An Interventional Pain and Sports Medicine Practice

An Interventional Pain & Sports
Medicine Practice

Amniotic Stem Cells | Barr Center | Virginia Beach, VA

“Researchers have discovered that the fresh amniotic fluid has an extremely high concentration of stem cells, even more than bone marrow in adults. When processed however at an FDA regulated lab, the biologic material ends up containing no live stem cells but the material does retain significant regenerative properties, such as growth factors, hyaluronic acid and stem cell activators.”

Amniotic Stem Cells Promote Growth

This therapy is not donated stem cells working in your damaged joint or tendon.  It is instead growth factors that activate your own stem cells. One common misperception is that there are actual live stem cells in the amniotic stem cell vial.  Unfortunately that has not been proven to be true. In fact, there are NOT likely to be any live stem cells in these treatments.

Amniotic stem cells are sold by various drug and stem cell companies who buy amniotic tissue from tissue banks who get afterbirth materials from donor mothers following childbirth. This material is then freeze dried, processed and then put up for sale.  Unfortunately, this processing process kills the actual stem cells in the preparation. Thus, “amniotic stem cell therapy,” actually relies on remnant growth factors and not donated living stem cells. The remnant growth factors in the donated amniotic tissue can however stimulate your own stem cells to work.  In this way they work very much like PRP.

One thing’s for sure- amniotic stem cell like injections are not better than one’s own stem cells or PRP for that matter.  In light of the controversy about what amniotic stem cells area and how they work inside our bodies, we at the Barr Center use it when we find autologous methods ineffective or inappropriate.

Another proposed mechanism of action of amniotic stem cell products is that they provide protein building blocks that rejuvenate aging stem cells by way of DNA telomere support. This has not been proven. In stem cell therapy, stem cell activators are the building block or the scaffold which the stem cells begin its repair.  What are some of the claims of amniotic preparations based on?

  • The therapeutic potential of human amniotic and placental tissue grafts in wound healing has been well established. Early use of fresh (not freeze dried) amniotic membrane containing both amnion and chorion has proved beneficial in treating ulcers, burns and dermal injuries
  • The growth factors in fresh amniotic and placental tissue are known to play critical roles in normal wound healing, including cell proliferation and chemotaxis (cell migration and movement to the site of injury), as well as promoting angiogenesis (blood vessel formation), deposition of Extracellular Matrix (the scaffold where stem cells grow) and regulating inflammation.

Can the Barr Center Help You with Pain Relief?

Call us at 757-578-2260 or email us at Info@BarrCenter.com to get started on  therapies that relieve your pain.

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Conditions we treat: Neck PainShoulder PainBack PainHip Pain and Knee Pain.  We sometimes combine Physical Therapy in our treatments.

INNOVATIVE PAIN & REGENERATIVE THERAPIES
INNOVATIVE PAIN & REGENERATIVE THERAPIES
Expert care for spine, joint, nerve, sports injuries, and chronic pain.

Find Relief From the Conditions Holding You Back

Dr. Lisa Barr is a leading pain management physician in Virginia Beach with over 35 years of experience diagnosing and treating spine, joint, nerve, and musculoskeletal pain. As a Board Certified PM&R specialist, she focuses on whole-body, non-surgical solutions that uncover the true root cause of pain. She is also the international bestselling author of Outsmart Your Pain and one of the region’s most experienced experts in regenerative medicine, PRP, and advanced biologic therapies.

Spinal Conditions
  • Neck Pain
  • Mid Back Pain
  • Low Back Pain
  • Pelvic Pain
  • SacroiIiac Joint Pain
  • Hypermobility
  • Myofascial Pain
    • Trigger Point
      injections
    • What is Sarapin?
  • Fibromyalgia
  • EOS/Hypermobility
    Syndrome
  • Autoimmunity
    • LDN (Low dose
      Natrexone)
    • Testing
  • Prolotherapy
  • Neuroprolotherapy
  • Neural Therapy
  • Cold Laser
  • Entrapment Neuropathy
    • Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
    • Radial & Ulnar Nerve Entrapment
    • Lower Extremity Entrapment
    • Occipital Neuritis
  • Scar Tissue
  • Peripheral Neuropathy
    • Fatty Acid Testing & Specialized Therapies
    • Cold Laser
    • Nutritional Support
  • Neck Pain
  • Mid Back Pain
  • Low Back Pain
  • Pelvic Pain
  • SacroiIiac Joint Pain
  • Hypermobility
  • Inner Arsenal
  • Vagus Nerve Support
  • Power over Pain Mindset
  • Breathing Practices
Resources

Chronic Pain Management Articles

Barr Center Video Playlist

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OVERVIEW

The Barr Center for Innovative Pain and Regenerative Therapies, led by Dr. Lisa Barr, is dedicated to helping people in pain. With over forty years of experience, Dr. Barr and her staff offer a range of evaluation and treatment options, including osteopathic assessment, trigger point injections, prolotherapy, and regenerative therapies. They prioritize a caring atmosphere and involve patients in their own care, ensuring they understand the recommended treatments. If necessary, they collaborate with other professionals to provide a comprehensive approach. Dr. Barr’s expertise has been recognized with the Top Doc award for thirty years.

FAQ

Pain Management and Treatment

The Barr Center for Innovative Pain & Regenerative Therapies is located at:

933 First Colonial Road, Suite 200
Virginia Beach, VA 23454

Phone: 757-578-2260
Email: info@BarrCenter.com

Monday–Thursday: 8:30 am–5:00 pm

Friday: Closed (note: physician on call)

Not always. Some insurance plans—especially HMOs—require a referral before seeing a specialist. To confirm what your specific plan requires, call your insurance provider or contact our office at 757-578-2260.

We accept most major insurance plans (except Medicaid). If your plan requires a referral or pre-authorization to see a specialist, you will need one for your first visit. After your initial consultation, our office obtains any future pre-authorizations, sometimes with assistance from your referring provider. Visit our Patient Resources page for details.

Yes. We offer telemedicine visits for certain appointment types, including follow-up visits and treatment discussions. Some procedures require in-office evaluation, and our team will help determine whether a virtual visit is appropriate.

Conditions and Treatment Questions

Led by pain management specialist Lisa Barr, M.D., the Barr Center provides comprehensive musculoskeletal and pain treatments including:

• Acupuncture
• Mind-body medicine and lifestyle optimization
• Interventional spinal procedures
• Sports medicine
• Physical therapy
• Regenerative medicine (PRP, prolotherapy)

We treat a wide range of pain and musculoskeletal conditions, including:

• Neck, shoulder, hip, back, and knee pain
• Sports injuries and repetitive strain conditions
• Posture, sleep, and movement-related pain
• Car accident injuries, including whiplash

Our approach provides proven alternatives to surgery and long-term medications through targeted injections, hands-on physical therapy, acupuncture, lifestyle guidance, and regenerative medicine.

If your pain is persistent, recurring, or limiting daily activities, it is time for an evaluation. We assess how your joints move, how your muscles function, and whether lifestyle factors are contributing to your symptoms.

We offer a comprehensive, root-cause approach to pain in a boutique practice setting.

Our team is highly specialized, and we combine interventional pain medicine, regenerative therapies, physical therapy, and whole-person care—all under one roof.

Our team includes board-certified physicians, licensed physical therapists, regenerative medicine specialists, acupuncture providers, and experienced clinical support staff with focused expertise in musculoskeletal medicine and pain management.

Preparing for your First Appointment

To help make your first visit efficient, please bring:

• Photo ID
• Insurance card
• Referral (if required by your insurance)
• Completed new-patient paperwork
• Co-pay, if applicable

If you have MRIs, CT scans, X-rays, or lab results, please have your referring provider fax them to our office. You may also download our Medical Records Request Form to expedite the process.

Experiencing Pain? Reach Out For Medication-Free Treatment