Jun 14, 2018
Over five years ago, I exchanged a scalpel for a needle and thus entered a developing discipline of cellular orthopedics. My goal was to assist patients with joint afflictions and orthopedic conditions delay, perhaps avoid a surgical procedure by capturing their body’s restorative or regenerative potential and applying evidence-based techniques.
To meet these goals, I introduced the same integration of clinical care with patient outcomes that I had pioneered over a 37-year Joint Replacement career at a major academic orthopedic center in Chicago where I retired as director of the Joint replacement Program. A data base was established and the outcomes of every patient who has undergone a Cellular Orthopedic procedure has been entered into that Data Base regulated by IRB over-site.
Now I am ready to begin sharing the outcomes we have gathered with statistically documented evidence concerning who is a candidate for Cellular Orthopedics, what is the best customized approach for a particular regenerative or restorative procedure and when to advise a patient that surgery might be a better option.
This past weekend, I had a poster exhibit on display at the TOBI meeting in Las Vegas in which I reported preliminary outcomes of a combined Intraarticular and Intraosseous (subchondroplasty) Bone Marrow Concentrate intervention for grades 2 and 3 Osteoarthritis at the knee. I am now working on four presentations as an invited guest speaker at the October meeting of Med Rebels, a well-attended regenerative medicine conference for continuing education credits concerning patient outcomes for different aspects of Cellular Orthopedic recorded in my data base.
What we have learned in these past five years plus is that everyone doesn’t respond to regenerative medicine interventions. You may best gain in-site as to why by reading a blog that I wrote exploring reasons for lack of successes: When Bone Marrow Concentrate Intervention Fails. On the other hand, in part due to the evidence I have gained as well as continuing technological advances, I have a better idea as to who is a candidate for regenerative medicine.
To learn if you are a candidate, schedule a consultation at (312) 475-1893. You may access my web site where you will find my webinar www.Ilcellulartherapy.com.
Tags: arthritis, artificial joint, blood plasma, bone marrow, bone marrow lesion, cellular orthopedics, joint pain, joint replacement, knee pain, Med Rebels, Orthopedic Surgeon, Orthopedics, Osteoarthritis, platelet, stem cells, surgery, TOBI
May 31, 2018
It is the most banal, recurring, boring, ordinary and meaningless phrase that my assistant and I have to listen to on the phone or at every office setting. Osteoarthritis is a disease that affects almost all persons to some extent as they age. It may affect one joint, some joints or many joints. The causes may include genetic predisposition, trauma, or any of varying diseases at different ages. No matter the causation be the arthritis primary or secondary, the presentation is progressive pain and decreasing function. The X-ray is diagnostic in most cases: loss of cartilage joint space, subchondral sclerosis and osteophyte formation. The pain generator is inflammation and not bone on bone. Images help with diagnosis; but the degree of arthritic change on X-ray does not necessarily correlate with the severity of the symptoms or the functional impairment.
A normal joint has a bony support, a cartilage interface, a synovial lining, a capsular envelope, stabilizing ligaments and surrounding muscle. All these anatomic structures are affected by the inflammation associated with degenerative changes on a bio-immune basis. When a physician undertakes the care of an arthritic joint, the management is based on addressing the inflammatory pain generators and not until the subchondral bone is severely altered and the cartilage gliding surface has been severely destroyed is a joint replacement indicated (Grade 4 OA). Until that time the classic approach has been weight loss, anti-inflammatories either by mouth or via injection, bracing, strength training, range of motion therapy; that is, until the new world of cellular orthopedics came into being.
My initial approach in my practice is to address pain and altered function from inflammation of osteoarthritis, not “bone on bone”. By a combination and concentration of platelets and growth factors, I now have the ability to reverse the pain generating arthritic inflammation and alter the bio-immune basis for degeneration of the joint; this is called joint preservation. On the other hand, my initiative for joint regeneration is based on autologous bone marrow concentrate; the latter containing in addition to platelets and growth factors, adult mesenchymal stem cells, precursor cells, hemopoietic stem cells and more. The attempts at joint regeneration are directed both to the joint itself by intraarticular injection and subchondral injection; the latter to help repair the supporting bone.
There is a lot to process here so let me address your needs best and answer your questions following an office assessment and a review of images. Call (312) 475-1893 to schedule a consultation. You may learn more on my website www.Ilcellulartherapy.com where you will find our webinar
Tags: arthritis, Bone Marrow Concentrate, bone on bone, Cartilage, Hip pain, joint pain, knee pain, Mesenchymal Stem Cell, Osteoarthritis, PRP, Regenerative Pain Center
May 14, 2018
“Mitch, not sure if you heard, but the FDA via the DOJ has requested injunctions against the mothership clinics of Berman and Lander, as well as the US Stem Cell clinic run by Comella. We can hope that criminal indictments might follow, since they certainly are some of the most flagrant violators of the law in recent med I can think of. The SCIA group can’t be too far behind. It seems that advertising all kinds of cures for everything that ails the patient makes you a higher priority target.” (Personal communication)
I am dedicated to providing patients with the best possible care in regenerative medicine and am pleased to announce that I have adopted a technology platform developed by Greyledge Technologies (Vail, CO). Their technology to generate platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and bone marrow-derived cell concentrate (BMC) is derived from successfully operating a laboratory that is registered with the FDA (listed as a “component preparation and collection facility”, FEI 3008724474), which has cleared two audits with no issues. Based on their platform, I offer my patients customized therapy, since each preparation is analyzed for platelets, red blood cells and white blood cells (among 23 parameters), which I review prior to treatment. This knowledge permits me to make adjustments based on my more than 40 years of experience in orthopedic surgical and now cellular orthopedic practice. No other system or technology gives me this kind of capability to personalize your treatment.
As a result of the technology I have adopted, my office has been able to create a scientific outcomes data base using the same parameters in cellular orthopedics as when I was the director at one of the five largest joint replacement programs in the country. At that time, I pioneered the integration of patient are with research and education. The latter allowed me to rise to the position of full professor; having publish over 75 scientific articles in the field of hip and knee joint replacement. I am happy to update you with the fact that I am at it again. On June 10, my paper concerning the preliminary outcomes of combined intraarticular and intraosseous stem cell intervention for knee arthritis will be presented in Las Vegas at of The Orthopedic and Biologic Institute (TOBI) annual meeting. The manuscript concerning Autologous Bone Marrow Concentrate and Platelet Product for Symptomatic Knee Arthritis: A Randomized Controlled Trial, Minimum 2 Year Follow-Up was submitted to a major orthopedic journal and is one of three papers I have been invited to deliver from the scientific podium of The Medrebels, October 26 to 28 meeting in Austin, Texas.
If you want to avail yourself of the best opportunity to postpone, perhaps avoid a joint replacement for arthritis while enjoying pain relief and restoration of an active life style, chose science over advertised anecdote. Call (312) 475-1893 to schedule an appointment. You may access my website and watch the webinar at www.Ilcellulartherapy.com.
Tags: APGC injection, arthritis, BMC injection, Bone Marrow Concentrate, bone on bone, Greyledge, Growth Factor Concentrate, Hip pain, intraarticular, intraosseous, joint pain, knee pain, Medrebels, Osteoarthritis, PRP, stem cell intervention, TOBI
Apr 30, 2018
In the ongoing initiative to remain in the forefront of cellular orthopedic offerings for arthritis, “a needle, not a knife”, it was time to advance my skills when dealing with low back pain. About 70% of my patients, in addition to major joint disease, present with degenerative disc and facet joint generated symptoms. At times, it is difficult to determine as to whether hip and knees symptoms come from those joints or are referred from the low back so off I went for Continuing Education. Arriving in San Jose on Thursday, mid- day, and activating my cell phone to see how the world might have changed over the past 4 1/2 hours during my flight, I found an e-mail from my daughter, a physical therapist:
Jack Nicklaus reveals his secret, experimental stem cell therapy in CNN interview
“I’m not a doctor, but I think that stem cell is going to change…the direction of orthopedics, totally,” Nicklaus said, remarking the procedure has given him the opportunity to keep teeing it up. “As long as my stem cells allow me…Golf is a game of a lifetime, I hope to play for my lifetime”. –Joel Beall
How about that one for timing; thank you CNN. Now we may add to the list of celebrities who have undergone regenerative medicine interventions but golfing great Jack Nicklaus deserves special attention. Unlike the star athletes who continually undergo stem cell and PRP interventions so as to compete such as Fred Couples, Steph Curry and an ever- increasing list; Nicklaus underwent a restorative procedure to his back so he could just enjoy a painless round of golf. It is Sunday and I am headed home. Now I am better prepared to help you restore your active lifestyle and overcome limitations imposed by osteoarthritis in a major joint or the low back.
The algorithm of care requires an office assessment and review of images including X-rays, MRIs and at times, a CT scan. Whether further preliminary study is needed will be subsequently determined; and I emphasize, the process may not be “one and done”. After age 45, it more often than not restoration, not regeneration, so maintenance may periodically be needed. Last of all, the improvement following any regenerative or restorative intervention may take 6 to 12 weeks at a minimum.
The next step is your phone call to schedule a consultation. (312) 475-1893
You may view my web site and watch the webinar at www.Ilcellulartherapy.com
A website update to include the low back is forthcoming
Tags: arthritis, degenerative disc, jack nicklaus, low back pain, lumbar pain, Osteoarthritis, regenerative medicine, stem cell therapy
Apr 26, 2018
On Wednesday, I completed several bone marrow concentrate procedures for patients with arthritic knees. You will recall that Concentrated Bone Marrow contains living Adult Mesenchymal Stem Cells, Growth Factors, Platelets, Exosomes, Precursor Cells and more allowing for pain relief, improved function and possible regeneration in those afflicted by arthritis. In the afternoon, four patients underwent Autologous Platelet and Growth Factor interventions; two in the hip and two in their knees. An example of the outcome, now four months following intervention in my own knees and hips, I spent last weekend hiking along several spring creeks, fly fishing in Southwest Wisconsin in the morning and planting over 150 Lilly bulbs in the afternoon. Admittedly, I slept well on Saturday and Sunday night but visited the health club on these past Tuesday and Wednesday evenings for my fitness routines.
On Monday, we finalized and edited a manuscript reporting the results of 56 patients with arthritic knees, followed for 2 to 4 years having received Bone Marrow Concentrate. Using the same outcome metrics and statistical tabulation methods I had employed as a joint replacement surgeon, this study is one of the most significant trials ever completed and to be published in Cellular Orthopedics. Our study not only will help determine the indications for a “stem cell” procedure, but also assist in determining how long the benefits will last, and provide a road map for when adjunct or repeat interventions are indicated. Now the physician will be better prepared to help a patient decide between a Total Joint Replacement and a Cellular Orthopedic intervention on an evidence based knowledge.
I am writing this Blog while flying to San Jose, California where I am partaking in advanced training that will allow me to expand my regenerative medicine practice to the low back. Again and again, patients ask as to what I might offer to address low back pain and disc disease now that I have successfully intervened in an arthritic hip or knee. Indications and techniques for addressing the lumbar spine will make up the curriculum enabling me to add discogenic and degenerative arthritic conditions of the low back to my scope of regenerative care by mid May.
To the patient who called, “I heard through the grapevine that it doesn’t work”, you may avoid falling victim to the Fake Stem Cell claims in newspaper ads or via celebrity testimonials; those in amniotic fluid are dead on arrival to you. Seek scientific evidence at (312) 475-1893 or learn more on my web site where you may watch my webinar www.Ilcellulartherapy.com.
Tags: Adult Mesenchymal Stem Cells, arthritic conditions, back pain, cellular orthopedics, Concentrated Bone Marrow, degenerative disc disease, discogenic, Exosomes, Growth Factors, Hip pain, joint pain, knee pain, Osteoarthritis, platelets, Precursor Cells, Regenerative Pain Center, shoulder pain, stem cell therapy
