Treating Dean’s Shoulder And Knee Osteoarthritis With Stem Cells

Dean, a 60-year-old construction executive, came to RAPS with a rotator cuff tear, osteoarthritis of shoulder, osteoarthritis of knee, knee and shoulder pain. We treated his shoulder in December of 2013 and his knee and bicep in October 2014.

This is Dean’s Regenexx story.

Before Stem Cell Therapy

When Dean had surgery to repair his left rotator cuff, the recovery was lengthy—no driving for six weeks and four months of physical therapy. Similar injuries in his opposite shoulder made sports and daily activities painful.

“When I golfed, I had to take a lot of Advil and ice it afterwards,” he says.

In late 2013, facing surgery for tears in his right shoulder cuff and bicep tendon, he decided to try stem cell therapy instead. “I asked my orthopedic surgeon about it and he said, ‘If you are going to do that, go to Dr. Lieber.’”

“I was actually scheduled for surgery but realized, with my business commitments, I could not afford to go through that rehab again,” he says.

Knee pain was a problem as well.

After performing two surgeries for meniscus tears, his orthopedic surgeon told Dean that he “did not have enough cartilage for another repair…and was on track for knee replacement surgery.”

Ten months after his shoulder procedure, Dean returned to have stem cell therapy for his knee. The same day, stem cells were placed in his right bicep to treat ongoing pain.

After Stem Cell Therapy

While rotator cuff surgery meant six weeks without driving, Dean was behind the wheel just four days after stem cell therapy for his shoulder. He completed physical therapy within a month and, today, he plays golf and can do pushups and pull ups without pain.

The results for his knee are equally positive.

Today, Dean golfs, hikes and rides his bike regularly with no knee pain. In the past, a night of dancing would guarantee intense pain the following morning.

“Three months after the stem cell treatment, I went out for New Year’s Eve,” he says. “I was dancing and having a good time … I woke up the next day and thought, ‘My knee doesn’t hurt!’”

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At Regenexx Pittsburgh, we are foremost committed to the health and safety of our patients. Our team adheres strictly to COVID-19 protection protocols and ALL staff wear masks and are COVID-19 vaccinated.

Advanced IOF Certifications

Certified at the highest level for Ankle / Foot, Wrist / Hand, Hip, Knee, Shoulder, and Spine Intradiscal

Specialized Certifications

Top available certifications in Diagnostic Ultrasound, Bone Marrow and Adipose Aspirate, and Nucleated Cell Counting

Educational Certifications

Our doctors have earned both General Instructor as well as Spine Instructor certifications.

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