Apr 30, 2015
“Dwight Howard dominated the paint during Tuesday’s series-clinching victory, finishing with 18 points, 19 rebounds, four steals and four blocks.” (From Yahoo sport) Three months ago, the following appeared in the Press/News from ESPNDallas.com “Dwight Howard Out Indefinitely. There is no timetable for Houston Rockets center Dwight Howards return.” There are many other athletes who undergo Regenerative Medicine-Cellular Orthopedic interventions during the course of the year, they are not as public about it but there is successful return to sports, more often than not. If you imagine the forces generated across the knee in a 6’11’’, 265 lb. professional basketball player, you must conclude that his regenerative medicine intervention is a success for a continually painful knee.
Cellular Orthopedics is here to stay and is rapidly gaining a foothold as the non-operative treatment regimen for skeletal muscular trauma and the progressive restrictions imposed by degenerative arthritis. This past weekend, I was in Southwest Wisconsin fly fishing and cycling. Wading up a spring creek and climbing up and down the cliffs is as demanding as playing center on a professional basketball team. Cycling for three hours up 1500 foot climbs depends not only on conditioning but on functional knees. It was possible for my buddy and me in part because of the several cellular orthopedic procedures I have completed on him in the past three years. We have many more similar trips planned.
Bone Marrow Aspirate Concentrate-Stem Cell treatment is only one of the possibilities available for helping a patient postpone or avoid a joint replacement, diminish pain, increase motion and assist in returning an injured or arthritic individual to well being and a full recreational profile. From Concentrated Platelet Rich Plasma to Bone Marrow Aspirate Concentrate-Stem Cells, there are several alternatives for altering the natural history of post traumatic and degenerative arthritis. Many more offerings are in the works and I will continually update you as to when these latest interventions become available. In the meantime, please understand that while I don’t have to break a bone to best understand how to treat a fracture, my treatment recommendations for Cellular Orthopedic intervention concerning both post traumatic arthritis and degenerative arthritis in part are influenced by my own experiences so I will continue to report on such. To learn more about what is available in Regenerative Medicine and what clinical trials are in the works, make an appointment for a consultation.
847 390 7666
Tags: arthritis, athletes, Benefits and Risk, bone marrow, Bone Marrow Concentrate, C-SCP, Clinical Studies, Concentrated Stem Cell Plasma, Interventional Orthopedics, joint replacement, Knee, Knee Pain Relief, Mature Athlete, Pain Management, PRP, Regenexx, Regenexx-SD, stem cells, treatment
Apr 9, 2015
The New York Times recently published a story about a lawsuit brought against an orthopedic prosthetic company for distributing their product without appropriate FDA approval. The story calls into question not only the process by which new technology is brought into practice, but the choices the clinician must make when deciding the best options to use on a patient. We need to study every new technology with evidence based means and make critical decisions on the outcomes resulting from those studies. We clinicians strive to always do better.
As I am sure you realize, the FDA and other parties are anxious to have more data, especially when it comes to the newer technologies in Regenerative Medicine. To the best of my knowledge and based on my ongoing scrutiny of the scientific and orthopedic medical literature, Regenexx is the only scientific laboratory to date that has repeatedly met with the FDA and their agents and been allowed to offer regenerative technology under the highest level of scrutiny. My particular targets are arthritis and synovitis. My therapeutic approach to pain, altered function, reduced motion, delaying and even avoiding a joint replacement, and reversing the natural progression of arthritis is mostly based on the research and publications of Regenexx; and in addition more recently, on the outcomes from the continuing monitoring of our own Regenexx Chicago data base.
When it comes to patient care, I explain risks and benefits in generic terms citing percentages from my understanding of the information presented at scientific meetings, that which I read in the medical literature, the publications from Regenexx, and information gleaned from my own investigations. The Decision-Making process should be and at Regenexx is based on registries. The governments of countries outside the United States have required participation in registries for many years; there is no such requirement in the United States. Regenexx for the past seven years has maintained such a registry, and when I joined the Network three years ago, added to the comprehensive nature of those outcome measurements.
Innovation is important to advance patient care. Regenerative Medicine is truly a transformational innovation. We want patients to respect our ability to make decisions about what is in their best interests. This foundation of respect will only result from unbiased decisions and will be strengthened when more recent entries into the field of stem cell care present scientific data and not “this is how I do it” or criticism based on market place competition. Regenexx has introduced a stable and stem cell methodology with a proven track record. This being the case, others should be careful when choosing to forgo that approach. In a spin on the words of the immortal Jerry Maguire, Show Me Your Data.
Tags: arthritis, Benefits and Risk, bone marrow, Bone Marrow Concentrate, Clinical Studies, Hip Replacement, Interventional Orthopedics, joint replacement, Knee, Knee Pain Relief, Mature Athlete, medicine, Orthopedic Care, Orthopedic Surgeon, Orthopedics, Osteoarthritis, Pain Management, Regenerative, Regenexx, Regenexx-SD, stem cells, technology, treatment
Mar 24, 2015
At least it is spring on Astronomical chart although six inches of snow yesterday in Chicago causes one to take pause. Nevertheless, I am off to Southwest Wisconsin this weekend to initiate my fly fishing journeys for 2015. One doesn’t necessarily equate fishing with physical demand. Yet last Friday, at an 18 month follow-up of a Bone Marrow Aspirate Concentrate/Stem cell intervention in a 74 year old patient with arthritic knees, who incidentally had been told he needed knee replacements, I received a very serious thank you because my patient was planning several fishing trips to Canada this year with children and grandchildren; something he had not been able to do for several years as he couldn’t get in and out of a boat. Now he is able to do so and plans to enjoy every moment. I plan to wade up the spring creeks and vault up and down the cliffs and boulders as a result of my own regenerative care last year. Two weeks ago, my wife and I returned from a fabulous week of skiing in Vail and the only runs I avoided were the cliffs.
I learned much over the winter about several golfers who had undergone stem cell care for both knee and hip. The post intervention rehabilitation regimen had resulted in their ability to travel to the South East and Southwest to play golf on multiple occasions when such had not been possible in the past several years for them. Of particular interest to me was the report from one patient who I had met two years ago when he was scheduled to undergo a hip replacement. First he spent some time changing his swing and in particular the positioning of his leg so it would turn out. That seems to have taken the pressure off the area of missing cartilage and impingement. Next, he underwent a stem cell procedure and he is no longer considering a joint replacement. Not being a golfer, I checked it out on the internet and indeed, a change in golf mechanics may eliminate the painful swing. When followed by the stem cell procedure, there is something akin to bacon and eggs or love and marriage.
In looking back over the winter that hopefully was, a 45 year old man who had had to stop running because of “bone on bone” in his knee and who had received a recommendation elsewhere for a knee replacement, indeed turned out not to have “bone on bone” when I reviewed his images although he did have a problematic knee. 90 days after undergoing an SD Regenexx procedure, he ran the Madison 50 furlong-Race. Well, now it’s time to put air in my tires and start planning ahead. I did receive a call last Saturday by my cycling partner concerning a Sunday morning ride; but with a temperature forecast of 29 degrees, I respectfully declined the offer. For those with joint injury or arthritis, everything and anything is possible in fitness, recreation, sports and a pain free walk in this new world of Cellular Orthopedics.
Tags: arthritis, athletes, Benefits and Risk, 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
Mar 2, 2015
It starts with an evaluation, a Bone Marrow Aspirate Concentrate intervention, a custom brace, and sports specific physical rehabilitation protocol that changes with the seasons, a nutritional consultation, a dietary supplement prescription, and a Concentrated Platelet Rich Plasma/Lysate Booster when appropriate. That’s my recommendation for hiking, biking, climbing, skiing, staying fit and fly-fishing. These far reaching futuristic statements are based on my clinical research, anecdotal observations on patients who join me in the aforementioned activities and my own lifestyle. Should your impairment return once you are a Sheinkop alumnus, or should you see an increase in arthritic related symptoms, do it again in a year or five.
You are what you eat is in part a truism. So too, you can be what you want to be. Sure we age and sure we all have to live with age related adjustments; the answer is not to quit. Take my prescription for maintaining or returning to the active life. To learn more, call for an appointment. As an example, we have changed our visco-supplementation formula because of a new development to one injection rather than three. We have improved our Platelet Rich Plasma formula to be much more effective than last year and we are constantly updating our Bone Marrow Concentrate formula.
So what’s in the Cellular Orthopedic news? “Novel Technology to increase Concentrations of Stem and Progenitor Cells in Marrow Aspiration.” Headline this weekend and I looked into it further. After all, I have a responsibility to my patients to stay in the forefront of new developments. As I delved further, I found that this “advanced” technology was tested on three patients before being brought to market. My analysis of this “breakthrough”, come back when you are for real. Then came the Alpha 2 Macroglobulin filter positioned to compete with Platelet Rich Plasma methodologies. The cart was put before the horse on this one, as we don’t even know if Alpha 2 Macroglobulin will work on a human. Then there is the Hip-Spine connection; but I will save that for next time.
Tags: arthritis, athletes, Benefits and Risk, bone marrow, Bone Marrow Concentrate, Hip Replacement, Interventional Orthopedics, Knee Pain Relief, Mature Athlete, medicine, Orthopedics, Osteoarthritis, Pain Management, Regenerative, Regenexx, Regenexx-SD, stem cells, Synvisc, treatment
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
