Author: adamsewellmd

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Platelet Rich Plasma

Platelet Rich Plasma Treatments Provides Lasting Pain Relief

Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) Treatments

Platelet therapy, often referred to as platelet rich plasma (PRP), is a revolutionary new treatment that relieves pain by causing long lasting healing of painful conditions by amplifying the healing power of your body.

PRP is already showing exciting success in treating:

  • arthritis of the knee
  • hip arthritis
  • spinal pain
  • rotator cuff tears
  • chronic plantar fascitis
  • anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries
  • pelvic pain and instability
  • back and neck injuries
  • tennis elbow
  • ankle sprains
  • tendonitis
  • ligament sprains

Our physicians can determine if this advanced, non-surgical treatment is right for you.

How is our PRP different?

We utilize state of the art equipment that creates the highest quality Platelet concentrate. Each case is determined by physician to create the exact volume as well as concentration of platelets depending on the use. Our process is done by hand, and results in a more highly successful treatment.

Why Accuracy is Important?

In order to get the treatment to the injured area it is very important to be accurate. All of our injections are done with the help image guidance like xray or ultrasound. We get the best outcomes because the treatment is delivered to the injured area with precision. We often achieve true recovery when the joint strength is restored. We perform a comprehensive treatment of all damaged structures and supporting ligaments and tendons as part of the treatment. Using these treatements we give the injured structure the best opportunity to fully recover.

How does PRP therapy help?

The body’s first response to soft tissue injury is to deliver platelet cells. Packed with growth and healing factors, platelets initiate repair and attract the critical assistance of stem cells. PRP therapy’s natural healing process intensifies the body’s efforts by delivering a higher concentration of platelets. To create PRP therapy, a small sample of your blood is drawn (similar to a lab test sample) and placed in a centrifuge that spins the blood at high speeds, separating the platelets from the other components. These platelets have been further refined and concentrated depending on their specific use. The concentrated platelet rich plasma (PRP) is then injected into and around the point of injury, jump-starting and significantly strengthening the body’s natural healing signal. Because your own blood is used, there is no risk of a transmissible infection and a very low risk of allergic reaction.

How long does it take?

The procedure takes approximately about two hours, including preparation and recovery time. Performed safely in a medical office, PRP therapy relieves pain without the risks of surgery, general anesthesia, or hospital stays and without a prolonged recovery. In fact, most people return to their jobs or usual activities right after the procedure.

What are the next steps after treatment?

Initial improvement may be seen within a few weeks and gradually increasing as the healing continues. Research studies show that PRP treatments are very effective at relieving pain allowing patients to return to their normal lives. Ultrasound and MRI have shown tissue repair after PRP therapy. Need for surgery is reduced by treating injured tissues before the damage gets worse.

Stop pain from interfering with your life.

Contact us when you are ready to return to your normal life.

Categories
Stem Cells

What You Should Know about Stem Cells


Stem cells are present in all of our bodies. Stem cells are responsible for healing injured bones, torn ligaments, damaged tendons and tissues. As we age or suffer from injury, often there may not be enough stem cells available to heal our body. The stem cells repair our body naturally. This allows your body to self-renew, allowing faster healing and faster recovery of damaged and worn down bone and tissue from injury and disease. Thanks to advances in technology we are now able to introduce fresh stem cells in to the damaged area. This allows the body to begin to heal itself without the need for invasive surgery.

How You Can Heal Using Your Own Body’s Repairmen

We perform stem cell and platelet procedures for many orthopedic and pain related conditions such as — spine pain, common injuries and degenerative conditions, such as arthritis and avascular necrosis. We are able to use your own cells and additional products to help heal injured tissues, cartilage, spinal discs, tendons, ligaments and even bone!


The procedures are often a viable alternative to elective surgery. There are many new solutions for patients suffering with chronic pain and injury often these cutting edge procedures help mitigate downtime and decrease painful rehabilitation that are required with invasive procedures.

Regenerative Stem Cell Solutions


The latest stem cell technology is changing the field of medicine. Many studies show amazing benefits from regenerative medicine Solutions.

One size Does NOT fit all


It is very important to have an evaluation by a qualified physician. There are many therapies that fall under the umbrella of what we refer to as “Stem Cells” . Many stem cell procedures are state-of-the-art and require customized medical solutions. Our solutions are created for patients by our skilled physicians.

Highly trained physicians can determine how best to heal damaged and injured areas of the body and will make a customized treatment plan.

Accuracy is the Key

Now that you have the right treatment plan and the right stem cell solution we have to get it to the damaged area. We have superior accuracy in harvesting and injecting stem cells by using advanced imaging guidance such as fluoroscopy, Computerized Axial Tomogrophy, and ultrasound.

Categories
Low T

How is Low Testosterone Treated?

Low Testosterone levels can lead to a whole host of issues including loss of muscle, loss of sex drive, loss of mental clarity and drive and is one of the most common undiagnosed causes of depression.

There is currently an epidemic of low testosterone among men throughout the world but especially in the United States — for more information see my previous post here.

When ever encounting symptoms of low testosterone it is important that the cause is determined and corrected. Many times low levels of testosterone can be treated with testosterone replacement therapy. Many times correcting the cause of the low testosterone will lead to an increase in natural testosterone as well. Testosterone comes in many forms, including shots given in the muscle, gels placed on the skin, or even slow release pellets that can be placed under the skin.

It is important to get the right level of testosterone for you. The reason being that levels of testosterone that are too high might increase the chance of heart attack or stroke in some men. This is rare and we are still researching exactly why this happens.

If you are older than 60 you should consider having testosterone replacement if:

●2 or 3 blood tests show very low testosterone levels

●Symptoms of low testosterone such as decrease libido, decrease muscle mass, and depression are bothering you.

●Your doctor has made sure that the symptoms you are experiencing are not caused by another illness

Men with testosterone replacement need regular testing. These include tests to measure blood testosterone levels and screening tests for prostate cancer.

If you or someone you love is dealing with symptoms of low testosterone please reach out by clicking here.

Categories
Low T

What Causes Low Testosterone?

As mentioned in my previous post there is an epidemic of low testosterone among men throughout the world.
Low Testosterone is often caused by:

●Exposure to heavy metals such a lead and mercury (these are build up over a lifetime of exposure)

●Damage to the testicles (where most of the testosterone is created) from trauma or infection

●Many of the treatments used for cancer, especially radiation, chemotherapy, and even hormone therapy medications for prostate cancer

●Problems with the pituitary gland (gland at the base of the brain). This gland controls most of the hormone-producing organs.

●Many medical problems can cause Low T, particularly liver and kidney illness, high levels of obesity, diabetes, and occasionally infections disesases.

●Rare genetic problems

When should I see a doctor?


If you are suffering from the symptoms of low T, please reach out to us by clicking here. There are many illnesses that can masquerade as symptoms of low T. We can often determine the exact cause of Low T with tests we can perform in our office and the use of blood testing. Often a simple blood test can show if you have low levels of testosterone, but many times other tests are needed to identify the cause.

What Causes Low Testosterone?
Categories
Low T

Symptoms of low T?


The symptoms of low testosterone are different depending on how long you have had low testosterone.

Initially, those suffering with low testosterone experience:

●Lethargy — Feel tired, particularly at the end of the day

●Lack of interest in Sexy — When you have little or no interest in sex, this can be referred to as having “low libido”

●Depression — Feeling sad, “feeling blue” or “down”, this often starts slowly

If you have had low testosterone for many years, most men develop other symptoms and often other medical problems:

●Decrease of muscle

●Decrease of bone strength

●Loss of body hair (often starts slowly)

●The appearance of breasts where the pectoral muscles are usually located the medical diagnosis for this is gynecomastia.

Symptoms of low testosterone. Diagnosis of low testosterone.
Symptoms of low testosterone. Diagnosis of low testosterone.
Categories
Low T

Low T: What it Really Means and Why it’s Happening

Diagnosis Low testosterone and pen on a desk.

What Exactly Is Testosterone?

Testosterone is a specific hormone but is also a catch all all name that is commonly used when talking about a few different “male hormones” or what we call “androgens.” Testosterone is one of the most important male hormones. The male hormones and especially testosterone helps with strength of muscles, sex drive, and even bone strength.

What does it mean to have  “low testosterone” ?

Symptoms of High and Low Testosterone

Having low testosterone occurs when your body makes too little testosterone. The exact medical term for when this happens is “androgen deficiency” but most people refer to it as just “low T”   As we get older, levels of testosterone tend to get a bit lower.  Compared to our ancestors our testosterone levels are already very low.  When the levels of testosterone in your blood get too low, symptoms occur

According to a recent report from JAMA, the number of men being treated for “low T” is on the rise. From 2010 to 2013, prescrions and treatments for “Low T” have more  than doubled.  Most men today will have less testosterone compared to men of the same age even a generation ago. While we are not exactly certain why this is happening researchers believe it is related to a complex web of social, environmental, and behavioral factors.
Research indicates that men’s testosterone levels have been declining for decades! A study that was performed in 2007 in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism showed a large drop in american men’s testosterone levels since the 1980s. According to the research, a 60-year-old man in 2004 had testosterone levels 17% lower than those of a 60-year-old in 1987! A study of  Danish males showed very similar findings, with double-digit declines among men born in the 1960s when compared to men born in the 1920s.

If you or someone you care about is suffering from the symptoms of low testosterone please seek help. It is very important to get this challenge solved. Click here to reach out to our office.

Categories
Neuropathy Uncategorized

Patient’s Guide to Diabetic Neuropathy

Neuropathy is a broad medical term for nerve damage. Neuropathy is quite common due to type 1 as well as type 2 diabetes. Did you know that it is estimated that more than 26 percent of people with diabetes — type 2 actually have evidence of damage to their nerves at the time that they are diagnosed with diabetes. A type of neuropathy, called polyneuropathy, is the one of most common type of neuropathy that occurs in patients that suffer from diabetes. There are many other types of neuropathy and often terms like diabetic neuropathy and polyneuropathy are large categories of illness and a more specific diagnosis can eventually be found. Neuropathy often affects people without diabetes as well.

There are many signs and symptoms of neuropathy usually the earliest signs are loss of sensation often with burning sensation in a stocking or glove distribution. Catching neuropathy caused by diabetes and treating the neuropathy early will often lead to better quality of life and even reversal of symptoms.

There are many treatments for diabetic neuropathy unfortunatley they are not widely publicized and includes a three step process:

1. Identifying the extent of the damage to the nerves this will allow us to target therapy

2. Stop the nerve pain — as long as your life (and sleep cycle) is disrupted by nerve pain healing will be delayed (most common issue seen with patients who have neuropathy)

3. Heal the nerves — Replace deficiencies that are associated with neuropathy, increase circulation, and use advanced regenerative treatments (often referred to as stem cells) to heal nerves have been damaged by demyelination.

Pain in the foot from neuropathy. Symptoms of peripheral neuropathy. Most common symptoms of neuropathy is numbness in the fingertips and foot. New neuropathy treatments.

If you are suffering from neuropathy pain and would like to receive help please contact our office by clicking here.

Categories
Gout

How to Treat Gout

There are some simple medications reduce pain and swelling caused by a gout attack. It is important to use the medication as soon you feel a flare or attack starting. Gout medicines will work best if taken as soon as symptoms start.

Medicines that treat gout attacks include:

●NSAIDs – This group of medications that includes ibuprofen (brand names: Advil, Motrin) and indomethacin (brand name: Indocin). NSAIDs can be dangerous for some people with kidney, liver disease, and bleeding problems.

●Colchicine – This medication will help with gout but it can have many side effects including stomach pain, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting.

●Steroids – Steroids will reduce swelling and pain. Steroids can be taken as pills or even as shots.

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Uncategorized

Medications that Prevent Gout Attacks

There are many medicines that can decrease the risk of having gout Attacks. Most people with repeated and severe flares should consider taking these medications. These medications work by reducing the amount of uric acid in the blood.

These medicines include:

  • allopurinol (brand names: Aloprim, Zyloprim)
  • febuxostat (brand name: Uloric)
  • probenecid
  • pegloticase (brand name: Krystexxa), given through a vein (IV).

Before you take one of the medicines to prevent gout, some tests may be needed to make sure you use it safely. The test will help us monitor your uric acid level to make sure it becomes low enough to dissolve the gout crystals.

Beware These medications can actually increase gout attacks when you first start using them:

  • Allopurinol
  • febuxostat
  • probenecid

To prevent these attacks, you can take low doses of colchicine when you start these medications. These medications will put a stop to the attacks over time. If a gout flare occurs, it is important to keep taking your medicines daily.

We often check uric acid levels regularly — to make sure the medication is working well and we have the right dose dialed in. If you need help with gout related pain and attacks click here to reach out to our office.

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Uncategorized

Is there a test for gout?

To test you for gout, I will often take a sample of fluid from the affected joint. Often I can find gout crystals in the fluid, which would be considered a positive test for gout. Even without checking the joint fluid, it is likely you have gout if the following symptoms are present:

●You have pain and/ or swelling in one joint, particularly the joint located at the base of your big toe.

●Your symptoms (pain, redness, and swelling) will completely go away between attacks, especially when you first start having attacks. This can change the longer you have had attacks.

●Blood tests show very high levels of uric acid