Chicago Arthritis Blog
The Real Risks associated with Knee and Hip replacement surgeries
Many patients who pursue a knee or hip replacement assume they are going for a routine medical procedure that gives them a new joint. In reality they are going for a joint amputation, which is then replaced with an artificial prosthesis. Moreover the real risks...
Webinar- Regenexx stem cell and platelet treatments for orthopedic conditions
Regenerative medicine tips to differentiate pros vs amateurs- understanding the value of prolotherapy
Regenerative medicine is rapidly growing with more efficacy and safety data being reported, and more patient and physician interest. The increased visibility is great for the field, but patients need assistance navigating knowledgeable from novice providers in order...
Regenerative medicine approach to the prescription drug epidemic, using your own cells
Prescription opioid drugs were at one time a major advance in medicine that allowed millions of people to reduce suffering. Still in many parts of the world these medications are not available and needless pain and suffering continues. But clearly in this country we...
Concave vs Convex Risk taking and how to think about your Musculoskeletal health
Concave and convex risk taking are concepts from quantitative finance, and are discussed throughout Nicolas Nassim Taleb's books, his most recent being Antifragility. In essence a convex risk is one where the downside risks are limited and the upside benefits...
Fixing Hip pain with SI joint treatment
The first time I recall my mother having difficulty with her hip was during my college application process. I recall after an hour of walking she began to limp during the college campus tour due to pain in her hip. It wasn't too long that we were behind the rest of...
Treating ACL injuries without surgery
ACL injuries are devastating injuries. In the most severe form they can leave a knee completely unstable. Even in a mild form a slightly unstable knee will predispose to osteoarthritis long term. For significant tears the surgical approach of tearing out your existing...
Treating the aging athlete with a modern Regenerative Orthopedic approach
My father is a vigorous and active man in his early 70s. A lifetime of strength training and significant endurance exercise has enabled him to stay active and healthy. Beginning in his late 60s he began training and then participating in marathons. Given his style of...
How to save your hip after a labral tear
The hip labrum is a layer of tissue that extends from the cartilage that protects the hip joint. When injured it can cause pain and catching of the joint. If you've failed conservative treatment such as physical therapy and rest, a common treatment for hip labral...
Safety of Regenexx stem cell treatments for orthopedic conditions
Safety should be a key variable when making a decision on what treatment to pursue for your arthritis and tendinitis. In the last few years treatments such as platelet rich plasma and stem cells have literally exploded on the medical scene. While there are a lot of...
Best practices in Regenerative medicine- injecting with imaging guidance
Believe it or not but the majority of physicians who inject joints, tendons, and ligaments do blindly, meaning without cutting edge image guidance. This is despite the fact that multiple studies show that injecting by simply palpating the skin is less effective than...
Regenerative treatments as your first line option for Knee arthritis
Most of the patients I see who come in for evaluation for a Regenexx treatment for their knee arthritis typically have already had other injections or surgical treatments for their arthritis or tendinitis. This includes steroid injections, viscosupplementation...
Regenexx treatment for Knee Meniscus tears
[fusion_text] The meniscus is a layer of tissue in the knee that absorbs the pressure and weight of the body during movement. This tissue protects the knee joint from excess wear and tear. Tears of the meniscus can acutely occur with twisting motion of the knee....
Regenexx approach to Thumb pain
Thumb pain comes in many varieties. In the mid 2000s the term blackberry thumb was used to describe smart phone texting overuse causing tendinitis and arthritis related pain in the thumb. Other causes for thumb pain include work activity that stresses the thumbs and...
Runner injuries- Iliotibial band pain
The iliotibial band is a supportive connective tissue along the side of your thigh. It starts at the top of the hip and extends down along the outer part of your thigh and inserts at the knee. It's main function is to help stabilize the hip and knee. The IT band can...
Lower Back Pain- Treating the Iliolumbar Ligament
For folks with lower back pain, it's rare that only one structure is the pain generator. The best way to treat any joint pain, in particular the lower back, is to treat all the suspected sources of pain. That includes the components that come from the nerves, joints,...
Running ankle injuries- Regenexx treatment of Posterior Tibialis tendinitis
Running puts a significant amount of stress on the ankle. The posterior tibialis tendon helps to lift your heel off the ground and invert your foot. Injury to this tendon can occur either due to chronic stress or acutely. Classic symptoms of posterior tibialis...
Regenexx treatment for Tennis Elbow
Tennis elbow is a tendinitis that affects the outer part of the elbow. Specifically the tendon origin of the common extensor tendon becomes irritated and painful. The tendon and muscles that are stressed are the ones that enable wrist extension. A number of exercises...