If you’re tired of living with shoulder pain and are looking for alternatives to steroid injections or joint replacement, then minimally invasive regenerative treatments could help get your life back on track.
What treatments does Living Room Health Regenerative Treatments offer?
Our renowned medical team provides a range of non-invasive treatments, from the traditional to the innovative. Many of our treatments can be carried out on an outpatient basis, without the need for a hospital stay. In fact, many patients can resume their normal activities within several hours of their visit!
Micro-Fragmented Adipose Tissue (MFAT)
Over a one-day period, this treatment is exclusively offered to our patients. MFAT Injections use a pioneering technology whereby your body’s own adipose (fat) cells are used to treat pain and inflammation. MFAT Injections are minimally invasive due to the guidance of ultrasound. Altogether the procedure takes about an hour to perform with a minimal recovery time. As well as being a potential alternative to surgery, MFAT Injections can also aid post-surgery recovery.
Read Angela’s story who had this treatment in her knees. She is now pain free and her life has changed completely.
Bone Marrow Aspirate Concentrate (BMAC)
BMAC Injections harness the natural healing abilities of your own mesenchymal stem cells, found in the bone marrow, to
This is an effective and well-researched procedure that’s a potential alternative to surgery. It takes advantage of the blood’s natural healing properties to reduce pain and improve joint function. It uses a specially concentrated dosage of platelets prepared from your own blood to repair damaged cartilage, tendons, ligaments, muscle and bone. Treatment is administered via an injection and depending on the injury two to six injections may be required, performed at weekly intervals. Patients usually see their symptoms improve within four to six weeks of having the injections. PRP is a safe treatment option which, because your own blood is used, carries no risk of allergic reaction. Read more clinical evidence supporting PRP here.
Read Eddie’s Story. The British former professional strongman and World’s Strongest Man 2017 winner Eddie Hall recently received PRP Therapy.
What are the causes of shoulder arthritis?
A major one is everyday wear and tear, the normal process of aging. Shoulder osteoarthritis is not just confined to people over 50, many in their 20s and 30s also suffer from it. Other potential causes and factors include your family history, as genetics can influence how it develops, and your medical history, with previous injuries or accidents playing a role that can add up over the years. Other conditions like shoulder dislocations, or any other reasons for unusual shoulder movement that lead to a ‘grinding’ of the joint, can wear down your cartilage more quickly. There is also evidence that certain injections, including local anaesthetic and steroids, can also damage the cartilage. These are best avoided in the glenohumeral joint.
What are the symptoms of shoulder arthritis?
You may have osteoarthritis in your shoulder without any discomfort or reduced movement, but for most people the condition is painful – often at night – with a stiffness that limits your shoulder’s usual wide-ranging mobility. The pain usually comes from your bones rubbing and causing inflammation where the cartilage is worn.
How is shoulder arthritis diagnosed?
Your detailed medical history and a physical examination are very important, but we also use x-rays – and sometimes an MRI scan – to confirm the diagnosis as not all shoulder pain is down to osteoarthritis. Your discomfort might be due to a rotator cuff tear or a problem with your biceps, one of your upper arm muscles. Our experienced consultant will be able identify the exact source of your pain and provide a tailored treatment plan.
What are the non-surgical options for shoulder arthritis?
Treatment for shoulder arthritis aims to relieve symptoms and improve the function of the joint.
Initial treatment may include medications such as analgesics which help reduce the pain, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs – NSAIDS – which reduce the pain and inflammation. Physiotherapy can help with shoulder arthritis by stretching and strengthening the surrounding muscles.
Osteoarthritis in the acromioclavicular or ‘AC’ joint that causes pain or your shoulder to not move as normal, the options include anti-inflammatory steroid injections which reduce inflammation and provide short-term relief.
We also offer a variety of biological therapies that harness your body’s natural ability to repair itself – Micro-Fragmented Adipose Tissue (MFAT), Bone Marrow Aspirate Concentrate (BMAC) and Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP).
They are minimally invasive, can decrease inflammation, stop the progression of arthritic damage and may repair joint cartilage. The recovery time is also much shorter than with surgery.
Following these treatments, you are often encouraged to move around the same day and quickly return to normal activity without having to go through the risks associated with surgery.
If you would like to discuss these treatments, please make an enquiry or book an appointment.
What are the surgical options for shoulder arthritis?
Osteoarthritis in the acromioclavicular or ‘AC’ joint:
In some cases, an operation to shave away part of the joint, either through keyhole or conventional open surgery, could be an option.
Osteoarthritis in the ball and socket or glenohumeral joint:
Surgery to replace your shoulder or to ‘fuse’ it using screws and plates is possible.
Why is joint replacement the last resort?
There are some cases where an operation may be your only option. Rather than recommending shoulder replacement or shoulder fusion surgery, we are able to offer a joint preservation technique called Comprehensive Arthroscopic Management (CAM). Mr. Ali Noorani is one of the few specialists that provide this complex keyhole procedure for patients in the UK and Europe via a direct pathway with Orthopaedic Specialists.
Why have a consultation at Living Room Health Regenerative Treatments?
Complex cases are often referred to us from across the UK and abroad to benefit from our experience and expertise. For all our patients, we provide a tailor-made treatment plan, which may include a combination of surgical and non-surgical options, along with rehabilitation.
Our innovative range of treatments goes beyond what’s available on the NHS. As well as providing a full opinion on your condition, our experienced consultants will also assess your suitability for our alternative biological therapies, Micro-Fragmented Adipose Tissue (MFAT), Bone Marrow Aspirate Concentrate (BMAC) and Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP).
Who will my consultation be with?
You will see one of our upper limb orthopaedic consultants for around 30 minutes. During this consultation, our specialist will:
- discuss your medical history to find out more about your symptoms
- carry out a clinical examination to look at the joint and identify the source of the pain and mobility issues
- arrange for a diagnostic investigation, for example using an X-ray and/or MRI scan to assess the issue
- discuss all the treatment options with you, along with their potential benefits and any risks.
Our experienced team works as part of a collaborative partnership of surgeons, sports medicine doctors and physiotherapists to provide the perfect patient pathway to get you quickly on the road to recovery. Whether you need conventional treatment or if you are a candidate for our regenerative treatments, you can be sure that you will get the best advice.
What is the autologous biological approach and when should it be considered?
Autologous means ‘from the same person’ rather than from a donor. Essentially, your own cells are used to encourage healing. With this type of treatment, there’s a dramatic reduction in the risks of the rejection, infection or contamination that come with using material from someone else. The innovative therapies we offer are based on this idea. If you’ve found traditional treatments aren’t helping your pain, or if you’re looking for a possible alternative to surgery, then this approach is one to consider.
Clinical evidence
Biological treatments are pioneering procedures and we’re continuously monitoring and recording its effectiveness. Patients undertaking these treatments are asked to complete pre-operative and post-operative questionnaires.
The information obtained from these questionnaires allows us to monitor your progress and it also contributes to our evidence-based database and other global studies on biological treatments. All information gathered is anonymised.