Could you heal without surgery? In this eye-opening episode of the Move Without Limits Podcast, Kate Grace, Physical Therapist and movement expert, sits down with Dr. Chris Rogers, a world-renowned regenerative medicine specialist, to break down the science, promise, and real-world results of cutting-edge treatments like stem cells, PRP, and more. Discover who regenerative medicine is for, what actually works, and how it could help you avoid surgery, reduce pain, and restore function—naturally. If you’ve ever wondered whether your body could heal itself, this is the conversation you don’t want to miss.
We are proud to announce that Dr. Mary A. Ambach was selected by her peers as one of San Diego’s Physicians of Exceptional Excellence. The selection process asked all San Diego County physicians with a valid California medical license who they think should be recognized for their excellence in medicine, and it is an achievement that only 5% of San Diego physicians can claim. Congratulations Dr. Ambach for being one of the 2023 Top Doctors of San Diego!
Topic: Shockwave Therapy for Orthopedic conditions
Date and Time: May 7, 2023. 12:30 PT
Join us on our Free Facebook Live Series called Ask the Docs. In this session, SDOMG physician experts will answer your questions on Biowave therapy, otherwise known as Shockwave therapy, in treating Orthopedic conditions.
Dr Ambach is currently in Colorado Springs volunteering to take care of the Sports Medicine needs of our Elite Athletes at the largest Olympic Training Center in the Country. She gets the chance to work with a world class team of coaches, athletic trainors, physical therapists, massage therapists, nutritionists, and many other members of the high performance team. We are proud of Dr. Ambach being able to contribute to the care of the best of the best of America’s athletes.
Platelet rich plasma therapies and cell-based therapies derived from bone marrow and adipose tissue are giving hope to patients who suffer from conditions such as arthritis, low back pain and sports-related injuries for treating their chronic pain.
Regenerative medicine treatments involve the injection of healthy cells derived from the patient’s own body, known as autologous therapies, to the site of injury.These therapies deliver a concentration of the body’s own unique healing cells, including platelets and adult stem cells, to help repair and support formation of new healthy tissue.
Currently, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not allow physicians to use stem cell products derived from another person for orthopedic clinical use.Practitioners who follow FDA guidelines only use the patient’s own cells derived from blood, bone marrow or adipose (fat) tissues with nothing more than minimal manipulation to treat orthopedic conditions such as spine and joint pain.
Before Treatment
The patient first undergoes a comprehensive medical evaluation to confirm the diagnosis.This includes taking a complete medical history, performing a detailed physical examination and obtaining diagnostic tests such as MRI, X-ray, or any necessary blood tests.
The physician will review the patient’s overall health including medication intake, nutritional status and exercise level. Because the cells used are from the patient’s own body, it is important to ensure optimal health of these cells. Medications that can interfere with cellular function may be discontinued temporarily.
During Treatment
Regenerative cell-based therapies are typically performed in a doctor’s clinic. The first part of the procedure involves collecting the cells from the patient’s body through the following:
Platelet rich plasma is obtained through a simple blood draw from the arm.
Bone marrow-derived cells are drawn from the back side of the pelvic bone.A local anesthetic will be used to keep the patient comfortable.Pain medication or anxiety reducing medication may be used if necessary.
Adipose-derived cells are collected by obtaining a fat sample, usually from the abdomen or buttocks. This is also done using a local anesthetic to keep the patient comfortable.
For more detailed information on the different steps involved in these procedures, you can watch our YouTube channel on how PRP, bone marrow and adipose cell based therapies are prepared.
After the collection, the blood or bone marrow are transferred to a centrifuge machine to isolate and concentrate the cells and healing molecules.Adipose tissue is washed, rinsed and resized using a special FDA-cleared device.When the cellular product is ready for injection, the physician will use an ultrasound or fluoroscopic (X-ray) guidance to precisely deliver the healing cells to the injured area in a safe and comfortable manner.
After the procedure, we observe our patients in the clinic to ensure there are no complications before they leave for home.A responsible adult is required to drive the patient home.As an outpatient procedure, there is no need for hospitalization or lengthy stay in rehabilitation facilities.
After Treatment
Soreness in the injection site can be expected for up to four days after the procedure.Ice, or mild analgesics can be used to ease the discomfort. Wearing a brace may help as well.Patients can continue their regular medications except for non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications such as ibuprofen and blood thinners. These medications may need to be temporarily discontinued, so it is important that you inform your physician if you are on any of these medications.
Most patients are able to resume normal activities within days. Patients will be prescribed a course of physical therapy to help assist the body in healing.
Healing takes time.Pain may be reduced after a few weeks, however most patients will notice slow, gradual improvement within 3-4 months.
Minimally invasive regenerative cellular treatments using the patient’s own healing cells such as platelets or stem cells are being used to treat conditions that are traditionally managed with medications or surgery.When performed by a qualified regenerative medicine specialist, patients can enjoy years of pain relief and increased activity.
Drs. Christopher J. Rogers and Mary A. Ambach of San Diego Orthobiologics Medical Group together have successfully treated thousands of patients with PRP and cell-based treatments for more than three decades. They are published authors and stem cell 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.
Most Americans will experience pain and stiffness from arthritis at some point in their lives. Arthritis can affect any joint in the body, including the knee, hip, shoulder, back…even the fingers and toes.
Osteoarthritis, commonly known as degenerative arthritis, is estimated to affect one in four U.S. adults, making it one of the most common medical conditions Americans will face. It is a chronic joint disease that slowly degenerates the protective cartilage in your joints and causes chronic inflammation. It can be successfully treated with platelet rich plasma therapy, which heals injured tissues and decreases painful inflammation.
How Platelet Rich Plasma Therapy Works
There are different kinds of cells found in our blood. Red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets all serve critical functions in the body. These include carrying oxygen, fighting infection and repairing damaged tissues.
Platelets help to stop bleeding, but they also release growth factors and proteins that promote tissue repair and decrease inflammation. Platelet rich plasma therapy concentrates these important healing components and reintroduces them in the specific injured area to stimulate tissue repair. Its powerful healing properties can improve the degenerative effects of osteoarthritis and stop its progression (1).
Is it Safe?
Platelet Rich Plasma is the most common orthobiologic used to treat orthopedic conditions. Orthobiologics are cells and cellular molecules used to heal orthopedic injuries. There are hundreds of research studies in the peer-reviewed medical literature showing the safety of this treatment for orthopedic conditions (2-13).
How Effective Are Platelet Rich Plasma Treatments for Joint Osteoarthritis?
High quality clinical studies have proven that PRP is more effective than standard treatments of exercise, steroid injections and hyaluronic acid (gel) injections. PRP has been shown to improve pain and function in patients with knee osteoarthritis in particular.
Several factors play a role in the successful outcome with these treatments, including the severity of the osteoarthritis, medical comorbidities, medications and the patient’s nutritional status. It is important to evaluate the patient as a whole to determine proper treatment and to support a positive outcome.
Dr. Christopher Rogers of San Diego Orthobiologics Group performed one of the first PRP treatments in San Diego in 2009, and SDOMG is proud to be the first clinic in San Diego—and third in the United States—to offer ENDORET PRGF therapy for the treatment of orthopedic conditions. Dr. Rogers and Dr. Mary Ambach have performed thousands of ultrasound-guided platelet rich plasma treatments. Many patients obtain successful results with their PRP treatments after just one treatment.
