Do you have osteoarthritis or other joint injury and are dealing with pain?

Have you had platelet-rich plasma (PRP) or extracellular vesicle injections (exosomes), which helped improve mobility and activity level, but are still dealing with some residual pain from the injury or osteoarthritis?

If this is your predicament, then you may need Alpha-2 macroglobulin(A2M) injections, otherwise known as A2M. 

I know that you’re probably thinking, what is A2M? A2M is a macroglobulin, which is a form of protein molecule, that is found in your blood. When it comes to A2M, this macroglobulin will bind to some things that are called proteases. Proteases are enzymes, like digestive enzymes that help you break down food, but instead they break down proteins and collagen. Now this is very important to know because your tendons, ligaments, and cartilage (surface of ends of bones that help cause smooth movement in joints) are all made of collagen, and are needed to maintain healthy joints.

The A2M molecule has a bait area that binds to active proteases, and other molecules that can cause pain and break down tissues. And when A2M binds to these harmful, pain-causing molecules, it changes its shape to trap them like a Venus flytrap (see picture; Vandooren, 2021). Once the proteases and other harmful molecules bind and the A2M molecule changes shape, it can then safely move the harmful molecules to be eliminated from the body.

This helps to reduce further breakdown of tissues and decrease pain in the areas where healing is occurring. A2M does have some growth factors as well, but it may not be as strong of an reaction as Platelet-rich plasma or extracellular vesicle injections, so often it is a good idea when treating osteoarthritis or a joint injury to have a combination of those injections with A2M. That way you can promote healing of the tissue, reduce pain and deter further degradation of the tissue, so that you can get back to doing the things you love, and move the way that you want to.

So if you are interested in reducing pain and adding on to your platelet-rich plasma or extracellular vesicle injections, contact Dr. TyRonda Smith at Chambers Clinic about how A2M may be a right fit for you.