Joint pain, stiffness and swelling aren’t always inevitable results of aging
The above headline announced a featured article in the May 10, 2023 edition of the New York Times. Last Saturday night, my wife and I attended the Chicago Symphony Orchestra concert and watched Riccardo Muti conduct Rachmaninoff’s hour-long Second Symphony; Muti, born July 28, 1941, made sure the energy never lagged and the orchestra’s focus never wavered. As I marveled at the composition, I was also struck by how the conductor virtually completed a continuous aerobic workout at times almost genuflexing while at others, leaving his feet to reinforce his message to the orchestra. Not bad for someone who will soon celebrate his 82nd birthday.
My own musical career encompassed six months of piano lessons and a recital after which I focused my attention instead on 16-inch softball, football, and basketball. Maybe that is why I have arthritic joints and Maestro Muti is able to jump around the podium while conducting. We are separated in age by two months. I can still hear my mother asking me to practice our piano and “I don’t want you to play football”. That was then and here I am with arthritic joints. So, what am I doing about my symptoms and limitations? In the next several weeks, I will be receiving biologic interventions into two knees and my left hip. The treatment options will include adipose-derived Stem Cells; Plasma Rich Growth Factors; and A2M, the master proteinase inhibitor. As my arthritic knees and hip are still at Grade 3, the data clearly gives me a good chance at restoring function, diminishing symptoms, and postponing, perhaps avoiding joint replacements.
As far as our day-to-day office activities are concerned, in addition to our standard menu of cell-based therapies, we are still offering two studies using orthobiologics. One study involves an abdominal Mini liposuction under local anesthesia; while the other is Bone Marrow Concentrate focused. As I have previously mentioned in my Blog, I will be retiring from clinical practice on July 31, 2023. Dr. Siddharth Tambar will be absorbing my practice at that time. More to come about Dr. Tambar later. Until July 31, I am still treating patients and performing procedures. You may learn more at my website, www.sheinkopmd.com. To schedule a consultation call (312) 475-1893.
Photo Source Attribution credit: Zell Music Director Riccardo Muti leads the CSO in a program of works by Wagner, Montgomery, and Rachmaninov on Thursday night at Symphony Center. © Todd Rosenberg Photography