LK is 60 y/o patient who presented with a 1 year history of bilateral thumb pain, constant in duration, 4/1o in severity, progressive in nature localized at the base of the thumb. Pain was sharp and stabbing in character and preventing him from buttoning his shirt. Prior therapies had included a trial of NSAID and chiropractic care. MRI of the thumbs was significant for moderate to advanced arthritic changes at the base on the thumb (CMC joint). LK was told that surgery was his only option: fusion of one joint and tendon wrap at the other. Both surgeries are significant with extensive rehabilitation and poor outcomes.
Patient elected to proceed with the Regenexx procedure which allowed him to use his own mesenchymal stem cells. At six months post injection of his own stem cells, LK reports a 90% reduction in pain and increase in range of motion. Friends and work associates have stopped asking him about his swollen thumbs. Buttoning a shirt is no longer an issue.
Through the use of his own bone marrow concentrate containing stem cells, LK has had significant reduction in his thumb pain, increase his range of motion and avoided a significant surgery. The time has come to embrace joint restoration instead of all therapies directed at joint replacement.
