I haven’t written for a while about the biologic and opportunistic parasites who prey on those in pain, assuming that in this day of readily available information with the click of a mouse, a patient seeking care would check the credentials of those claiming to be biologic experts. I was reminded that the charlatans are still taking advantage of those in pain by a patient who presented in my office this morning.
Patient History and a Cautionary Tale
The patient history was one of a back injury a decade ago for which the individual was still seeking a diagnosis as to the pain generator and therapeutic remedy. When asked about the history of prior treatment, the patient responded that there had been three Wharton Jelly injections over a period of months with the last one having taken place in the fall of 2020… all to no avail. The three injections had been administered in a chiropractor’s office by a hired emergency room physician using an ultrasound, at a five-digit price tag for each injection.
The source of the umbilical cord product had received a warning letter on August 17, 2020 from the FDA Regarding “Unapproved and Misbranded Product Related to Coronavirus Disease” but additionally for marketing a similar product “for intravenous administration to treat autoimmune conditions and dementia, and for intramuscular or intra-articular administration for cushioning and protection.” If you don’t take my word for the above, check it out at FDA.gov warning letter, August 17, 2020.
One might have believed that following Pam Zekman’s exposure in 2018 of a group of clinics “ripping” patients off with claims that amniotic fluid injections containing stem cells would eliminate skeletomuscular pain, the criminals would have left our state. Apparently, such is not the case as evidenced by the above vignette.
How then might a patient seeking pain relief from skeletomuscular damage approach a non-operative pathway?
The emerging discipline of Regenerative Medicine has a means of assuring excellence from those who use Orthobiologics in their medical practice. First and foremost, start with a board-certified musculoskeletal specialist. I have been involved with Orthobiologics for a decade integrating clinical FDA overseen research in an evidence-based practice. This afternoon, for instance, my research coordinator is on a conference call with Personalized Stem Cells, Inc., regarding a second FDA approved clinical trial, using adipose-derived stem cells for the treatment of an arthritic joint.
To learn more about Regenerative Medicine, Cellular Orthopedics and Orthobiologics, you may become better informed at www.SheinkopMD.com. Schedule an appointment by calling (312) 475-1893. Additionally, you may read more at www.PersonalizedStemcells.com, a resource for tracking the next FDA sanctioned and regulated clinical trial in an arthritic joint.