PRP, stem cell therapy, prolotherapy, and other treatments that work to rebuild damaged tissue, not just manage pain around it.
Dr. Collins explains platelet-rich plasma therapy and how it fits into regenerative care.
Conventional pain treatment, anti-inflammatories, cortisone injections, pain medication, works by interrupting pain signals or reducing inflammation. It can bring real relief, but it does not rebuild damaged cartilage, tendons, or ligaments. Regenerative medicine takes a different approach: using your body’s own biological material, or treatments that stimulate your body’s own repair processes, to actively rebuild the damaged tissue itself.
Dr. Drew Collins, ND offers a range of regenerative treatments at Proactive Choice in Bend, including platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy, stem cell therapy, prolotherapy, and exosome therapy, each working through a different biological mechanism and suited to different conditions. Central Oregon’s active, outdoor-heavy lifestyle, hiking, biking, skiing, running, means chronic joint and soft tissue injuries come up often, and regenerative options are increasingly what patients look for as an alternative to surgery or long-term pain management.
Which specific regenerative treatment fits your case depends on your condition, its severity, and your history with other treatments. That is determined through a proper evaluation, not a one-size-fits-all recommendation.
Regenerative treatments work to stimulate actual tissue repair, not just interrupt pain signals.
PRP, stem cell therapy, prolotherapy, and exosome therapy are all available, matched to your specific condition.
For appropriate candidates, regenerative treatment can be considered before or instead of surgical intervention.
Several of these treatments use your own biological material or stimulate your body’s own repair processes.
Chronic injuries from hiking, biking, skiing, and running are a common reason patients seek regenerative care.
Results and candidacy vary by individual and condition, and that is part of an honest evaluation, not oversold as guaranteed.
A thorough review of your specific injury or condition, its history, and what treatments you have already tried.
PRP, stem cell therapy, prolotherapy, or exosome therapy are considered based on what your specific case calls for.
Your chosen regenerative treatment is administered as part of a plan built around your condition and goals.
Healing is tracked over the following weeks and months, since regenerative treatment works over time rather than instantly.
Cellular treatment aimed at supporting joint and tissue repair.
Concentrated platelets from your own blood, used to stimulate healing.
Injection therapy that stimulates repair of lax ligaments and tendons.
A newer regenerative option working through cellular signaling.
Used both for regenerative and broader wellness applications.
See how regenerative medicine fits within a broader whole-person approach.
Learn more about Dr. Collins’ experience with regenerative and injection therapies.
1. What regenerative medicine options are available in Bend, Oregon?
Proactive Choice offers PRP (platelet-rich plasma) therapy, stem cell therapy, prolotherapy, and exosome therapy, each working through a different biological mechanism. The right option depends on your specific condition, its severity, and your history with other treatments. A proper evaluation determines which, if any, fits your case.
2. How is regenerative medicine different from a cortisone shot for joint pain in Bend, OR?
A cortisone injection reduces inflammation and pain temporarily but does not rebuild the underlying damaged tissue. Regenerative treatments like PRP and stem cell therapy work to actively stimulate tissue repair at the site of injury or degeneration. That is the core distinction between managing pain and working to repair what is actually causing it.
It is worth evaluating. Chronic soft tissue and joint injuries that plateau with physical therapy alone are exactly the kind of case where regenerative options like PRP, prolotherapy, or stem cell therapy get considered, since they are designed to stimulate tissue repair rather than just manage symptoms while waiting for the body to heal on its own. Given how common this injury pattern is in Central Oregon’s active outdoor community, it comes up often in the clinic.
4. Is regenerative medicine a proven alternative to surgery for Bend, Oregon patients?
For some patients and conditions, yes, though it is not a guaranteed substitute for surgery in every case. Regenerative medicine is one of the more actively researched areas in current medicine, with a growing evidence base, but candidacy and results vary by individual. A proper evaluation of your specific joint or injury is what determines whether it is a reasonable option before or instead of surgical intervention.
5. Does Proactive Choice in Bend accept insurance for regenerative medicine treatments?
No, the clinic operates as a self-pay practice and does not bill insurance directly, though HSA and FSA funds along with credit cards are accepted. This applies across all regenerative treatments offered. It is worth confirming current pricing for your specific treatment directly with the clinic.
Licensed naturopathic medicine grounded in root-cause diagnostics.
Systems-based, lab-driven root-cause investigation.
Natural therapies coordinated alongside your existing medical care.
Comprehensive testing and treatment for thyroid, adrenal, and sex hormones.
A doctor for your whole family — personal, unhurried, and genuinely likeable.
Virtual visits are available for patients who can’t easily make it into the Bend office, in addition to in-person appointments.
