Sunshine Medical Centers is offering exciting new opportunities for patients with knee, shoulder, hip, elbow and ankle osteoarthritis. The Advanced Arthritis Relief Protocol (AARP) is for patients who have tried conventional treatments such as rest and medication, prior injections, physical rehabilitative exercises, and home exercise. These patients may have been told that they are “bone on bone” and need complete knee or hip replacement surgery.

But what would you say if you were told that surgery can be delayed for years or even prevented entirely? The first step to finding out is to schedule a consultation to see if you are a candidate for AARP.

Osteoarthritis occurs when a joint and its surrounding tissues degrade. This is caused by many factors, such as poor nutrition, genetics, injury's disuse atrophy, and/or a loss of fluid in the joints. The joint hurts, so you don’t move it as much, which actually makes it worse. You begin to have pain, stiffness, and decreased range of motion.

Sunshine Medical Centers incorporates:

• Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) treatments
• Physical rehabilitative exercises
• Viscosupplementation (hyaluronic acid)
• Specialized bracing based on region and diagnosis

Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Treatments

For PRP treatments, we take your blood and spin it into a centrifuge. Golden liquid rises to the top. This is platelet-rich plasma, which contains up to eight times the concentration of normal platelet levels. PRP contains several different growth factors and other cytokines that can stimulate healing of soft tissues such as muscles, ligaments, and tendons. We inject that concentrated PRP back into the injured or degraded area, where it stimulates your body to heal itself.

This therapy has been shown to be safe and effective in treating conditions and injuries such as:

• Hip girdle muscle pain and hamstring tendonitis in the back and hips
• Lateral and medial epicondylitis in the elbows
• Ligament sprains in the wrists and hands
• Patellar tendonitis, meniscus tears, and cartilage defects in the knees
• Plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendonitis, and sprains in the ankles and feet
• Rotator cuff tendonitis and partial tears in the shoulders

How do you know if PRP is right for you?

• Your pain has lasted at least three months (for chronic conditions).
• You have sprains, strains, or tears of muscles, ligaments, or tendons (acute conditions).
• Your symptoms and examination results are consistent with diagnosis.
• You have persistent pain despite standard non-operative treatment.
• Your condition can be seen on diagnostic imaging, such as x-ray, MRI, CT and/or ultrasound.
• You wish to delay or avoid surgery.

PRP is not currently covered by health insurance, however it is much less expensive than other treatments and flexible financing options are available.

TriVisc® 850 Regimen

Not sure what to do for your arthritic knee pain?

Hyaluronic acid knee injections can provide the relief you’re looking for. TriVisc® 850 is a revolutionary product that has been developed to successfully treat knee pain, inflammation, and stiffness due to osteoarthritis.

How Does It Work?
The fluid in your knee, known as synovial fluid, is designed to lubricate and cushion your knee during movement. As the early stages of osteoarthritis take hold, this fluid breaks down and makes everyday activities like climbing stairs more painful.

Hyaluronic acid is the key component of our knee’s synovial fluid which makes movement easy and naturally pain-free. It is also the active ingredient of TriVisc® 850. A prescribed regimen of TriVisc® 850 injections restore the synovial fluid in your knee and reduces the pain, inflammation, and stiffness you experience from osteoarthritis.

How Safe is TriVisc® 850?
TriVisc® 850 is an intra-articular injection, which is injected into the space of the affected joint. Clinical studies have shown that 5 injections of TriVisc® 850 given at weekly intervals provides the best pain relief. The benefits of TriVisc® 850 are typically felt after the third injection, but this can vary for each patient.

How Long Can I Expect the Relief to Last?
Each patient reacts to TriVisc® 850 differently, but the benefits are known to last for months. In clinical studies, many patients experienced at least 6 months of pain relief, sometimes longer.

Can I Take Other Medications with TriVisc® 850?
You can take other medications with TriVisc® 850. There are no known drug interactions and TriVisc® 850 doesn’t interfere with other pain relievers and anti-inflammatory drugs. You should still discuss all your current medications and vitamin supplements with us on a periodic basis.

Will My Insurance Cover TriVisc® 850?
Medicare and most insurance providers cover TriVisc® 850. The reimbursement process varies from plan to plan, so be sure to talk with us and your insurance provider to find out if TriVisc® 850 is covered before you begin treatment.

Viscosupplementation

In viscosupplementation, we replenish the lubrication you’ve lost. We use Hyalgen, a pure, natural form of hyaluronic acid which is the most effective form due to its long-lasting results. Hyalgen cushions and lubricates your joints and has very few side effects and interactions. It works by binding with your own fluid-producing cells to teach them to start producing cells again. It is not considered a drug and it is FDA-approved for use by medical specialists.