Thursday, January 26, StemCell ARTS tested Facebook’s feature, “Facebook Live”, and Dr. Friedlis went live for the first time! If you were unable to catch the live video, hear what Dr. Friedlis had to say by clicking the link, below. In the video, Dr. Friedlis discusses spinal conditions and how the regenerative procedures offered at StemCell ARTS can help. The video was posted to our exclusive ‘Patient Discussion Forum’. This is a Facebook page that allows past, present and future patients to discuss their experiences with StemCell ARTS and regenerative therapies. This is an environment that encourages interactions between patients to discuss recovery, compare stories, etc. This also allows patients who have had a consult with one of the StemCell ARTS physicians to ask questions of patients who have been through the process. If you are interested in becoming a member of this group, you can submit your request via Facebook.
The “Facebook Live” feature allows patients to view our regenerative physicians and ask questions, in real time. Some of these questions may even get answered during the video. If a question does not get answered during the video, StemCell ARTS will attempt to provide answers to the questions and comments, following the completion of the video. This is a helpful tool if you have been thinking about the idea of regenerative therapies, but are not yet ready to commit to a phone call or evaluation.
StemCell ARTS will work to offer more “Facebook Live” videos to cover a variety of topics and questions. If you have an idea that you would like to see StemCell ARTS cover, head over to the StemCell ARTS Facebook page and leave suggestions. If you have any questions, keep an eye out for our next Live session to get your questions posted and answered.
Stay tuned for more Live videos from some of our other physicians!
For patients suffering from back pain, there are a number of treatments that can be suggested. Although surgeries of the spine, such as ‘fusions’ or ‘laminectomies’, can sound daunting and invasive, in some instances they are necessary steps to help patient return to a functioning lifestyle. For some patients, these surgeries are successful and patients can resume living their lives pain free. However, for other patients, the pain level post procedure is similar to what was experienced prior to having a surgical procedure of the spine. If surgery fails to resolve the patients pain, are all options exhausted? Are these patients destined to continue with life-limiting pain?
Luckily, StemCell ARTS is able to provide several regenerative treatment options that have helped our patients say “good-bye” to their post-surgical pain. Our procedure use the patients’ body’s own biologics to help itself heal. Our trained phlebotomists take a sample of the patients’ blood and process this, by hand, in the lab found in each of the StemCell ARTS offices. The blood is placed into a centrifuge that spins the blood at high speeds to separate the platelets from red blood cells. Those platelets are further processed and concentrated depending on their specific use. In Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP), the platelets are injected into, and around the point of injury to jump start the body’s natural healing curve. For Platelet Lysate (PL), the platelets are frozen and broken open for immediate release. PL is recommended by the regenerative physician when PRP may be expected to cause too much inflammation. PL may also be suggested if the patient needs prompt relief since this procedure is comparable to a cortisone injection, but with the body’s own platelets in lieu of steroids.
One patient shares his story about how StemCell ARTS helped him regain his life following his spinal decompression surgery. When surgery failed to provide the necessary pain relief, Judge Thomas Moore sought the regenerative procedures offered at StemCell ARTS. Read more to see how our procedures changed Judge Moore’s life!
Low back pain is one of the most common issues seen see at StemCell ARTS. The physicians perform a comprehensive exam to determine the cause of the back pain. Once the cause has been identified, the next step is to formulate a treatment plan to address the diagnosed condition. Fortunately, Regenexx procedures are revolutionizing the way the regenerative physicians at StemCell ARTS approach those problems. StemCell ARTS, with offices in Tysons Corner, Virginia and Chevy Chase, Maryland, have several regenerative procedures that can be utilized to combat low back pain.
Regenerative Treatment Options
Prolotherapy, Platelet Rich Plasma, and Platelet Lysate are all common injections utilized in the StemCell ARTS offices. Due to the specialized method in which the regenerative samples are processed, the physicians at StemCell ARTS are able to design a customized treatment plan to treat the specific patient and condition. These procedures are utilized to treat a wide range of diagnoses. This includes everything from minor strains and sprains, to varying degrees of Spinal Stenosis (narrowing of the spinal canal). The procedures are done in the physician office, under local anesthesia. The procedures are very similar to interventional treatments, such as epidural cortisone injections, but use regenerative materials in lieu of steroids. The video below shows a complex disc treatment performed Dr. Pitts in the Broomfield, Colorado clinic. The procedure shown in the video is very similar to the disc treatments, using platelets instead of stem cells.
Don’t start 2017 wrestling with the same back pain that had you sidelined in 2016. Visit StemCell ARTS, where the phsysicians take extra care to diagnose the underlying cause of the back pain, leading to more focused and effective treatment options. In addition, the physicians are able to offer regenerative treatments, such as Platelet Rich Plasma and Platelet Lysate. These procedures can help patients who have failed , or those who may not be able to receive, traditional interventions for one reason or another.
Back pain is a broad term that can encompass a variety of conditions. Is the back pain related to the facet joints? What about the epidural spaces or the disc? Sometimes, determining the cause of back pain can be difficult, resulting in treatments that can be insufficient. Often, patients are treated with well-known, traditional treatments when they cite back pain as their primary area of discomfort. These treatments can include steroid injections, physical therapy, surgical intervention, bracing, etc. But what happens when those treatments fail to provide long-term relief? What happens when patients have residual pain following surgery? StemCell ARTS has alternative treatments that can help!
Listen to Dr. Wagner describe different causes of back pain, how the physicans at StemCell ARTS develop accurate diagnoses, and some of the regenerative treatment options.
52Thursdays is prominent fashion and lifestyle blog, covering both the east and west coasts. The blog has been featured in Northern Virginia Magazine and Brightest Young Things, among many others. The blog focuses on style, beauty, fitness, and travel. Sarah Phillips, co-founder of 52Thursdays, is located in the Northern Virginia area. She shares her experiences with local businesses, physical fitness, etc. with her followers. When reading her blog posts, it is easy to see that Sarah is a big fan of staying fit. Her go to source of activity includes CrossFit. However, she participates in numerous other physical activities to keep herself healthy. Her active lifestyle was threatened when she began to experience pain and locking in her hip area.
Sarah sought medical attention and was recommended a MRI to evaluate the pain in the hip. Sarah was discouraged when the MRI findings showed that she had suffered a labral tear. Hip labral tears are common injuries among athletes. Hyperflexion and squatting motions can result in mechanical injury to the labrum. Since squats are nearly unavoidable when participating in strength training, Sarah’s injury had begun to impact her exercise and fitness routine. Sarah decided to explore her options for treating the hip labral tear. She looked into Physical Therapy, activity modification, and met with some orthopedic surgeons to discuss surgical interventions. Her research led Sarah to Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) and StemCell ARTS. Sarah has undergone two PRP treatments and is chronicling her experience with the procedures and StemCell ARTS. Sarah is showing signs of improvement and will follow up with StemCell ARTS six weeks following her last PRP treatment to evaluate her progress and determine next steps in treatment, if any further treatments are required. To read Sarah’s, more detailed, account of her injury and experience with StemCell ARTS, click the link below.
When beginning the process of researching regenerative treatment options, patients can be presented with an overwhelming amount of information. This information can often result in more questions. Am I a candidate for regenerative therapies? How can these therapies help treat my condition? What can I do to help make my treatments more successful? Luckily, StemCell ARTS is able to help provide patients with a one-stop-shop to help patients get these questions answered. Dr. Chris Centeno, founder of Regenexx, created a guide that explains how Regenexx is pioneering the new field of Interventional Orthopedics, where the use of regenerative biologic treatments, such as adult stem cell therapy and platelet rich plasma, are being used to help repair and strengthen damaged tissues. Utilizing a vast amount of internal data and research, the Orthopedics 2.0 book helps patients better understand their own conditions and how regenerative therapies can play a rital role in their recovery.
You might be asking yourself, “how do I get my hands on this great book?” StemCell ARTS is here to help. Next time you’re in the office, ask the staff for your own copy to take home with you. Looking for more information before scheduling your consultation? We have provided a link below to download your own free digital copy. Happy Reading!
StemCell ARTS is an Affiliate of National Spine and Pain Centers
If the regenerative treatment options offered by StemCell ARTS are not right for you, National Spine and Pain Centers provide more traditional treatments for spine and joint conditions.
