Well OK, maybe a week, unless you work from your home or have a sedentary job; then you may go back to productivity in days. What caused me to call your attention to the minimal inconvenience and the potential major benefit when Bone Marrow Aspirate Concentrate/Stem Cell is selected as the treatment of choice for an arthritic joint as contrasted with a Total Joint replacement is the minimal need to take time off from work. In addition to the superior athletic performance inherent in a stem cell procedure along with the almost complete absence of complication is the fact that you won’t miss days from your job.
I was reminded of the minimal and short term impact on your life when choosing Bone Marrow Aspirate Concentrate /Stem cells for an arthritic joint this past Friday when a busy Podiatrist sought consultation because of an arthritic knee. She had experienced progressive impairment from advancing arthritis of her knee and three months ago had undergone a Cellular Orthopedic intervention for that arthritic knee. A week later she was on her way to Europe for a long anticipated vacation. She came to the office looking for a long term plan of action as the patient realized as a mature adult, Cellular Orthopedics is a continuum of care and not a onetime experience. That continuum is something I will focus on next time; but for now, let’s focus on the “No Time Off” theme. Inherent in a Total Joint Replacement is obligatory six to 12 week convalescence; that may become a six-month ordeal if a complication such as an infection is experienced. The patient about whom I am writing made it clear that she did not wish to take time away from her profession nor did she wish to risk complication, hence she was planning six or 12 month boosters to keep her working and active. Incidentally, please don’t forget that a total joint replacement may not be a onetime surgical event either. They wear, they fail, they get infected and need to be revised. That revision never is a happy event nor does the outcome come close to the results following an uncomplicated first procedure.
When comparing the potential benefits of a Bone Marrow Aspirate Concentrate/Stem Cell procedure for an arthritic joint to the lost productivity, financial obligation in the new world of high deductibles, and risks of a total joint replacement, the balance sheet speaks for itself. Speaking of balance sheets, I am off to Vail this week for a ski week with family and friends. On Monday, the 23rd, I will be visiting Regenexx to review our Outcomes Data and set forward several interventional protocols. While I seem to Blog mostly about stem cells and arthritis, there is unlimited possibility in the world of Sports Medicine for you to avoid surgery should trauma put you on “Injury Reserve” Check out Sports Illustrated and Stem Cells- that is for injury, not bathing suits.
Tags: arthritis, athletes, bone marrow, Bone Marrow Concentrate, Hip, Interventional Orthopedics, joint replacement, Knee, Knee Pain Relief, Mature Athlete, medicine, Orthopedic Care, Orthopedics, Osteoarthritis, Regenerative, Regenexx, stem cells, treatment