Feb 26, 2015
As we statistically analyze our Outcomes data, in preparation for presentation at 2015 Regenerative Medicine Meetings, it becomes increasingly apparent that Cellular Orthopedics is not a “one and done” event. Neither for that matter is a total joint replacement. While skiing in Vail last week, I was in the company of two Sheinkop patient alumni, one a patient under 40 who had undergone Bone Marrow Concentrate hip intervention for advanced osteoarthritis several years ago and one, a 70 year old who had undergone stem cell intervention for his arthritic knees back in 2012. Yes, I take care of friends and they still are speaking to me. Not only do they communicate but, bike and fish with me as well. In both cases as I followed their initial responses, I convinced them of the value of a second procedure and in both cases, it really worked. The younger Sheinkop alumnus is a boarder, the older, a skier. Nevertheless in both cases, they are still extremely active in spite of advanced arthritis in major joints. Might only one stem cell intervention be necessary if I could treat you earlier in the arthritic process? That’s to be determined by ongoing clinical surveillance. The important issue is that both individuals are examples of the potential of Bone Marrow Aspirate Concentrate. There are many more and in the coming days I will Blog about statistically significant Outcomes as I prepare my speeches and manuscripts. Incidentally, while skiing in Vail last week, I happened to change the channel from a sporting even to the movie, Casablanca. Truly, one of the greatest movies of all time; of the great quotes was Rick Blaine’s “here’s looking at you kid” (Humphrey Bogart). What really caught my attention in addition to Ilsa Lund (Ingrid Bergman) was her quote “Play it once, Sam. For old times’ sake”.
How do the stem cells work? It may not just be the stem cells that make a difference in an arthritic joint. We now know that Bone Marrow contains in addition to stem cells, two other major areas of benefit, Growth Factors and Cytokines. While the Adult Mesenchymal Stem Cell may help regenerate cartilage damaged by injury and arthritis, it is the Growth factors and Cytokines that also play an equally important role in the anti-inflammatory effect and reversal of the arthritic process. What happens when we concentrate and prepare the Bone Marrow and execute the Cellular Orthopedic intervention following the Regenexx algorithm of care is reversal or at least a slowing of the arthritic process, a diminution of pain, an improved functional capacity and a delay, maybe avoidance, of a total joint replacement. While there still may be a need for an occasional Tylenol after a BMAC/Stem Cell intervention, you have a good chance of joining me as an alumnus on the slopes, on the bike, wading up a trout stream, or in a fitness pursuit. As well, we may have to do it again in a year or two; but I have yet to record a complication. “Play it once, Sam. For old times’ sake” or in the stem cell world, play it again Dr. Sheinkop to keep me going.
Tags: arthritis, athletes, Benefits and Risk, bone marrow, Bone Marrow Concentrate, Hip Replacement, Interventional Orthopedics, joint replacement, Knee, Knee Pain Relief, Mature Athlete, medicine, Orthopedic Care, Orthopedics, Osteoarthritis, Pain Management, Regenexx, Regenexx-SD, stem cells, treatment
Feb 9, 2015
As we worked away in our Chicago offices last week, a group of five skiers were Helicopter skiing along the Columbian River basin in British Columbia. What is so special is that each of the five is over age 65 and three of them are able to ski because of the care received in my office. 15 years ago, while I was still a joint replacement surgeon, one of the five underwent a uni-compartmental knee replacement. About six years later, because of progression of the arthritis in the remaining compartments of his knee, I converted the “UNI” to a Mobile Bearing Knee Prosthesis. Fast forward to 2012 when I began Bone Marrow Aspirate Concentrate/ Stem Cell interventions for an arthritic joint to postpone or prevent a joint replacement. The patient for whom I performed those surgical reconstructions presented with end stage arthritis and thus would not have been a candidate for a Cellular Orthopedic Regenerative procedure. The other two skiers ascending the slopes via helicopter in search of fresh limitless powder have undergone Bone Marrow Aspirate Concentrate / Stem cell procedures over the last 24 months and there they are enjoying an ultimate skiing experience as “master “ skiers. As a point of reference for my notion of the continuum of care for the scope of cellular orthopedics, one of those two has undergone the procedure several times. The first year, it was for the left knee. The second round was for the right knee and this year, a “refresher” for both knees. While actually thinking about this Blog, I received the following ALERT real time from the lodge –I just received word from the five skiers that there is a blizzard so the helicopter couldn’t fly this morning but the group hopes to get out this afternoon.
If I have piqued your interest, read more about skiing here: Knee Stem cells in Chicago and Heliskiing-Regenexx. Not only is the article of interest, you get to see what I looked like in 2012 in my retro ski outfit.
The January 13, 2015, article Stem Cell ACL: Cutting Edge Knee Repair Sans Surgery appearing in www.onthesnow.com is also informative and it features one of my five alumni.
Reader be aware, Cellular Orthopedic benefits are not only realized by heli-skiers. What happened next to those skiers was that the rains came and that resulted in a premature ending of their Canadian Mountain Heli-skiing adventure. Now for the happy outcome, the group went back home and this week, each member is preparing for a repeat ultimate skiing endeavor by returning to training on their road bicycles in this balmy weather.
Tags: arthritis, athletes, Benefits and Risk, Bone Marrow Concentrate, Clinical Studies, Interventional Orthopedics, joint replacement, Knee Pain Relief, Mature Athlete, medicine, Orthopedic Surgeon, Orthopedics, Osteoarthritis, Pain Management, Regenerative, Regenexx, stem cells, treatment
Feb 2, 2015
The world of Regenerative Orthopedics began in the United States with the publication of a scientific article reporting the results of platelet rich plasma in the treatment of knee arthritis. That took place about six years ago. No one really understood at the time of the publication why something so important in the clotting cascade of the human body would be beneficial in the treatment of an arthritic joint.
The next step in improving results of Platelet Rich Plasma injections for an arthritic joint was the understanding that whereas one injection would help, three injections over a three month period would improve outcomes. Scientists began further efforts at understanding why the platelet, so critical in the clotting cascade, would be beneficial in treating arthritis, and soon a better understanding of how platelets function came to be appreciated.
Platelets are the primary source of bioactive tissue growth factors. When concentrated they are potent. When activated, they release their growth factors and cytokines in clinically active quantities. Regenexx has developed a formula for superior concentrations and immediate activation. Whereas most Platelet Rich Plasma is created at bedside, we create ours in a laboratory with maximum concentration and prompt activation. Our research supports better stem cell growth following the Regenexx SCP procedure. Although the Regenexx Stem Cell Plasma formula is part of the Bone Marrow Aspirate Concentrate algorithm, we now are able to offer it when indicated as an independent intervention when Bone Marrow Concentrate is not possible. In addition, it is a wonderful “booster” when anticipated milestones with Bone Marrow Aspirate Concentrate are not met. Let me cite two patient examples.
Two years ago, an 83 year old man was selling his condo in Palm Springs because his arthritic knee would no longer tolerate a round of golf and his co-morbidity posed a very high risk for a joint replacement. He sought consultation and I recommended a Regenexx SCP intervention. Three weeks after the procedure, he took his condo off the market and returned to Palm Springs for the winter migration from Chicago. I spoke with him via phone in August and he had purchased his tickets for the return migration to the desert this winter.
36 weeks ago, I performed a Bone Marrow Aspirate Concentrate/Stem Cell intervention into the right hip of a 29 year old man with early onset degenerative arthritis. At six weeks, he was 25% symptomatically improved. At 12 weeks, he was 50% improved. At 18 weeks, he was still 50% improved so I administered a C-SCP booster. At 36 weeks he is 80% improved and thrilled. Cellular Orthopedics requires a continuum of monitoring and possibly more than one intervention.
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Tags: arthritis, athletes, Benefits and Risk, bone marrow, Bone Marrow Concentrate, Concentrated Stem Cell Plasma, Interventional Orthopedics, Knee Pain Relief, Mature Athlete, medicine, Orthopedic Care, Orthopedics, Osteoarthritis, Pain Management, Platelet Rich Plasma, PRP, Regenerative, Regenexx, Regenexx-SD, stem cells, treatment
Jan 29, 2015
From a Patient in Canada
On January 20, 2015
“Thank you, Doctor,
How are you today? Hope well.
My Mom is very grateful for your kind help, mentions your name frequently and wants to schedule the 3rd Rx-SD visit to your office in 2-3 months.
Please provide us with the special 50% discounted price for the procedure similar to the last time in July and the time convenient for you if possible.
Thank you for your help.
My Mom is currently almost free of pain, walks around the house with a walker. The 2nd Rx-SD procedure on July 9,11, 2014 went really well and with the anesthesia was painless. My Mom trusts you, wants to see you every 8-12 months and to start walking without a walker this summer.”
This was the Holiday greeting last month
“Thank you, Doctor,
We wish you a merry Xmas and all the best in 2015.
Thanks to your kindness and knowledge, we found you when we were in real pain and needed you the most and you saved us. My Mom is very gratefull to You, calls you God and mentions your name daily, she’s feeling better only because of your help. My Mom and I both wishing you good health and all the happiness, many years ahead and a Happy New Year 2015.
Thank you for your help
Kind Regards,”
On Oct 7, 2014, at 8:32 AM
“Thank you, Doctor,
3 months passed after the 2nd SD procedure (9 July).
My Mom feels a better improvement now vs right after the 1st procedure.
We have no words to express how grateful we are.
She still uses a walker but occasionally tries a bit on her own with a cane. The pain is almost gone, just occasionally when its rainy or she stands for too long. She didn’t find a great improvement after the PRP refill (2 May), followed by the 1st SD procedure (4 Dec).
What do you think, Doctor, should she just do the 3rd SD procedure in 6-11 months or is it better to do the PRP refill now prior to this. I was surprised to learn the latest Rx SD 2013-14 data show the result doesn’t depend on age (74), OA severity (3), BMI (35).
With BMI=35 what’s the average total hrs per day should she stand/walk?
Thank you for your help.
Kind Regards, “
On Aug 9, 2014, at 12:16 PM
“Thank you, Doctor,
The 2nd SD procedure on 9 July went well and with the knees anesthesia was very painless. After 1 month my Mom feels good, no pain, just a little bit of pain when its humid and raining, still can’t walk without a walker.
My Mom is really grateful for your help and hopes to start walking one day.
Thank you for your help.
Kind Regards,”
Tags: arthritis, Benefits and Risk, Bone Marrow Concentrate, Hip, Hip Replacement, Interventional Orthopedics, joint replacement, Orthopedic Care, Orthopedics, Osteoarthritis, Pain Management, Regenexx, Regenexx-SD, stem cells, treatment
Jan 22, 2015
With all of our attention directed to arthritis, patients need to be reminded of the continued successes we are experiencing when using Bone Marrow Concentrate in fractures that fail to heal. When a fracture fails to heal in the expected average time, that is a Delayed Union. When it looses the ability to heal all together, that’s a Non-Union. The reasons that a fracture might fail to heal are beyond the scope of this Blog but non-union is not a rare complication. Areas of predilection toward difficulty in healing have to do with blood supply. The upper end of the femur (hip), navicular bone at the wrist, upper end of the humerus (shoulder), and clavicle as well as the tibia are areas of predilection. Historically, the only remedy has been a major operative procedure and even at that, there is a high failure rate with multiple complications including infection. It has been said that the only thing worse than an infected non-union is cancer. Let me share with you the story of two recent patients for whom I successfully intervened with Bone Marrow Concentrate when prior attempts at achieving fracture healing, one through surgery had failed.
VDVR is a 46-year-old woman who ten years ago sustained multiple fractures to her spine and lower extremities while serving in Iraq. She had undergone numerous surgical procedures, all successful except the inability to cause healing of fractures to her left calcaneus and talus. She had been left with Oxycontin addiction and crutch dependency. After several further orthopedic consultations she had a choice of amputation or more major surgical repair attempts with only 50% chance of success. Twelve weeks ago, I performed a Bone Marrow Concentrate/ Stem Cell intervention to her left calcaneus and talus. Last week she called and indicated she no longer required narcotics and could walk without crutches. The X-ray I received a day or two after the call was indicative of fracture healing.
JM is a 76-year old man with an established non-union of the left clavicle, of several years duration. He was experiencing arthritic changes in his left shoulder and asked me to try and achieve healing of the clavicle, even after several years while I was injecting Bone Marrow Concentrate into his arthritic left shoulder. About 16 weeks ago, I completed a stem cell intervention to his left shoulder and into the area of non-union of the outer one-third of the left clavicle. When I saw him in follow-up last week, the collarbone was completely healed. He had been afraid to undergo a surgical repair because of the high incidence of infection, failure and neurovascular injury associated with surgery of non-union at the clavicle.
These are but two illustrations of what is happening in the new world of Cellular Orthopedics. The initiative is gaining traction in the orthopedic world as I more and more success stories are realized
Tags: arthritis, athletes, Benefits and Risk, Bone Marrow Concentrate, Fracture, Interventional Orthopedics, Non-Union Fracture, Orthopedic Care, Orthopedics, Osteoarthritis, Pain Management, Regenexx, shoulder, stem cells, treatment
