If you have a cartilage injury, you’re likely investigating the best treatments to fix your problem and get back to normal as soon as possible.
You may also wonder if your problem will solve itself — will your cartilage regenerate on its own?
The short answer to your question is no; cartilage won’t just start regenerating all by itself. The longer answer is that several treatments can help repair and treat your injury, and Steven E. Nolan, MD, and our team are here to help.
Cartilage is a strong connective tissue that protects your joints and bones. You can find it at the end of your bones, where it reduces friction and keeps the bones from rubbing together — it’s a shock absorber for the body.
Cartilage can take a beating for decades and keep doing its job. Sometimes, though, it gets damaged or broken, and although cartilage contains cells and tissues, it lacks blood vessels and a good blood supply, so it’s incapable of creating new cells to regenerate itself.
The good news is that we can repair or replace damaged cartilage.
After Dr. Nolan examines your injured area (including images from diagnostic tests), he develops a custom treatment plan for you. Several techniques stimulate the growth of new cartilage since it won’t regenerate on its own.
Cartilage cannot heal itself, but bone tissue can, so one method is to make small cuts or abrasions on the bone underneath the cartilage to jump-start the healing process by stimulating new growth. Studies have shown that manipulating the physical environment around the cartilage is indispensable in repairing and regenerating cartilage. Dr. Nolan may clear away your damaged cartilage before this procedure.
Another technique is transplanting cartilage-forming cells from a healthy site in your body to stimulate growth around the injury. This treatment immediately reduces pain, restores resilience and agility, and reconstructs the cartilage layer, delaying or even preventing the need for joint replacement.
Finally, you may be a good candidate for platelet-rich plasma or stem cell treatments that use your body’s immune system to prompt your cartilage to regrow. These treatments usually require a series of injections (not just one) and can inhibit inflammation, slow osteoarthritis, and increase natural lubricating fluid, which eases joint friction. These therapies are relatively new but show great promise.
If you need treatment for a cartilage injury, Dr. Nolan and our team are here to help. Call our office at 281-720-6909 or use our online scheduler to book your appointment.
