More and more physicians are offering regenerative procedures as treatment options in their practices. With so many physicians to choose from, how do patients determine what sets one regenerative medicine practice apart from another?
The physicians at StemCell ARTS go through extensive training to be part of theRegenexxnetwork of physicians. The regenerative procedures, performed at StemCell ARTS, are all done with image guidance. That means all injections use fluoroscopy (x-ray) or ultrasound to determine exactly where the sample is being injected. The ability to perform image-guided injections requires additional knowledge, skill, and training.
The skill and expertise of the StemCell ARTS physicians has established them as the area’s foremost regenerative medicine experts in the field of interventional orthopedics. This reputation has earned bothDr. Rodney Dade, Dr. MayoFriedlis andDr. Robert Wagnerthe honor of being named Northern Virginia Magazine 2018 Top Doctors.
It is no secret that regenerative procedures are gaining popularity in the field of medicine. Physicians have an increased awareness of just how successful these regenerative treatment options can be in treating a myriad of ailments. Unfortunately, there are those looking to capitalize on the success of regenerative treatments at the expense of potential patients looking to see if these treatments can benefit their medical condition.
Companies are advertising amniotic “stem cells” that can be utilized for in office use. These companies are claiming that these products offer millions of stem cells. Physicians or chiropractors may buy into this sales pitch without performing their due diligence to determine whether or not these claims are substantiated. Luckily, there are physcians who took the effort to determine if these products were really what they seemed, or if they were too good to be true.
Independent research done by the Interventional Orthopedics Foundation (IOF) and other independent physicians concluded that these products offered no live stem cells. Not only were there no live stem cells, there were no living cells present at all. This makes sense when one considers the harvesting and processing that these cells need to undergo.
While the physicians and chiropractors who offer these amniotic “stem cell” products profit, the patients are the ones who receive the short end of the stick. Patients are shelling out money for ineffective products and procedures performed by ill-equipped providers. Patients are urged to do more research on the topic of amniotic “stem cell” procedures, prior to having one of these procedures performed. The video below offers some information regarding results from the research and testing of these amniotic “stem cell” products.
If you’re anywhere on the East Coast, you are probably currently being affected by the ‘Bomb Cyclone’, which has brought bitter cold, wind and a lot of snow. At StemCell ARTS, we see an uptake in back injuries during the winter due to snow shoveling, and the occasional hip pain due to slipping on ice. While we can’t make it sunnier, we do have some tips to make things easier for your back to hopefully avoid a trip to the doctor’s office.
Stretch before shoveling! While this may seem silly, the cold tightens muscles and makes them work much harder. This can result in pulled or sore muscles the next day.
Push the snow, rather than picking it up- if possible. Your back and shoulders will thank you.
Avoid twisting in unnatural positions by tossing snow off to the side or over your shoulders. The sudden twisting motion is dangerous for your back; if you must move snow to the side, make sure your feet are facing the same the snow must go.
Start slow and don’t exhaust yourself. Shovel in intervals so you won’t be moving a lot of heavy snow all at once.
However, even when we are trying to be safe, injuries can happen. We have several treatments that are available for lower back pain. Prolotherapy is a dextrose solution typically injected to the supporting lumbar ligaments to help tighten and strengthen them. Platelet Rich Plasma consists of a blood draw and an injection of your concentrated platelets. The platelets contain natural healing components which cause inflammation in order to help your body send repair cells to the damaged/painful area. Platelet Lysate works much like a steroid epidural injection, in that it works very quickly to provide patients with relief.
Each of these different procedures are performed in the office, with your platelet samples being hand processed in a state-of-the-art laboratory. These injections are done on an out-patient basis, and typically, patients are able to return to work and activities within a few days. So if you’ve gone a little shovel crazy, this winter, make sure to contact one of our offices to see what we can do for you!
It’s almost time to have your New Years resolution in place! If you’re like us, it’s time to dust off the gym membership card that we stopped using January 31st, and hit the treadmill again. Although it is always advisable to maintain a healthy diet and exercise routine throughout the year, not all of our potential stem cell patients do so, but that’s okay! Before your stem cell appointments, we suggest that patients start a high protein, low carbohydrates regimen, similar to a Mediterranean diet.
While we’ve had success even with patients who consume doughnuts and chips, there has been a recent study that shows obesity might have an affect on the health of your stem cells. In an experiment with mice, obesity was shown to cause harmful changes to the blood/stem cell making factory in our bodies. Although it is still poorly understood and still in the early stages of research, it should be the kick in the pants that we need to change our lifestyles.
Contact one of our offices to get 2018 started off on the right foot!
We’re all familiar with the hustle and bustle of the holiday season and the stress of getting the perfect gift for your loved ones. But what about something nice for yourself? Although our treatments are currently not covered under insurances, they are an investment in your health.
Regenexx/StemCell ARTS Difference
Weeks of recovery and months of rehab are associated with total or even partial joint replacements. While some patients might find that reasonable, there are those such as weekend warriors or athletes that are eager to get back to their desired activity. Our stem cell and platelet treatments afford patients with little to no downtime after their injections. Patients can have peace of mind knowing that there is not a foreign metal object in their body, which is a main (and valid) concern of most of our patients. Our treatments are minimally-invasive with little downtime to help you be the best version of yourself in 2018.
Contact one of our offices to see if we can help you find the perfect stem cell or platelet gift!
There has been a recent, growing interest in what is being marketed as “amniotic stem cells” for orthopedic conditions. Marketers of this product claim that they work the same, or better than autologous stem cells, but at a fraction of the cost. These samples are derived from processed amniotic/placental tissue. In order to call their bluff, the Centeno-Schultz Clinic in Broomfield, CO have actually tested the contents of these “stem cells”. It was found that while there are growth factors and extracellular proteins in them, they have no living cells! Therefore, they are legally not allowed to market the product as living cells per FDA regulations, they must register as an ‘acellular’ product. In contrast, our stem cells come right from yourself, and are taken from the back of your iliac crest (hip). They are meticulously processed and counted the same day in our high-tech laboratory which are in compliance of FDA guidelines. So while these new treatments seems like it could be too good to be true, they probably might be.
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.
