Apr 20, 2017 | Conditions, Elbow, Procedure Outcomes, Prolotherapy, PRP, Regenerative Treatments, Staff Articles
Golfer and Tennis Elbow
Spring time is in full force and, here at StemCell ARTS, we often see patients who have worn their bodies out participating in their favorite outdoor activities. Golfer and tennis players are common athletes that our physicians come across. Golfer’s elbow is inflammation that causes pain and discomfort where the tendons of the forearm connect to the inside of the elbow. Tennis elbow is similar to Golfer’s elbow, but differs in that the pain occurs on the outside of the elbow. These injuries are abundant among both professional and non-professional athletes. These injuries can also be seen in patients who do not engage in either golf or tennis.
Treatments Provided at StemCell ARTS
Usually, the treatments for these conditions are easily resolved with an injection of cortisone that helps resolve the inflammation. However, for those with chronic Golfer and Tennis elbow, we are able to provide long-lasting and non-invasive treatments options for you! Prolotherapy and Platelet Rich Plasma provide more permanent relief because we are utilizing your body’s own healing capabilities instead of masking your symptoms. Schedule an appointment with us today and let us get you back to those hole-in-ones!
Watch Dr. Friedlis’ video on how we would treat Golfer’s and Tennis Elbow here at StemCell ARTS!
Apr 13, 2017 | Blog, Knee, Platelet Lysate, Prolotherapy, PRP, Shoulder / Rotator Cuff, Staff Articles, Stem Cell Procedures
Stem cell and platelet treatments are currently in the spotlight due to their high popularity within the professional sports community. And what’s not to love about them?! Regenerative therapies are minimally invasive, and the recovery and down time is minimal when compared to surgical procedures. These athletes depend on their ability to train hard, and an injury or long recovery is detrimental to their careers. Regenerative procedures give them the option of forgoing more invasive orthopedic procedures (if possible). For example, a standard ACL surgery could have a recovery time of up to six months with the need for rehab, six months of bracing and physical therapy in between. After this surgery, there are also higher chances of early onset arthritis in the knee.
With the procedures offered here at Stem Cell ARTS, we are able to provide athletes with platelet and stem cell injections that will help the body heal itself, with little to no down time! A recovery from our stem cell procedure would require a patient to be non-weight bearing for 48 hours after the stem cells are injected into a weight bearing joint. A brace might be required if deemed necessary by the physician and worn for up to 4 months afterwards. Patients are usually able to go back to the gym for low impact exercises just two weeks post stem cell series. We ask that our patients follow up in six weeks, and typically they are back to their normal physical activities by then!
Who’s Getting Our Procedures?
We are seeing patients of all different ages, backgrounds, and activity levels here in our clinics. More and more young, high school-aged athletes are coming to us after their sports injuries. They are hoping to continue their athletic careers into college and hopefully professionally as well. Years ago, a torn meniscus or ACL would automatically require surgery and, at their young age, there is a higher risk of re-injury. The popularity of CrossFit has (unfortunately) helped us expand our patient base. The intensity of exercise craze has created many common problems such as torn labrums and rotator cuff tendinitis. There has also been an influx of elderly active patients that want to keep their active lifestyles. We have seen patients as young as 90 who have gone back to running marathons after just a few treatments!
The Future of Sports Injuries
It would be an ambitious statement to say that one day, regenerative treatments will replace surgical procedures, but our goal is to help as many people avoid surgery as possible. We are aware that surgery means downtime, and we want to spread the word that there are alternatives out there for you if you want to get back outside in this beautiful weather just in time for spring sports!
Read Dr. Christopher Centeno’s post regarding all the amazing athletes they have treated at our headquarters in Broomfield, Colorado!
Apr 6, 2017 | Blog, News and Events, Procedure Outcomes, Regenerative Treatments, Research, Staff Articles
Spring into the New Season!
It’s the season to the enjoy the outdoors and activities that you love! Spring is the time for revitalization and we’re here to help you get back to participating in the things you enjoy! We often see patients with old injuries, or pain, that they have put off treating until it starts to negatively impact their normal functioning. Wait too long and some patients may hear that they are recommended to have a joint replacement. The regenerative treatments that we provide at StemCell ARTS help patients avoid those invasive surgical procedures. Although still considered “experimental” in the eyes of insurance companies, the efficacy and outcomes of the procedures are products of months, and even years, of research and data collection; so rest assured we know that our products and techniques work!
Regenexx Research Network
At StemCell ARTS, we are part of a research consortium known as, Regenexx. It is a nationwide program of physicians that perform regenerative procedures to the exact specificity of our headquarters in Broomfield, Colorado. Scientists and Statisticians at the clinic track the outcomes of patients across the United States, and have published most of the world’s research on Stem Cell therapy. Part of our clinics revenue are funneled back into the lab in order to fund further studies and development of these treatments. Dr. Christopher Centeno (founder of Regenexx) has written numerous reports and outcome studies from Regenexx. All patients who are receiving regenerative treatments across the country are entered into a large study that tracks outcomes before and after their procedures. They will continue to receive surveys sporadically in order to track their progress. These studies will be essential in the future to assist insurance companies in regards to approving and paying for these procedures.
Watch Dr. Centeno discuss the Stem Cell process and see how these procedures gave patients the ability to perform physically challenging exercises again!
Mar 30, 2017 | Blog, News and Events, Staff Articles
Dr. Benjamin Newton in Chevy Chase
We are pleased to announce that starting in the month of April, Dr. Benjamin Newton will now see patients in our Chevy Chase, Maryland office five days a week from 8am to 4pm! He is able accepting new patients, as well as seeing his current patients. Patients who previously saw Dr. Newton in the Tysons Corner, VA are encouraged to continue their care with Dr. Newton in the Chevy Chase, MD office. We are conveniently located right off the beltway, in the heart of Chevy Chase, MD in the same building as the US Trust off Friendship Blvd. Dr. Newton joined our practice in June 2016 and specializes in Sports Medicine, and is experienced in both interventional and regenerative therapies. He is excited to see both English and Spanish speaking patients, so schedule your appointment with us today!
Dr. Friedlis and his new Physician Assistant, Annum Khan, will continue to see patients in the Chevy Chase office from 8am to 4pm on Mondays and Wednesdays. They are still be able to accommodate their patients as usual.
Mar 16, 2017 | Blog, News and Events, Nutrition, Procedure Outcomes, Regenerative Treatments, Staff Articles
How Nutrition Can Help You Heal
Our physicians often get asked if diet plays an important role in helping them with the outcomes of their treatment. The short answer is: yes. Nutrition has been found to be an essential role in helping patients heal. Patients are advised to maintain a high protein diet with minimal sugar and carbohydrates. Those ingredients have been found to cause ‘bad inflammation’, and inhibit healing after regenerative procedures.
Supplements such as fish oil (see our last post!) and the Regenexx Supplement have been proven to help the promotion of more stem cells and cartilage growth. Patients have the ability to take control of their own healing, and help your platelets and stem cells as much as possible! As with all supplements, please consult with your primary care physician before beginning any vitamin/supplement regimen.
See what Dr. Wagner has to say about nutrition and the way it can help patients heal!
Mar 2, 2017 | Blog, News and Events, Nutrition, Regenerative Treatments, Staff Articles, Stem Cell Procedures, Uncategorized
What Patients Can Do to Help the Success of Regenerative Therapies
Often, patients ask what they can do to help achieve the best results possible from their regenerative therapies. Most importantly, patients can follow the pre and post procedure guidelines. This includes avoiding certain medications, remaining non weight baring for the time recommended by the physician, adhering to any bracing or activity restrictions. Nutrition is another important aspect that can aid in the success of regenerative therapies. Typically, this involves a diet high in protein. This can also include additional supplementation.
Stem Cells and Supplements
Patients frequently ask questions about over-the-counter supplements and how these supplements can optimize Stem Cell treatments. Often, patients are already utilizing a supplement regime. Acknowledging that nutrition and supplements can, in fact, impact the outcome of regenerative procedures, the researchers at Regenexx in Colorado decided to get more definitive answers. They have performed laboratory testing to determine how mesenchymal stem cells react to a wide variety of dietary supplements. The extensive experiments took about one year and, in the end, Regenexx was able to identify several supplements that help promote healthy stem cell function before, during and after the treatment.
The supplement is in liquid form and is taken daily. The physicians at StemCell ARTS will, typically, recommend that patients begin the supplement at least two to three weeks prior to the start of their stem cell treatment. In addition, patients may be recommended to continue taking the supplement for one to three months following the stem cell series of injections. Continuing to take the supplements promotes joint health. The Regenexx Advanced Stem Cell Support Formula supplements can be purchased through the StemCell ARTS offices, located in McLean, VA and Chevy Chase, MD.
Watch this video from the Regenexx website to see how the supplement was created!
