Herniated Disc Treatment Helps Business Owner & Ironman Triathlete

We love sharing patient success stories! Here is a spotlight on Guy, a business owner and an Ironman triathlete. He was diagnosed with a herniated L4-L5 disc and received treatment on his spine between March 2014 to November 2014.

Here are the highlights of how Regenerative and Performance Specialists helped Guy get back to doing what he loves to do best – competing in triathlons.

Dr. Leiber just mentioned that Guy “kicked the younger guy’s butts” when he went cycling with him recently!

Before Platelet Therapy

Guy Berkebile - Ironman Lake PlacidAn elite athlete with national and world titles, Guy Berkebile competes in Ironman Triathlons—grueling one-day events that include a 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bicycle ride and marathon 26.2-mile run.

In August 2013, during a trip to compete in Germany, Guy woke in excruciating pain. His L4-L5 disc had ruptured.

“I scheduled an emergency flight home and they took me from the plane in a wheelchair,” he remembers. “I had paralysis down the front of my right leg and could not stand or walk for more than a few seconds at a time.”

Spinal surgery relieved the nerve pressure and pain. However, in January 2014, Guy picked up a dumbbell during a workout and felt the disk re-rupture. The pain and paralysis returned

“I own a chemical company and could not spend much time in the plant because it hurt to stand and walk,” he says. “Even standing to sing a hymn in church was agony.”

Guy’s surgeon warned that a second surgery carried a high risk for the disc collapsing.

“That’s when a friend who competes in ironman triathlons recommended that I call Dr. Lieber. My friend had back problems and Dr. Lieber was able to help him recover without surgery,” Guy says.

After Platelet Therapy

From March to November 2014, Guy visited Dr. Paul Lieber at Regenerative and Performance Specialists for seven treatments combining Regenexx prolotherapy and PL-Disc platelet procedures.

Guy BerkebileA blood component, platelets are growth factors that promote healing throughout the body. For each PL-Disk treatment, Guy’s own platelets were isolated and concentrated from his blood.

“They drew my blood in the afternoon and I would return the following morning for the injections,” he says. “There was only mild discomfort and I drove myself back to the office.”

After reducing his activity for three days, Guy was back to his normal work and training regimen. By the following summer, Guy’s triathlon performance was back on track—and better.

“I was swimming faster than I ever have,” he says. His cycling times were equally impressive during races in harsh conditions.

Guy encourages anyone considering back surgery to learn about platelet procedures.

“For me, it worked better than surgery,” he says. “And the best part about it—I still have all of my disc tissue because nothing was removed.”

Disclaimer: Like all medical procedures, Regenexx Procedures have a success & failure rate. Not all patients will experience the same results.

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Knee

Regenexx® Procedures are non-surgical injection treatments that are intended to help reduce pain and improve function for those who are suffering from pain due to common injuries, arthritis, and overuse conditions. View Details About Knee Treatments >

Commonly Treated Conditions:

  • Arthritis
  • Meniscus Tears
  • Patellofemoral
  • Syndrome/Chondomalacia
  • ACL Tears + PCL, LCL & MCL Tears & Sprains
  • Patellar Tendonitis
  • Pes anersine bursitis
  • Baker’s cyst
  • Instability
  • Hamstrings Tendinopathy & Biceps Femoris Insertional Tendinopathy

Lower Spine

Regenexx® Procedures are non-surgical injection treatments that are intended to help reduce pain and improve function for those who are suffering from pain due to common injuries, arthritis, and overuse conditions. View Details About Spine Treatments >

Commonly Treated Conditions:

  • Lumbar Facet Injury
  • Degenerative Disc Disease
  • Herniated or Bulging Disc
  • Radiculopathy (pinched nerve)
  • SI Joint Syndrome
  • Many More Disc and Low Back Issues

Foot & Ankle

Regenexx® Procedures are non-surgical injection treatments that are intended to help reduce pain and improve function for those who are suffering from pain due to common injuries, arthritis, and overuse conditions. View Details About Foot & Ankle Treatments >

Commonly Treated Conditions:

  • Arthritis
  • Ankle Instability
  • Plantar fasciitis
  • Peroneal tendon tear or split
  • Ligament sprain or tear
  • Sub-talar arthritis or instability
  • Tarsal tunnel syndrome
  • Bunions

Cervical Spine

Regenexx® Procedures are non-surgical injection treatments that are intended to help reduce pain and improve function for those who are suffering from pain due to common injuries, arthritis, and overuse conditions. View Details About Spine Treatments >

Commonly Treated Conditions:

  • Cervical Instability
  • Cervical Facet Injury
  • Neck, Back or Rib Instability
  • Many More Disc and Cervical Issues Causing Pain

Shoulder

Regenexx® Procedures are non-surgical injection treatments that are intended to help reduce pain and improve function for those who are suffering from pain due to common injuries, arthritis, and overuse conditions. View Details About Shoulder Treatments >

Commonly Treated Conditions:

  • Rotator cuff tears
  • Arthritis of the shoulder joint
  • Thoracic outlet syndrome
  • Labral tears or degeneration
  • Rotator cuff tendonitis & tendonosis
  • AC Joint Separation
  • Recurrent shoulder dislocations

Elbow

Regenexx® Procedures are non-surgical injection treatments that are intended to help reduce pain and improve function for those who are suffering from pain due to common injuries, arthritis, and overuse conditions. View Details About Elbow Treatments >

Commonly Treated Conditions:

  • Arthritis
  • Instability
  • Tennis Elbow or Golfer’s Elbow
  • Nerve entrapment (ulnar nerve)

Hip

Regenexx® Procedures are non-surgical injection treatments that are intended to help reduce pain and improve function for those who are suffering from pain due to common injuries, arthritis, and overuse conditions. View Details About Hip Treatments >

Commonly Treated Conditions:

  • Arthritis
  • Osteonecrosis
  • Bursitis
  • Tendinopathy
  • Labral / Labrum Tear

Hand & Wrist

Regenexx® Procedures are non-surgical injection treatments that are intended to help reduce pain and improve function for those who are suffering from pain due to common injuries, arthritis, and overuse conditions.

View Details About Hand & Wrist Treatments >

Commonly Treated Conditions:

  • Hand Arthritis
  • Basal Joint Arthritis or CMC / Carpometacarpal
  • Arthritis
  • Instability
  • TFCC Tear
  • Carpal Tunnel SyndromeTrigger Finger