Bone Marrow Aspirate Concentrate (BMAC) Injection

(Advanced Regenerative Therapy for Joint Pain, Tendon Injuries, and Orthopedic Conditions)

Overview

Bone Marrow Aspirate Concentrate (BMAC) therapy is an innovative, non-surgical treatment that uses your body’s own healing cells to repair damaged joints, tendons, ligaments, and cartilage. BMAC injections are especially effective for patients with chronic joint pain, tendon injuries, or early arthritis who are looking to delay or avoid surgery.

BMAC is obtained by harvesting bone marrow—typically from the pelvic bone—and processing it to concentrate mesenchymal stem cells, platelets, and growth factors. The concentrate is then re-injected into the affected area under ultrasound or fluoroscopic guidance to ensure precision and safety.

At Restore Spine and Pain, we use BMAC to help patients recover from orthopedic injuries, improve joint function, and reduce inflammation naturally.

Conditions Treated

Bone Marrow Aspirate Concentrate injections may be recommended for:

Knee osteoarthritis
Hip osteoarthritis
Shoulder arthritis
Chronic tendinopathy (e.g., Achilles tendon, patellar tendon, rotator cuff)
Partial ligament tears and soft tissue injuries
Sports injuries with incomplete healing
Post-surgical joint pain or instability

Benefits of BMAC Therapy

Utilizes your body’s own stem cells—minimizing risk of rejection
Non-surgical approach to orthopedic pain and injury
Promotes long-term healing and tissue regeneration
May improve mobility and reduce pain in joints and tendons
Ideal for patients who want to delay or avoid joint replacement surgery

What are the risks and side effects?

Risks and side effects are minimal, and serious complications are rare. We take every precaution to ensure your safety. Potential risks may include but are not limited to:

Localized pain or swelling
Infection (rare)
Bruising or bleeding at the injection site
Vasovagal reaction (fainting)
No or limited therapeutic response

Ask your provider if you have any concerns. Your physician will review the risks in detail before the procedure to ensure you are fully informed.

Pre-Procedure Information

How Should I Prepare?

Driver Required: We ask that you arrange for a driver to take you home after the procedure.
Food: You may eat a light meal 1–2 hours prior to the procedure. If sedation is planned, please follow the specific sedation protocol provided by our team.

How Should I Prepare?

Continue routine medications unless directed otherwise.
Blood thinners, Aspirin, NSAIDs, and supplements:
- Inform us in advance if you take blood thinners (e.g., Plavix, Eliquis, Xarelto, Coumadin), NSAIDs (e.g., ibuprofen, naproxen), Aspirin, or supplements that increase bleeding risk.
- Certain medications may need to be stopped for a short period of time before the injection.
- Speak with your prescribing provider to ensure it’s safe to temporarily stop these medications.
- Our team will review your medication list and coordinate with your other providers if needed.

Notify us if:

You have a fever, infection, or recent illness.
You have started antibiotics or had changes to your medications.

Sedation:

Most procedures can be performed comfortably without sedation. However, if you have anxiety or difficulty lying flat, mild sedation may be offered at the discretion of the physician. Please discuss this with your provider in advance.

What if I am pregnant?

There are serious potential risks to an unborn fetus from imaging used during this procedure (e.g., X-ray/fluoroscopy). If there is any chance you may be pregnant, please notify our team immediately and postpone the injection until pregnancy is ruled out.

Procedure Information

1. Harvesting

Bone marrow is gently aspirated from the iliac crest (pelvic bone) using local anesthetic.

2. Processing

The aspirate is processed using a specialized centrifuge to concentrate stem cells and healing factors.

3. Injection

The BMAC is precisely injected into the joint or tendon using ultrasound or fluoroscopic imaging to guide the needle to the exact site of injury

The entire outpatient procedure typically takes 60–90 minutes. Most patients return home the same day.

Post-Procedure Information

Mild soreness or swelling at the injection site is common and may last for a few days.
Ensure you stay hydrated and drink plenty of water to help promote healing.
Avoid strenuous activity or physical therapy for the first 48–72 hours.
Do not use NSAIDs (e.g., ibuprofen, naproxen) or steroids following the procedure as they may reduce BMAC efficacy.
Your provider will guide you on when to resume normal activity or exercise.

Schedule a Consultation

If you’re dealing with joint pain, tendon injury, or early arthritis, Bone Marrow Aspirate Concentrate (BMAC) therapy may be an effective non-surgical option. At Restore Spine and Pain, we offer expert image-guided regenerative treatments to help you heal naturally.