Here’s another strong example of a professional athlete lending credibility to one of the new pain management techniques we offer at New Jersey Pain Care Specialists. I wanted to share this article with you about a pitcher for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim baseball team opting for Stem Cell Therapy instead of proceeding with ligament-replacement surgery.
Pitching ace Garrett Richards, who suffered a high-grade tear of his ulnar collateral ligament in early May, is counting on Stem Cell Therapy in hopes of pitching again this season.
According to the Los Angeles Times, Richards underwent Stem Cell Therapy on May 16th. Stem cells were extracted from bone marrow and body fat and injected into the injury site in hopes of repairing and regenerating the damaged ligament. “Garrett weighed all the evidence that was given to him through MRI exams, he researched the process, talked to people who have gone through Stem Cell Therapy and people who have not and came to this decision,” explained Angels General Manager Billy Eppler. “We support him.”
Not Just For Pro Athletes
Stem Cell Therapy is exciting because it is a natural way to treat people from all walks of life who suffer from a range of injuries and medical conditions: In addition to Richards’ elbow ligament tear, it is used to treat tennis elbow, knee pain, shoulder pain, Achilles injuries, degenerative disc disease, and sports or overuse injuries. It’s a simple outpatient or in-office procedure eliminates the need for pain medications and invasive reconstructive surgery.
Richards, who was struggling this season, had all but resigned himself to Tommy John surgery, which would have required a long healing period and slow, difficult rehab.
“He got input from numerous sources, both players and doctors, and felt this was the best course of action … to heal and get healthy,” Manager Mike Scioscia said. “I don’t think you want to jump into any kind of surgery, let alone one the magnitude of Tommy John surgery. “That puts you out for this season and most of next season. Garrett has a few months to evaluate where his elbow is. He really isn’t having many symptoms at all, so I know he’s confident with this course of action.”
Eppler said there are pitchers “who have had this procedure and are pitching well in the big leagues,” but he declined to name any.
Stem Cell Therapy Rejuvenated the Mets’ Bartolo Colon
The Los Angeles Times article continued: New York Mets right-hander Bartolo Colon underwent Stem Cell Therapy in March of 2010 to help repair ligament damage in his elbow and a torn rotator cuff. Colon, now 43, missed all of 2010 but returned in 2011 and has gone 68-53 with a 3.67 ERA in 155 games since his stem-cell treatment.
Richards will hopefully resume throwing by mid-July and return sometime in August. Fellow pitcher Andrew Heaney also opted to forgo elbow surgery in favor of a Platelet Rich Plasma injection in April.
The experienced pain management doctors at NJ Pain Care Specialists perform Stem Cell Therapy using a quick and relatively painless procedure to harvest stem cells from the millions that live in your body. The cells are processed and then injected into your problem area, where the natural healing process begins. The adult stem cells reproduce quickly and have the potential to restore and repair injured tissue and joints.
At the present time, PRP Treatments are not covered by medical insurance.
