Jan 17, 2021
You may recall from your high school biology class that cells are referred to as the “building blocks of life”. When your body becomes injured or worn out, these building blocks break down leading to pain and loss of function. Yet, cellular therapy is the carpenter that repairs and replaces these broken cells and tissues.
Cell based therapy harnesses the powerful healing capabilities of cells in your body to repair damaged tissues and restore health. These are innovative therapies are based on concepts and scientific evidence that has emerged over the recent decades.
The world-renowned Center for Regenerative Medicine at the Mayo Clinic works closely with the Human Cellular Therapy Laboratories at campuses in Minnesota, Florida and Arizona to develop cellular therapies for more than a dozen medical conditions. These include ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease), cancer, diabetes and orthopedic conditions such as osteoarthritis and degenerative disk disease [i]. San Diego Orthobiologics Medical Group is the premier regenerative medical center in San Diego providing therapies for orthopedic conditions. Drs. Christopher Rogers and Mary A. Ambach are recognized leaders in this field for their expertise in this exciting new medical specialty. Together, they have developed an extensive record of using Cell Based therapies to treat thousands of patients suffering from conditions such as painful arthritis or debilitating lower back pain. Many of these patients thought they had exhausted all of their treatment options and were concerned about resigning to a life of pain.
Cell Based therapies has given them a new lease on life.
All of the treatments offered at the San Diego Orthobiologics Medical Group are FDA-compliant and based on sound scientific evidence. We only use cells that are derived from the patient’s own body and processed in our state of the art laboratory using FDA-approved devices and methods. We do not use any donor stem cell products because these have not been tested for safety or efficacy.
These regenerative treatments contain restorative cells that are derived from a patient’s own blood, fat or bone marrow tissues. They help jump start the body’s own natural healing processes by encouraging the growth of healthy new cells and tissues to replace those that are injured or degenerated.
Dr. Christopher Rogers currently serves on the board of directors for the American College of Regenerative Medicine and has published and lectured extensively at national medical conferences on spine care, sports medicine, regenerative medicine and musculoskeletal ultrasound. He regularly teaches courses on regenerative cellular therapy throughout the country, including at the Regenerative Medicine Training Institute, the Interventional Orthopedics Foundation and the Orthobiologic Institute.
Dr. Mary A. Ambach is a clinical instructor at the University of California San Diego School of Medicine and also serves as a clinical instructor of medicine at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, clinical assistant professor of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation at the Western University of Health Sciences and an associate professor at the Southern California University Sports Medicine Program. She has authored several published articles and book chapters in Regenerative Medicine and is actively involved in clinical research studying the effects of bone marrow-derived cells and platelet rich plasma for the treatment of low back pain due to degenerative disc disease.
Platelet rich plasma and other cell based therapies represent some of the most exciting advances seen in medicine in recent years. They offer patients options not previously available for conditions that were not previously treatable without surgery. Patients should do their homework and get the facts about how these treatments may help them to alleviate pain and restore a healthy, active life.
[i] https://www.mayo.edu/research/centers-programs/center-regenerative-medicine/shared-services/human-cellular-therapy-laboratory
Jan 11, 2021
Join our free webinar to learn about non-surgical treatments and therapies for rotator cuff tendon injuries. Gain information on cutting edge treatments like platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and other cell-based therapies. Get answers to your questions from experts in the field of Regenerative Medicine.
Dr. Mary Ambach specializes in non-surgical orthopedics, regenerative therapies and interventional pain management. As a key thought leader in the field of Regenerative Medicine, Dr. Ambach conducts research, trains physicians and lectures at international medical conferences.
Dr. Christopher Rogers is one of the world’s leading experts in orthopedic regenerative medicine and a renowned speaker at national medical conferences. He has developed new approaches for the treatment of tendon injuries, osteoarthritis and disc degeneration which provide a safe and viable alternative to surgery.
Register for the Webinar HERE
Dec 16, 2020
In the last few years, there have been great advances in the field of Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Therapy. These treatments hold a great deal of promise for the treatment of a variety of orthopedic conditions. Most treatments are offered at your convenience in a medical clinic setting without the need for surgery.
What is Regenerative Medicine?
Regenerative medicine is a multi-disciplinary field that aims to restore damaged or diseased tissues by utilizing the body’s own natural healing process. By bringing together many different disciplines such as cellular biology, genetics, and tissue engineering, Regenerative Medicine has revolutionized the way physicians can treat orthopedic conditions. Stimulating our body’s natural ability to heal and promote tissue regeneration has replaced many traditional treatment options such as steroid injections or surgery.
Stem Cell Therapy
According to the International Society for Stem Cell Research’s (ISSCR) president, Douglas Melton, “Stem cell science is rapidly transforming how we think about the future of medicine. The field is actively working to address how we facilitate getting potential therapies from the lab to the clinic.”
Stem cells have the ability to develop into many different types of cells in the body, which is why stem cell therapy is important in the field of regenerative medicine. There is constant advancement of research in the use of stem cell for replacement of damaged tissue or transplants, drug testing and development and regenerative medicine.
How are Stem Cell Therapy and Regenerative Medicine Related?
There is a direct connection to stem cell therapy and the practice of Regenerative Medicine which harnesses the body’s ability to heal itself and regrow tissues. The different types of stem cells, namely embryonic, adult, and induced pluripotent stem cells, are used in the field of developmental biology to study how cells behave. Stem cells are also used to test new to drugs for the treatment of various diseases and medical conditions. In the field of orthopedics, adult stem cells play a crucial role in the cell-based therapies used to treat orthopedic injuries such as knee osteoarthritis.
What Orthopedic Conditions Can Be Treated with Cell-Based Therapies?
- Knee pain due to osteoarthritis or meniscus tears
- Shoulder pain due to rotator cuff tendon tears or tendinitis
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
- Golfer’s Elbow and Tennis Elbow
- Sciatica
- Chronic ankle ligament sprains
- Low back pain due to disc degeneration or sacroiliac joint ligament injury
Regenerative medicine has entered the world of clinical practice thanks to quickly evolving technology and advancements in the understanding of how stem cells work in the body. As research continues, the field of Regenerative Medicine and stem cell therapy will continue to grow, providing doctors and their patients the ability to treat many conditions that were previously untreatable.
REFERENCES:
NCBI: Regenerative Medicine
UNMC: Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine
International Society of Stem Cell Research: Stem Cell Therapies and Regenerative Medicine
California Stem Cell Agency: The Power of Stem Cells
American Association of Blood Banks: Regenerative Medicine
Nov 27, 2020
Regenerative treatments use the body’s own unique healing properties to alleviate painful orthopedic conditions and address the underlying cause of the pain.
Regenerative medicine has the potential to repair or replace tissues damaged by age, disease or trauma. It can be used to treat a number of orthopedic conditions including the following:
- Bursitis
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
- Disc Degeneration and Tears
- Golfer’s Elbow and Tennis Elbow
- Herniated Discs
- Osteoarthritis of the knees, hips, back, shoulders and neck
- Plantar Fasciitis
- Tendon Tears and Tendinitis
How Do Regenerative Treatments Work?
The body is a finely tuned machine. Like any piece of machinery, it will send a signal when something is not working correctly. When a gasket fails on an engine and leaks oil, this leak is a signal that there is a problem. In the same way, when a body part fails, the body sends a signal to indicate there is a problem. Typically, it does this through the sensation of pain.
Regenerative treatments use the patient’s own cells in the form of platelet rich plasma or healing cells derived from fat tissue or bone marrow, to heal the underlying cause of the pain. These cellular products are referred to as Orthobiologics.
How Do Orthobiologics Work?
- Platelet Rich Plasma: Platelets in the patient’s own blood release growth factors and proteins that promote tissue repair, while the plasma carries the hormones, electrolytes and nutrients required to nourish cells during the healing process.
- Cell Based Therapies: Healing cells taken from the patient’s own fat tissue (adipose) or bone marrow contain adult stem cells that have the unique ability to develop into the specific kind of cell needed by the body. They possess molecules that direct other cells in the injured area to form new blood vessels, awaken more stem cells and encourage production of proteins and other materials essential for creating new healthy tissues.
- Prolotherapy (Proliferative Therapy): Natural medications that help the body jump-start its own natural healing response are injected into the injured area.
Minimally Invasive Pain Relief for Orthopedic Conditions
Orthobiologic regenerative treatments are performed on an out-patient basis and do not require hospitalization or lengthy rehabilitation. The healing cells are obtained from the patient through a needle or small cannula and are returned to the injured site on the same day.
Experienced, reputable practitioners of regenerative medicine follow the U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA) guidelines for the performance of these procedures and follow strict protocols to ensure safety and efficacy. Patients considering regenerative treatments should seek the expertise of board certified-physicians who are specialized in diagnosing and treating orthopedic conditions. They have the regenerative medicine skills and experience necessary to promote safety, comfort and a successful outcome.
Drs. Christopher J. Rogers and Mary A. Ambach of San Diego Orthobiologics Medical Group together have successfully treated thousands of patients with cell-based therapies for more than three decades. They are board-certified in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. As published authors and stem cell researchers, they were chosen to participate in a first of its kind, FDA-approved clinical trial to treat knee osteoarthritis. The SDOMG facility in Carlsbad contains the most advanced Regenerative Medicine technology in San Diego and offers same day treatments with the highest level of safety, efficacy and patient satisfaction.
Nov 6, 2020
The human spine is composed of 24 individual bones called the vertebrae. In between these bones are the intervertebral discs, which are gel filled structures that act as shock absorbers. They consist of a tough outer layer called the annulus fibrosus that protects the disc’s gel-like interior, the nucleus pulposus. In the lower back, the discs are a little more than a third of an inch (10 millimeters) thick and about 1.5 inches (four centimeters) in diameter.[i]
A bulging disc or herniated disc occurs when the outer layer of the disc weakens and tears. This can cause the inner gel to bulge out to the spinal canal and affect the nearby nerves causing back pain, leg pain or muscle spasm. The disc tear can also cause leakage of materials into the spinal canal that can cause inflammation and pain.
Herniated discs most often occur in the lower back but can occur anywhere in the spine, including the neck and the midback. The location of the herniated disc often determines where the patient will feel symptoms of pain, tingling, numbness or weakness. Bulging discs in the lumbar spine can result in pain in the low back, buttocks, thighs, legs and feet. On the other hand, if your herniated disc is in the cervical spine, pain can be felt in the neck, shoulders, arms and hands.
What Causes a Herniated Disc?
Disc herniation can occur due to injury or age-related wear and tear. As people age, the disc nucleus pulposus loses hydration, wears down and leads to degeneration. Other factors may increase the risk of developing a herniated disc. These include:
- Repetitive lifting, pulling, pushing, bending and twisting
- Genetics
- Increased height (tall people)
- Smoking (decreases blood supply to the disk leading to degeneration)
A thorough medical history and physical examination can lead to the diagnoses of disc herniation. An MRI of the spine is an imaging modality that reveals herniated discs and other structural abnormalities of the spine.
Treatment Options
The treatment for most cases of mild to moderate herniated discs involves conservative measures which include the following:
- Activity modification: Avoid repetitive twisting, bending or lifting. Do not sit or stand for extended periods of time.
- Physical therapy to strengthen your trunk, arm and leg muscles that support the spine.
- Medications: Anti-inflammatory medications such as ibuprofen or naproxen, muscle relaxers, or pain killers
- Ice packs or heating pads
- Alternative therapies such as acupuncture, massage or gentle chiropractic manual therapies to manage pain.
Non-Surgical Interventions
When conservative measures fail to provide symptomatic relief, a board-certified spine specialist can offer injection treatments that do not require hospitalization and provide a more rapid recovery than surgery.
Epidural corticosteroid injection is a treatment that delivers steroid, a powerful anti-inflammatory medication, directly to the source of pain. This is performed using fluoroscopic (x-ray) guidance. This treatment can provide immediate relief of pain. The number of treatments is limited as repetitive steroid use could result to tissue damage, hormonal irregularities, osteoporosis and decreased immune response.
Cell-based therapies can treat disc degeneration and tears that are traditionally managed with medications or surgery. These treatments have been shown to increase disc hydration and disc cell proliferation, decrease inflammation, increase disc support tissue and assist in tissue healing. These therapies involve obtaining the patient’s own healthy cells and delivering them to the injured disc where they can jump start the body’s own regenerative healing processes.
- Platelet Rich Plasma uses platelets in the blood that release growth factors and proteins to promote tissue repair, while the plasma carries the hormones, electrolytes and nutrients required to nourish cells during the healing process.
- Cell Based Therapies use cells derived from the patient’s own bone marrow. Bone marrow contain adult stem cells that have the unique ability to develop into the specific kind of cells, including anulus and nucleus pulposus cells. They also contain many other healing cells and molecules that direct other cells in the area to form new blood vessels, awaken stem cells and produce collagen or other proteins essential for creating healthy new tissue.
Patients considering regenerative treatments such as these cell therapies need to know that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not currently allow the use of stem cells derived from birth tissue products such as amniotic fluid or umbilical cord blood to treat orthopedic conditions. These donor products do not contain live stem cells and have not been tested for safety or efficacy.
Candidates for Cell-Based Therapies for Herniated Discs
The success of cell-based treatments for herniated discs is dependent upon the severity of your condition and your overall health. Cell-based treatments are not suitable for those who have active cancer, infection, history of blood disease, or are pregnant.
Cell-based therapies are giving new hope for long-lasting pain relief to many patients with injured discs. It is important that you take an active role in your healing and recovery with good nutrition and a commitment to overall fitness to achieve the best outcome.
Drs. Christopher J. Rogers and Mary A. Ambach of San Diego Orthobiologics Medical Group together have successfully treated thousands of patients with interventional spine procedures and cell-based treatments for more than three decades. They are published authors and cell therapy researchers. Their facility in Carlsbad contains the most advanced Regenerative Medicine technology in San Diego and offers same- day treatments with the highest level of safety and efficacy.
[i] https://www.kenhub.com/en/library/anatomy/the-intervertebral-discs
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/herniated-disk/symptoms-causes/syc-20354095
Oct 30, 2020
Whether as a result of injury or age related wear-and-tear, pain in the neck can be more than just a saying: it can be debilitating.
According to the Mayo Clinic, neck pain is the fourth leading cause of disability in the United States. Most episodes of acute neck pain will resolve without treatment, but almost half of the people with neck pain will suffer from recurrent episodes.[i] The good news for these patients is that science and technology are working together to help physicians identify the source of neck pain and offer new options for long-lasting relief.
Identifying the Source of Neck Pain
Advancements in imaging have allowed physicians to get a better look at the intricate details of the spine. This enables them to see the different structures in the cervical spine (neck) more clearly and can help them identify the source of chronic, unresolved neck pain.
Common sources of chronic neck pain include the following:
- Arthritis: Osteoarthritis of the spine can lead to degeneration that is associated with the normal wear and tear of joints, discs and bones in the spine as people age. The arthritis can lead to bone spurs that can make movement of the neck painful and create narrowing of the space around the spinal nerves and spinal cord; a condition called spinal stenosis.
- Cervical Facet Joint Dysfunction: The facet joints are the small joints that connect the individual bones in the neck called the vertebrae. These joints allow for movement of the neck and provide stability of the spine. When these joints become inflamed, injured, or get out of alignment, neck pain, stiffness and reduced mobility may result.
- Herniated Discs: The discs are gel filled structures that act as cushion or shock absorbers between the vertebral bones in your spine. They consist of a strong outer layer that protects the disc’s gel-like interior. If the outer layer weakens or tears, the disc may protrude into the spinal canal and affect nearby nerves, causing neck pain, arm pain or muscle spasm.
There are many other causes of neck pain including nerve and spinal cord problems, fracture and non-spine sources like tumor. It is important that your physician perform a comprehensive evaluation of your medical history and physical examination to give you an appropriate diagnosis for your neck pain.
Cellular Treatments that Help Resolve Neck Pain Naturally
Most cases of neck pain can be resolved with physical therapy, activity modification and over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medications. Lifestyle improvements such as maintaining proper posture and avoiding prolonged neck bending from the use of mobile devices (ie., “text neck”) are also helpful.
When neck pain persists, spine specialists can offer a number of options for long-lasting pain relief. Orthobiologics are cells and substances derived from cells that are naturally found in the body and have the ability to heal injured tissues. These cellular products are providing new options for treating stubborn neck pain.
· Platelet Rich Plasma puts the healing properties of the patient’s own blood to work in repairing damaged joints and helping with nerve pain. The platelets in the blood release growth factors and proteins that promote tissue repair, while the plasma carries the hormones, electrolytes and nutrients required to nourish cells during the healing process. PRP treatments should be customized to the particular individual and their injury in order to be effective.
· Cell based therapies use a patient’s own bone marrow or adipose (fat) tissue derived cells. These cells are comprised of adult stem cells and many other healing cells. They produce molecules that direct other cells in the area to form new blood vessels, decrease inflammation, awaken other stem cells and encourage formation of new healthy tissues. Stem cells are special cells that have the unique ability to develop into the specific kind of cell needed, whether that be a tendon, ligament, cartilage or bone cell. Skilled regenerative medicine practitioners use highly specialized processes to prepare these cells that are then delivered directly to the injured area to stimulate healing.
· Prolotherapy (Proliferative Therapy) uses dextrose and other natural substances that are injected into a chronically injured ligament, nerves or joint in order to help the body jump start its own natural healing response.
Applying Proven Treatments to Neck Pain
Regenerative medicine specialists have been using orthobiologics in the past decade with great success to treat other orthopedic conditions, including knee arthritis, back pain, tennis elbow, tendon tears and more.
A select few qualified physicians are now applying their experience to put these powerful sources of healing to work to address neck pain. To ensure maximum safety and efficacy, patients considering orthobiologic treatments for chronic neck pain should take note of the following important points:
- Cells are derived from your own body: Regenerative products that come from your own body (autologous) have been proven to be safe and effective in peer-reviewed research. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) currently does not allow the use of donor stem cell products derived from amniotic fluid or other fetal tissues to treat orthopedic conditions since they have not been proven in safety and efficacy. These products also pose a risk of disease transmission or immune reaction. Moreover, these donor tissues do not to contain living stem cells, as opposed to what is claimed by the companies that market these products.
- Customized treatment: The best outcomes occur when your own cells and platelet rich plasma are prepared using the most advanced protocols to create a treatment that is customized to your specific injury.
- Targeted delivery: To maximize effectiveness, these regenerative treatments should be delivered under image guidance with fluoroscopy (x-ray) or ultrasound to ensure precise delivery to the injured area. Only physicians with fellowship training in advanced image guided procedures are certified to perform these procedures.
- Expert physicians: If you are considering regenerative medicine for the treatment of your spine condition, seek a board-certified physician who specializes in treating orthopedic injuries and has advanced training in regenerative medicine. These physicians are best suited to obtain the best results employing the latest research, technology and safety protocols.
Since orthobiologic treatments for neck pain are relatively new within the field of regenerative medicine, patients need to ask the right questions and research the appropriate physicians to deliver the best care.
Drs. Christopher J. Rogers and Mary A. Ambach of San Diego Orthobiologics Medical Group together have successfully treated thousands of patients with cell-based therapies for more than three decades. They are published authors and stem cell researchers who were chosen to participate in a first of its kind, FDA-approved clinical trial to treat knee osteoarthritis. The SDOMG facility in Carlsbad contains the most advanced Regenerative Medicine technology in San Diego and offers same day treatments with the highest level of safety, efficacy and patient satisfaction.
[i] https://www.mayoclinicproceedings.org/article/S0025-6196(14)00833-7/abstract
[ii] https://www.stemcures.com/stem-cell-therapy-for-neck-pain-cincinnati
