charlotte-200Charlotte Loose is no stranger to pain. In 1990, Charlotte was diagnosed with fibromyalgia, which is a disorder of widespread musculoskeletal pain. In addition to her fibromyalgia, Charlotte had bulging discs at L4 and L5. For 4-5 years, her lower back pain was constant. She could not ride in a car or stand for a long period of time. Her limited ability to bend over restricted her from many daily tasks.

Charlotte met Dr. Phillips in 2011 while seeking treatment for her lower back pain. “My first meeting with Dr. Phillips was very positive,” said Charlotte. “He was a quiet gentleman and truly listened to me. He made me feel like he was invested in my well-being and assured me that I was going to get better.” Charlotte tried a series of conservative treatments that included lumbar epidural injections, pain medications and chiropractic adjustments. Unfortunately, nothing gave Charlotte permanent relief.

“Dr. Phillips told me we would find a solution for my pain,” said Charlotte. He didn’t give up and in September, 2015, he presented her with a new regenerative medicine treatment option: platelet rich plasma (PRP) therapy combined with BioD Restore®. “Dr. Phillips is always looking for the next best treatment, which enables him to remain on the cutting edge of innovative care,” she said. At the time, this procedure was still pretty new, but Charlotte was willing to try anything to relieve her back pain.

Platelet rich plasma (PRP) integrates technology with the body’s natural abilities for accelerated healing. To obtain PRP, blood is removed from the patient, typically 30-60 milliliters. The patient’s blood is then spun in a centrifuge that uses high speeds to separate the four main components of the blood so that platelet rich plasma can be obtained. PRP releases 3 to 5 times the amount of growth factors compared to normal human blood. These growth factors increase the production of reparative cells.

In Charlotte’s case, Dr. Phillips combined PRP with BioD Restore®. Patients under the age of 60 generally achieve tissue regeneration using their own “pluripotent” progenitor stem cells through the use of bone marrow aspirate concentrate. However, since the human body slowly loses its ability to produce its own (autologous) stem cells as it ages, patients over the age of 60 typically achieve better results using a combination of BioD Restore® and PRP. BioD Restore® serves as a substitute for BMAC by using a cryopreserved allograft derived from human placental stem cells to support tissue repair and regeneration. Once the PRP is obtained, Dr. Phillips injected the PRP from Charlotte and the BioD Restore® into Charlotte’s L4 and L5 disks.

Within 2 months, Charlotte started to see improvements in her pain level. Most patients are not completely pain free until the 1-year mark, but at the 6-month mark Charlotte was completely pain free. “Not only was my back pain gone, but my overall health improved,” said Charlotte. “For patients suffering from chronic pain, I highly recommend having a conversation with Dr. Phillips. His number one goal is to treat patients with the most cutting edge technology to ensure that you are pain free. Take advantage of that!”

Charlotte added, “Many patients may fear the cost of regenerative medicine, but compared to surgery, regenerative medicine is much less money and the recovery time does not compare.”

While clinical studies support the effectiveness of these procedures, individual results may vary. There are no guarantees of outcome. All surgeries involve the risk of major complications. Before you decide on surgery, discuss treatment options with your doctor. Understanding the risks of each treatment can help you make the best decision for your individual situation.  Always ask your doctor about all treatment options, as well as their risks and benefits. Only your doctor can determine the appropriate treatment for your situation. The clinical information and opinions, including any inaccuracies expressed in this material by patients or doctor are not necessarily those of OPTIMAL Pain & Regenerative Medicine® and should not be considered as substitute for medical advice provided by your doctor.