The fitness training industry has been my passion and life for 30+ years, focusing on pre and post rehabilitation for more than half of that time.
I’ve always wanted to better understand what my clients go through when helping them get ready for a surgery or when surgery was complete and getting them back to all the things they used to do. I never expected that I would become my own client. We need to be careful what we wish for, because sometimes we get it.
I have always exercised and eaten healthy. I have always led by example. I decided to do something out of my comfort zone and train for a half marathon at the age of 56. I wanted to do something to honor my grandmother who died at 56 of coronary artery disease. I was 11 when she died and her death was devastating to my mother who decided to change the way we did things in our home. This began a series of events in my life which set me on the path to fitness.
My first run was in 2011. In 2014, after a race, I was stretched by a chiropractic intern who went beyond his scope of practice and decided to manipulate me. Bottom line, I sustained an injury that sent me on a downward spiral for the last 2 years ending with a diagnosis of osteoarthritis that accelerated the loss of cartilage and a recommendation for a hip replacement, although it was not mandatory. If I decided not to have the surgery, I could manage pain and stiffness with anti-inflammatories and I would have decreased flexibility and range of hip motion thus altering my gait.
I had a decision to make. After numerous discussions with professionals in the field and lots of research, I found my choice was limited to a few options: hip replacement surgery, stem cell replacement therapy, or rehabilitative exercise with inflammation management.
Hip Replacement Surgery:
Replacement surgery is removing a damaged joint and putting in a new one. Knees, hips, shoulders, etc. Sometimes, the surgeon will not remove the whole joint, but will only replace or fix the damaged parts.
The doctor may suggest a joint replacement to improve how you live. Replacing a joint can relieve pain and help you move and feel better. Hips and knees are replaced most often. Other joints that can be replaced include the shoulders, fingers, ankles, and elbows.
Several conditions can cause joint pain and disability and lead patients to consider joint replacement surgery. In many cases, joint pain is caused by damage to the cartilage that lines the ends of the bones (articular cartilage) – either from arthritis, a fracture, or another condition.
Stem Cell Replacement Therapy:
Same-Day Stem Cell Protocol is called a same-day procedure because the stem cells are harvested and re-injected on the same day. However, for most patients the complete protocol is actually a series of injections that happen over the course of about a week, depending on your unique situation. These injections include a pre-injection, the same-day stem cell extraction and re-injection procedure, followed by a post-injection of multiple proprietary platelet mixes a few days later.
On the day of your stem cell procedure, you will first have a blood draw from a vein in your arm. This will be processed in the lab along with your stem cell sample. When you are prepared for the first step of your stem cell procedure, your doctor will thoroughly numb the back of the hip and take a small bone marrow sample through a needle. The procedure we use is called a bone marrow aspirate. This is different than a bone marrow biopsy, which can be painful. The bone marrow aspiration process is often described by patients as being comfortable.
While your cells are being processed by a lab technician, you will have some downtime to relax. A short period later, you will be ready for the second part of the procedure, where the doctor will re-inject your stem cells and natural growth factors from your blood platelets using advanced imaging guidance into the area in need of repair (real time fluoroscopy or musculoskeletal ultrasound, using your MRI to plan the injection). This allows the doctor to pinpoint the exact location of the injection, as well as the dispersion of the cells into the tissues.
The goal is to deliver much greater numbers of stem cells to the injured area than your body can deliver on its own.
FDA does not currently regulate medical procedures performed by qualified and licensed doctors.
Currently, there are no clear protocols to treat any disease with adult stem cells in the U.S.
ONLY adult stem cells are used (Not Embryonic stem cells) and your stem cells are not altered, manipulated or stored and your cells are used during the same procedure – therefore FDA does not object to these procedures.
These type of procedures are not covered by insurance.
Rehabilitative Exercise:
Manage with anti-inflammatories, strength and active joint mobilization. There are exercises that can be done to strengthen and support your joints if you want to put off surgery for as long as you can. This is something to be discussed with your physician. Strengthening the muscles surrounding the joint will help to stabilize it. Adding in a flexibility program will help with range of motion.
After thoroughly researching and talking to my doctor I decided to put off surgery for as long as I could and put myself on an exercise and flexibility regimen. So far, it is working and I am pleased with my progress. I figured since I help others for a living in this area, why not help myself?
If you’d like more information on strength and flexibility exercises, please visit our website or contact us here.