My scenario is "good news / bad news". The good news is that with my current diagnosis My doc thinks I don't need an operation. The bad news is that without the new technology my condition will just get worse. For now Alleve works fine.
Leslie, my son works with an ortho guy at Oregon Health Science U. who is conducting trials with cartilage regeneration. When I mentioned this to my P-T he said there is a lot going on in this area and it's the new "holy grail" but it's not that close to a reality. Here's hoping your doc is right. What is PRP?
Your condition sounds a bit like the condition my left shoulder was in, Rich. Not operable, but going downhilll. I did 4 sessions of PRP -- plasma regeneration therapy -- over 6-8 months (last one 6 weeks before Nats) on the rotator cuff/labrum and it is vastly better. (Might need more, as the RC is a large area.) PRP is a procedure where the doctors inject your own blood platlettes to the effected area to attempt to regenerate degenerated connective tissue. You can read about it and see a video at www.treatingpain.com. PRP is referenced on the bottom left corner of the home screen. I sought out this treatment when cortisone PT, ART, prolotherapy were just not effective. It takes awhile to work though because you're waiting for the tissue to grow. My doctor has some professional athletes and triathletes that have successfully used PRP. Normal people who want to avoid surgery too. Skill of the physician is key, of course. Not many doctors are qualified to do this procedure. (My doc has patients flying in for treatment.) And only some insurance companies cover it. But, barring the expense, I can't think of a single reason a person wouldn't do it, although I don't know a single swimmer who has besides me. It is painful, but couldn't possibly be worse than surgery rehab. I found it effective, and I am not an easy sell!
My scenario is "good news / bad news". The good news is that with my current diagnosis My doc thinks I don't need an operation. The bad news is that without the new technology my condition will just get worse. For now Alleve works fine.
Leslie, my son works with an ortho guy at Oregon Health Science U. who is conducting trials with cartilage regeneration. When I mentioned this to my P-T he said there is a lot going on in this area and it's the new "holy grail" but it's not that close to a reality. Here's hoping your doc is right. What is PRP?
Your condition sounds a bit like the condition my left shoulder was in, Rich. Not operable, but going downhilll. I did 4 sessions of PRP -- plasma regeneration therapy -- over 6-8 months (last one 6 weeks before Nats) on the rotator cuff/labrum and it is vastly better. (Might need more, as the RC is a large area.) PRP is a procedure where the doctors inject your own blood platlettes to the effected area to attempt to regenerate degenerated connective tissue. You can read about it and see a video at www.treatingpain.com. PRP is referenced on the bottom left corner of the home screen. I sought out this treatment when cortisone PT, ART, prolotherapy were just not effective. It takes awhile to work though because you're waiting for the tissue to grow. My doctor has some professional athletes and triathletes that have successfully used PRP. Normal people who want to avoid surgery too. Skill of the physician is key, of course. Not many doctors are qualified to do this procedure. (My doc has patients flying in for treatment.) And only some insurance companies cover it. But, barring the expense, I can't think of a single reason a person wouldn't do it, although I don't know a single swimmer who has besides me. It is painful, but couldn't possibly be worse than surgery rehab. I found it effective, and I am not an easy sell!
