Dr. Darrow is a board-certified medical doctor who completed his studies at UCLA. He specializes in using stem cells and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) to facilitate the body’s natural healing processes. Dr. Darrow also educates patients and the public about the benefits of stem cells, PRP, and prolotherapy. Alongside him, Dr. Grove is a specialist in regenerative medicine and an expert in ultrasound-guided injections. With his extensive experience as both an athlete and a strength and conditioning coach, Dr. Grove brings valuable insight into treating musculoskeletal injuries and pain.
Contrast with Traditional Treatments
Traditional pain management often involves covering up symptoms with pain medication, including opioids, or with steroid injections. While these methods can provide short-term relief, studies indicate that steroids may actually damage tissue over time, especially when injected into joint spaces affected by arthritis. The goal of regenerative medicine is not to mask pain, but to address its root cause by promoting healing from within, thereby reducing reliance on medication and invasive surgeries.
Diagnosis and Personalized Treatment
A thorough, hands-on physical examination is essential to accurately identify the source of pain. Imaging findings, such as those from radiology reports, do not always correlate with the patient’s actual symptoms. Dr. Grove utilizes musculoskeletal ultrasound in addition to physical exams, which provides dynamic, high-definition views and aids in pinpointing the exact pain generator. This precise approach allows for more effective and individualized treatment plans.
Options for Managing Pain
When dealing with pain, patients generally have several options: do nothing and hope for spontaneous improvement, mask symptoms with medication or injections, undergo invasive surgery, or pursue regenerative treatments. Dr. Darrow and Dr. Grove advocate for regenerative medicine as a middle ground between inaction and surgery, offering effective solutions with fewer risks and complications.
Case Example and Common Scenarios
An example was shared of a 72-year-old active gentleman experiencing pain in multiple joints after a lifetime of activities like surfing and skiing. Such cases illustrate the normal wear and tear that can accumulate and eventually affect quality of life. Early intervention is encouraged to maintain physical function and overall health, as untreated pain can lead to reduced activity, weight gain, and negative impacts on mood, sleep, and general wellbeing.
Comprehensive Assessment of Pain Sources
It is important to recognize that pain may originate from various structures around a joint, not just from arthritis identified on imaging studies. Ligaments, tendons, muscles, joint capsules, nerves, and blood vessels all play a role and can contribute to discomfort. Even if imaging shows age-related changes such as arthritis, regenerative treatments can help rejuvenate tissues and decrease inflammation, enabling patients to remain active.
Patient Interactions and Clinical Insights
Callers like Barbara from Pasadena illustrate typical scenarios. Despite being advised to consider surgery for a disc bulge, Barbara experiences only localized neck pain without numbness, tingling, or weakness. Dr. Grove notes that disc bulges are extremely common—especially with aging—and often do not cause pain. Surgery is generally reserved for cases with significant neurological symptoms, such as severe numbness or weakness. Most patients with localized pain benefit from a thorough hands-on exam to identify specific structures involved, such as facet joints, ligaments, or small muscles, rather than focusing solely on imaging findings.
Technical Aspects of Diagnosis and Treatment
Dr. Grove emphasizes the importance of anatomical knowledge and hands-on assessment, often reinforced through experience in cadaver labs. The spine’s stability comes primarily from the surrounding muscles, ligaments, and tendons, rather than the discs themselves. Many patients develop pain from sprains or irritation of these supporting structures, which can be effectively treated with precise, ultrasound-guided injections of PRP or stem cells.
Regenerative Injection Procedures
For appropriate candidates, treatment options include PRP and stem cell injections. PRP is prepared by drawing a small amount of the patient’s blood and centrifuging it to concentrate platelets and healing factors. Stem cell therapy, often derived from bone marrow aspiration, provides a more potent healing response and may require fewer treatments with faster recovery. Both approaches are minimally invasive, typically involve only brief procedures with small needles, and avoid the risks associated with surgery. Patients usually walk in and out of the office, with only a short period of rest needed afterward.
Contact Information and Further Resources
Listeners interested in learning more, scheduling a consultation, or receiving educational materials can call 1-800-300-9300.
Marc Darrow, M.D., J.D., is one of the world’s most experienced Regenerative Medicine doctors. He has more than 30 Years of expertise in regenerative medicine techniques and has treated thousands of patients. He uses non-surgical therapy to reduce pain in joints, tendons, ligaments, and a variety of other ailments and disorders throughout the body, including back and neck discomfort. He taught at UCLA and received Board Certification in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.
