Regenerative Medicine on Long Island

“Regenerative medicine” means different things at different clinics. At Empire Minimally Invasive Spine and Pain, it means two specific treatments made from your own blood: platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections for slow-healing tendon and joint problems, and regenerative disc injections for selected cases of disc-related back pain. Our Long Island patients are seen in Plainview, New Hyde Park and Ronkonkoma.

The two regenerative treatments we offer

What the evidence says, in plain terms

We want you to make this decision with real information, not hype.

• Tendons: The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons says PRP is effective for chronic tendon injuries, especially tennis elbow. For other tendon problems, such as Achilles or patellar tendon pain, results are promising but not clearly better than standard care.
• Knee arthritis: The same AAOS page notes growing research support for PRP in low- to moderate-grade knee arthritis. It is not a fix for advanced, bone-on-bone arthritis.
• Disc pain: A small randomized trial found intradiscal PRP was safe and possibly effective for disc-related back pain. A later systematic review found the overall evidence is still limited. This is an emerging option, not an established one.

Cost and insurance

PRP is often an out-of-pocket treatment. The AAOS notes that few insurance plans, including workers’ compensation plans, pay for even part of it. Our team will check your benefits and tell you the cost before you decide. For a closer look at price, coverage and value, read Is PRP Therapy Worth It?

Who may be a good candidate

A regenerative treatment may be worth discussing if:

• You have a tendon, ligament or mild to moderate joint problem that has not healed with rest, therapy or medication
• You have long-lasting low back pain, and testing suggests a worn disc is the main cause
• You want to try a non-surgical option first, and you are comfortable that results vary

It is usually not the right choice for a fully torn tendon or ligament, advanced arthritis, or nerve pain that shoots down the leg. For sciatica, an epidural steroid injection is often a better first step.

What to expect at your visit

First, a physician reviews your symptoms, exam and imaging to confirm where the pain is coming from. If PRP or a disc injection makes sense, the procedure is done in the office. The blood draw, processing and injection usually take about 30 minutes to an hour, and you go home the same day.

Soreness at the injection site for a few days is common. Most people return to normal daily activity within a few days. Some conditions need a short series of injections spaced a few weeks apart.

Our Long Island offices

Same-week appointments are often available for new patients.

Frequently asked questions

Do you offer stem-cell therapy?

No. Empire does not offer stem-cell therapy. Our regenerative options are PRP injections and PRP-based regenerative disc injections, both made from your own blood.

Is PRP covered by insurance?

Often it is not. Many plans treat PRP as elective, so it is usually self-pay. Our team will verify your benefits and give you the cost before your treatment.

How long does it take for PRP to work?

PRP works through your body’s own healing response, so changes build gradually. Many people notice a difference over several weeks, and improvement can continue after that.

Can a regenerative disc injection help my sciatica?

It is not usually the first choice for leg pain from a pinched nerve. Regenerative disc injections are aimed at back pain that comes from the disc itself. Your physician will help you decide which treatment fits your pain.