Healing from Within: Regenerative Medicine in Pain Therapy.

This article reviews 6 categories of regenerative therapies for chronic pain, including cell-based therapies, biologics, gene therapy, exosomes, tissue engineering, and biophysical stimuli. While mesenchymal stem cells, bone marrow aspirate concentrate, and adipose-derived stem cells show promise for mild conditions like knee osteoarthritis and lateral epicondylitis, no regenerative therapy is Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved for chronic pain. Platelet-rich plasma and autologous conditioned serum are not FDA-approved as stand-alone treatments. Clinical guidance includes holding nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, avoiding cytotoxic anesthetics, and managing expectations. The article highlights legal risks related to biologics and stresses need for standardized protocols and high-quality trials.