Platelet Lumbar Epidural Gets Hiker Back onto Trails

At the Centeno-Schultz Clinic we acknowledge that low back and leg pain secondary to disc degeneration can be disability and severely restrict  one’s activity.

Regenexx PL has been used successfully in the treatment of back and leg pain.

PL denotes platelet lysate which is a process conducted at our state of the art lab.   The growth factors within the platelets are released from the cell membrane making them immediately available for healing.

Below is a recent clinical success utilizing platelet growth factors.

SF is 58 y/o hiker who presented to the Centeno-Schultz Clinic with 2.5 month history of right leg discomfort and weakness. Onset of symptoms was atraumatic and occurred while hiking. Weakness was constant and SF had difficulty with lifting his foot which made hiking difficult.

Initial treatment included oral steroids x 2 despite the side effects associated with steroids.

MRI of lumbar spine was signficant for broad-based right disc protrusion which displaced and flattened the right L5 nerve root.  This would explain his foot drop.

SF returned to clinic today after two x-ray guided Regenexx PL-M epidural injections.  He reports 90 % improvement in discomfort and 80% improvement in right leg weakness.  He avoided surgery and is now back on the trails hiking due to the benefits of platelet growth factors.

Epidural Steroid Injections: Risks

At the Centeno-Schultz Clinic we acknowledge the pain, frustration and restriction in activity associated lumbar and cervical degenerative disc disease. Advanced treatment options include Regenexx PL where platelet growth factors are injected into the epidural space at the level of the degeneration or injury. The platelet growth factors increase the blood flow and increase inflammation.

High dose epidural steroids are utilized to treat lumbar and cervical disc disorders. Unfortunately the number of complications and risks associated with epidural steroids continues to increase.
Risks:
–significant bone loss

–suppression of hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis

–elevation of blood glucose in diabetic patients

–breakdown of  cartilage in animal studies

– ligament failure and breakdown.

In addition there is a signficant increase in the incidence of bone osteonecrosis in patients taking oral steroids.

In 2013 consider the risks associated with steroid injections and investigate the option of platelet derived growth factors.

Back and Leg Pain Regenerative Treatments: Platelets vs Steroids

At the Centeno-Schultz Clinic we acknowledge that lower back and leg pain can be debilitating.  Treatment options include epidural injections utilizing platelet growth factors (Regenexx PL-Disc) which are intended to increase blood blow and decrease inflammation.  Stem cell therapy is an alternative to low back surgery.

Our most recent data comparing the Regenexx PL-Disc procedure to traditional steroid epidural is shown below. The interesting points are that while 11 patients didn’t respond to steroid epidurals and switched over to the Regenexx-PL-Disc procedure, none switched the other way. In addition, note the dramatically higher increases in patient function with the Regenexx-PL-Disc.

Traditional steroid injections have signficant risks:

Increased risk of bone fracture

Changes in cortisol levels lasting weeks

Cause ligament breakdown and failure

Cartilage degeneration

Suppress stem cell function

Also alarming is the increase risk of osteonecrosis (bone death) associated with oral steroids.