confirm its safety and effectiveness. If you’re suffering from back or joint pain, RIT offers an excellent solution for pain management and tissue restoration.

RIT harnesses the body’s own healing power in remarkable ways. The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that 20-33% of the global population suffers from chronic musculoskeletal pain, with low back pain being a leading cause of disability worldwide. Traditional treatments like physical therapy, exercise, chiropractic adjustments, pain medication, corticosteroid injections, or surgery can be beneficial, but when these options fail or aren’t desired, RIT provides a beacon of hope.
Chronic musculoskeletal pain can severely diminish your quality of life and daily functioning. Whether it’s due to abrupt injury, repetitive use, arthritis, or poor posture, RIT can help. When a joint is damaged, the body’s natural healing process often falls short due to poor blood flow. RIT steps in to reawaken the healing response, promoting tissue reformulation and growth, and strengthening the structures that stabilize the joint.

Prolotherapy is the oldest and most straightforward form of RIT. It generally involves the use of a liquid concentrate (commonly sugar water in the form of dextrose) and a local anesthetic (e.g., lidocaine or procaine). Other materials may be added to support the healing process, such as B12 or a homeopathic liquid, depending on doctor and patient preference. Prolotherapy solutions trigger an inflammatory (i.e., healing) response in the injected tissue, nourish local cells to support tissue growth and repair, reduce the immediate pain of the injection, and calm nerves that may have “learned” to respond to pain at exaggerated levels over an extended period. Prolotherapy is a great introductory RIT procedure as it is relatively inexpensive and does not require an individual to provide any of their own body fluids or tissues for use in the injection mixture. It is often thought that prolotherapy is less effective than other therapies in the RIT arsenal; however, it remains in regular use because it continues to deliver amazing results. Do not underestimate this simple therapy.

Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) is derived from an individual’s own blood. The extracted blood is “spun down” in a special centrifuge to separate the cellular components. Platelets are full of signaling molecules that are released during tissue injury to promote inflammation and healing. Concentrations of platelets injected into a chronically injured tissue provide signaling molecules that serve as beacons, drawing the body’s healing resources to the area. It’s as if platelets enter the damaged tissue and start pulling fire alarms and calling 911 so that the body’s recovery resources know they are needed at the injection site. PRP is generally thought to be more effective than prolotherapy because of the potency of the natural growth factors and other signaling molecules present in platelets. It is more expensive due to the special equipment and time needed to extract and process your blood for safe and effective injections.

Cellular Tissue Matrix (CTM) refers to a collection of products that are umbilical cord and placental derived. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) classifies such products as human cellular tissue-based products (HCT/P) regulated under section 361 of the Public Health Service (PHS) Act. The CTM we utilize at Yellowstone Naturopathic Clinic (YNC) is aseptically processed and regularly third-party tested for sterility and safety. It is bioethically derived, meaning it only comes from full-term, C-section live births from voluntary mothers. CTM’s advantage is a feature of the tissue source. Birth tissue is naturally rich in structural materials and cellular components that are vital for the health of joints and their supportive ligaments and tendons. By distributing CTM into compromised joints and associated tissues, this form of RIT potentiates exceptional levels of growth and repair. CTM’s most ideal application is for more severe cases of joint degeneration or connective tissue injury that would really benefit from some extra “oomph.” Unlike PRP, where an individual’s age can affect the quality of the injection mixture extracted, CTM is not sourced from the person being treated. This makes it especially useful for older individuals because the quality of the material injected is more robust. You might be surprised by the relative affordability of this class of treatments. Don’t be fooled by advertisements for expensive “stem cell” treatments. YNC has been a trusted source of RIT since 1995 and is now offering the latest innovation in joint health injections—Cellular Tissue Matrix.
Ready to reclaim your life from chronic pain? Consult with our experts at Yellowstone Naturopathic Clinic and discover how RIT can transform your health and well-being. Your journey to pain-free living starts here!