Two Marathoners Same Day Same Regenerative Medicine Treatment for Knees

A very clear picture of the individuality of each person emerged, when I had two marathoners in the office at the same time seeking regenerative medicine treatment for knees. They were comparing times at races they had run in together, including the Boston Marathon.

One was tall and slender, the other shorter and more muscular. They both were in their early 60’s with moderate knee degenerative arthritis. Both received Regenerative Medicine treatment with stem cell applications to their knees the same day.

The tall slender man returned to running Marathons, the shorter muscular man could not run further than 5 kilometers before his knee pain was severe.

Both had no pain with normal activities, however both judged their treatment success based upon their ability to return to marathon running.

This is actually a difficult and unreasonable goal for every 60 year old to have, yet it was theirs. Helping patients understand this is not always easy.

Knee Injuries from Sport Specific Exercise 

Not everyone wants to run. Some are not even interested in exercising, they just want to be functional and live without nagging knee pain.

An important aspect to understand is knee degenerative arthritis is not static, it is progressive, meaning it gets worse with time.

Earlier treatment is always better, but often patients are older, or have advance knee degenerative arthritis and state they just heard about Regenerative Medicine treatment for knees or got a flyer in the mail or went to a Stem Cell Seminar or luncheon, found it distasteful that a doctor wasn’t present, or found out a chiropractor was running it, but someone else was doing the procedure.

A story Dr. Lox unfortunately has more and more often in the last few years. Dr. Lox was doing Regenerative Medicine when many states and countries didn’t have anyone doing Regenerative Medicine, or knew anything about stem cells.

At that time, many major universities didn’t have stem cell research departments. Now, nearly all do, and even have advanced Departments in many areas of Regenerative Medicine.

So, with years of experience, a variety of patients with all types of knee pain, sports histories from professional athletes, teenagers to 99-years-old’s, a deeper understanding of what to do and recommend as therapeutic exercise is obtained.

A frequently discussed complaint is my primary doctor or cardiologist told me to walk for exercise, but my knees hurt when I walk. How am I suppose to lose weight?

All have been encountered by Dr. Lox. In all patient sizes, shapes, desires, goals, and most importantly what really is the best recommendation for that particular patient’s knees.

It is not the same for everyone. That is the point. There is always an answer after a thorough evaluation is done. You can’t do this on the telephone, at a seminar or suggest every patient get the same Regenerative Medicine treatment or exercise plan. That makes no scientific or medical sense.

This 75-year-old had good genes no prior major trauma or knee surgery and superior outcome. He is by no means the only patient doing exceptional well. Dr. Lox has many marathoners and Iron Man competitors in their 60’s. This is just not the normal goal. But it can happen.

Dennis M. Lox, M.D. & Personalized Medicine 

Avoid claims of ridiculous success rates. This is false advertising.

For every condition and individual there is variability, based on their individual circumstances. Joe Namath was not the same knee as Derrick Brooks or this 75-year-old patient.

A one-size-fits-all approach to treatment, can be fraught with errors in lumping all individuals into one category without taking into account their specific history, needs and goals.

Inexperienced individuals claiming to be new found experts in stem cells, is another new problematic ever increasing dilemma.

Patients sometimes get confused with all the claims, all of people want to believe the fantastic claims. The same is true for back surgery.

That is why in the United States back surgery is only 50% successful. Bad statistics. Even worse for those with multiple back surgeries.

Stem Cell claims such as this, or curing disease states are heavily scrutinized by state and Federal regulatory authorities.

Many recent disciplinary actions have already taken place against the most overt offenders, and as new individuals claiming to be experts without this knowledge jump into this field, they are making big mistakes by making outrageous claims to maximize profits, unknowing, or uncaring that disciplinary actions are occurring.

Be cautious, do your homework.

Remember experience matters. You wouldn’t want a heart surgeon who was a family proactive doctor or chiropractor who took a weekend course on heart surgery to fix your heart.

The same is true for Regenerative Medicine and those claiming to be Stem Cell experts at a seminar or luncheon.

Dr. Lox only lectures to University Professors and Regenerative Medicine experts at National and International Medical Symposiums on Regenerative Medicine, Stem Cell Science and Sports Medicine.

The best road is to do what is right for each and every patient. That is why Dennis M. Lox, M.D. practices Personalized Sports and Regenerative Medicine.

You don’t get to treat elite professional athletes, or patients referring their family members, or friends by not being honest and caring for each and every patient. There is always a place for a boutique medical practice that strives for quality not quantity.

Helping people is actually what at the end of the day is important, and what Medicine is suppose to be all about. Experience and dedication are needed to understand the nuances that make each patient different.

That is individualized care or Personalized Medicine. Each and every patient deserves that.