Bone Marrow Concentrate Therapy

Most patients notice some level of improvement by 2-6 weeks following BMC.  Increased stability and strength are typically reported along with the decrease in pain.  A second level of benefits may be obtained between 6 weeks and 3months. Patients are encouraged to remain active with a functional rehabilitation program and strengthen surrounding muscles during this period.

For the first 2-3 days, swelling and discomfort are typical in the injected area.  By the end of the first week, these symptoms usually begin to resolve and physical therapy is started to optimize BMC effects and facilitate recovery.   Patients have responded to BMC treatment at varying timeframes.

Most patients require only a single BMC treatment depending on the degree of the injury.  However, in challenging cases, if a patient experiences significant relief that plateaus, they may consider a second BMC injection months later.

Unlike cortisone shots which mask symptoms and can damage tissue, BMC targets the root of the problem and attempts to heal the tissue.

While there is some slight discomfort, most patients tolerate the procedure very well and with minimal pain. The procedure is done under local anesthetic to minimize any discomfort. Post-injection soreness at the injection site is sometimes present because of an inflammatory response caused by BMC therapy. This soreness usually resolves on its own within a few days after the injection. It is important that anti-inflammatory medications such as Ibuprofen, Naproxen and Aspirin be avoided following treatments because these medicines may block the effects of the intended healing response facilitated by the post-injection inflammation. It is acceptable to use pain medication such as Tylenol, and in some cases a prescribed pain reliever which does not have anti-inflammatory properties, to control discomfort as needed.

The process is relatively simple. The patient is first numbed using a mixture of local anesthetics. Under the guidance of an X-Ray machine, the physician then removes a small amount of the patient’s bone marrow from the hip bone which is then placed into a centrifuge to separate the regenerative cells and platelets from the rest of the blood products. The final product is a concentrate which has approximately 5-10 times the baseline levels of regenerative cells and growth factors. This concentrate is then injected to the injured area under ultrasound guidance. Once introduced at the site of injury, the platelets release growth factors that tell the regenerative cells what to become, thereby initiating the regenerative response. The entire process takes approximately 2 hours and patients go home the same day.