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StemCell ARTS Tackles Scoliosis!

StemCell ARTS Tackles Scoliosis!

June is National Scoliosis Awareness Month!

We can all agree that our spine is essential since it protects our spinal cord and also allows us to bend and move. However, for those with scoliosis, every day movements can become painful and debilitating. Scoliosis is a disease that affects about 2-3% of the population in the United States, roughly 6 to 9 million people. It usually has an early onset in children around 10-15 years old. The spine has a natural ‘S’ curve when examined from a side view. It is when the ‘S’ shape forms from side-to-side that problems can occur. This can be caused by factors such as: genetics, growth spurts in children, or bone degeneration. Symptoms vary by severity of the condition. For those with mild scoliosis (measured as less than 40 degrees), they might experience deformities such as having one shoulder higher than the other, or a slight hunchback form. People with curvatures greater than 40 degrees can experience more severe symptoms such as weakness, pain, and even heart and breathing issues.

Interventional Treatments for Scoliosis

Most often, when diagnosed and treated early, scoliosis can be reversed. For those who continue to have ongoing symptoms, there are several non-surgical treatment options. Bracing is the most common treatment to stabilize and straighten the spine. Exercises such as guided yoga or those prescribed during physical therapy have proven to be effective as well. Surgical intervention is the last resort because of the risks and complications that could follow such as reaction to metal rods, or paralysis.

Regenerative Options

Here at StemCell ARTS, while we are unable to reverse the curvature of the spine with our treatments, we are able to help stabilize and strengthen it. Using Prolotherapy and Platelet Rich Plasma, we inject the surrounding ligaments to cause inflammation and tell your body’s repair cells to focus on those areas. If patients are experiencing nerve pain associated with pinched nerves before or after surgery, we can utilize our Platelet Lysate treatment. Platelet Lysate (PLM) is often used during a hydrodissection technique which helps separate entrapped nerves from surrounding tissue and in turn, helps ‘calm’ the nerve down.

Watch Dr. Dade explain the benefits of having regenerative procedures here at StemCell ARTS!

Let Us Help You Get Your Life Back!

Let Us Help You Get Your Life Back!

Not all injuries occur through strenuous exercise or overuse. Some are caused by car accidents like our next testimonial, Denise Lawson. She experienced pain in her head, neck and shoulder afterwards, which is typical in a high-impact wreck. For some, these symptoms typically fade over time, but for Denise, this eventually lead to degenerative disc disease in her neck. At first the pain was tolerable. As time went on, it became debilitating and she could no longer raise her arm above her head without experiencing searing pain. After exhausting all forms of interventional treatments such as cortisone injections, acupuncture and chiropractor, she finally turned to regenerative treatments.

Diagnosing Treatable Issues

During her consultation, much care and consideration was brought into creating a suitable treatment plan to help with her pain. Our physicians look at the bigger picture and treat our patients as a whole. They saw that her pain in the neck and shoulder were related and those areas were able to be treated at the same time. She started small with our super concentrated Platelet Rich Plasma treatment, which can be customized to the physician’s orders. Our Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) can help heal small tears, sprains and strains in tendon and ligaments. After a few injections she was able to go back to the physical activities she once loved and never thought she could do again, such as boat racing on the Potomac River! She was so happy with the progress in her neck and shoulder that she decided to undergo stem cells in her knee once she started to experience pain there as well. Today, she is completely healed and rowing her way to a long, pain-free life!

How StemCell ARTS Can Help You Get Your Swing Back!

How StemCell ARTS Can Help You Get Your Swing Back!

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!

“Spring” Back into Activities with Research-Based Treatments!

“Spring” Back into Activities with Research-Based Treatments!

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!

 

See our StemCell ARTS Success Stories!

See our StemCell ARTS Success Stories!

Our Success Stories

Potential patients are often curious about our success rates and the outcomes of previous patients. This is a valid concern, as patients want to know if these treatments are actually working for every day people like them. We have treated a wide variety of patients ranging from tri-athletes, weekend warriors, student athletes, to those in their 90s! With our state-of-the-art lab, we are able to provide customized regenerative therapies, tailored to every lifestyle and age in order to help patients get back to the activities they love. Each success story is different, but hearing patients recall their stories and how they have improved is always a joy!

Prolotherapy and Platelet Rich Plasma Treatment

Nick Caparelli’s story echoes most of those seeking treatment here at StemCell ARTS. He was very active, but injured himself during one of his physical activities and was recommended surgery by an Orthopedist. He considered his surgical options, but was concerned about the recovery and downtime it would include. A friend recommended he explore regenerative therapies for his shoulder. He was evaluated by a physician here at StemCell ARTS, and suggested a treatment plan of Prolotherapy and Platelet Rich Plasma. Prolotherapy is an injection of Dextrose-based solution into the problem area in order to help stimulate your body’s repair cells. Platelet Rich Plasma requires a blood draw, and after your platelets are concentrated and processed in our lab to the specificity of the doctors, it is re-injected to the site of injury in order to help heal minor sprains, strains and tears. Mr. Caparelli’s treatments were scheduled four to six weeks apart, and after just a few treatments, he is back to lifting weights and teaching martial arts!

How Important is Nutrition During Regenerative Treatments?

How Important is Nutrition During Regenerative Treatments?

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!