91 Year Old from Scotland after Stem Cell Treatment by Dennis M. Lox M.D. Dennis M. Lox M.D. 2030 Drew St. Clearwater, FL 33765-3117 Phone: (727) 462-5582 Fax: (727) 462-5583 http://www.drlox.com/ info@drlox.com
Dr. Lox | http://www.drlox.com/ | 727-462-5582 "Some days I forget which foot it was" - Watch as Natasha Merangoli recounts how her dreams of playing professional soccer were nearly lost until she found Dr. Dennis Lox.
Shoulder Pain Rotator Cuff Dr. Lox | http://www.drlox.com/ | Call Toll Free 844-440-8503 The shoulder is the one of the most flexible parts of the human body. Unfortunately, the flexibility of the shoulder makes it an extremely fragile joint. Anatomy of the Shoulder The shoulder joint is composed of three bones: i. Clavicle (collarbone) ii. Scapula (shoulder blade) iii. Humerus (upper arm bone). Two joints facilitate shoulder movement: The acromioclavicular joint is located between the acromion ( that part of the scapula that forms the highest point of the shoulder) and the clavicle. The glenohumeral joint, commonly called the shoulder joint, is a ball-and-socket type joint that helps move the shoulder forward and backward and allows the arm to rotate in a circular fashion or hinge out and up away from the body. (The "ball," or humerus is the top rounded portion of the upper arm bone; the "socket," or glenoid is a dish-shaped part of the outer edge of the scapula into which the ball fits.) The capsule is a soft tissue envelope that encircles the glenohumeral joint. It is lined by a thin, smooth synovial membrane. Most ball and socket joints are constructed of a large socket into which the ball fits nicely. This is a very stable type of joint. The shoulder joint, on the other hand, is made up of a ball which is larger than the socket. This is not a very stable type of joint. Because the shoulder's ball-and-socket joint provides little inherent stability, it is highly dependent on the surrounding soft tissues such as the capsule, ligaments and muscles to hold the ball in place. The relative instability of the shoulder joint allows it to be highly mobile, thus allowing an individual to place the hand in numerous positions. The bones of the shoulder are held in place by muscles, tendons, and ligaments. Tendons are tough cords of tissue that attach the shoulder muscles to bone and assist the muscles in moving the shoulder. The rotator cuff is a structure composed of tendons that work along with associated muscles to hold the ball at the top of the humerus in the glenoid socket; it provides mobility and strength to the shoulder joint Ligaments attach shoulder bones to each other, providing stability. For example, the front of the joint capsule is anchored by three glenohumeral ligaments. Two filmy sac-like structures called bursae permit smooth gliding between bones, muscles, and tendons. They cushion and protect the rotator cuff from the bony arch of the acromion. Muscles are bundles of specialized tissue that attach to, and move bones via their tendons. The rotator cuff consists of four muscles and several tendons that form a covering around the top of the upper arm bone (humerus). These muscles form a cover around the head of the humerus. The rotator cuff holds the humerus in place in the shoulder joint and enables the arm to rotate. Two filmy sac-like structures called bursae permit smooth gliding between bones, muscles, and tendons. They cushion and protect the rotator cuff from the bony arch of the acromion. The shoulder is susceptible to numerous injuries, some of the more common injuries are listed below. To learn more, just click on the title. Dr. Dennis Lox and the Florida Spine Center serve patients within the greater Tampa Bay area, including Clearwater, Tampa and St. Petersburg, as well as all of Florida and the US. All statements, information or opinions provided by this website are provided for educational purposes only. We do not diagnose nor treat through this website or by telephone. As you consider any treatment, discuss them with your physician.
Avascular Necrosis of the Hip: Dr. Lox Treats with Stem Cells Dr. Lox | http://www.drlox.com/ | Call (844) 440-8503 Dr. Dennis Lox a Sports and Regenerative Medicine Specialist has treated his share of difficult cases. Avascular necrosis (AVN) also referred to as ischemic necrosis and osteonecrosis, occurs when the blood flood flow to the bone is disrupted leading to bone cell death (necrosis). The problem with this is that if the necrotic zone collapses, it leads to rapid secondary osteoarthritis (joint destruction). The leading cause of AVN is trauma. Many famous athlete have had avascular necrosis of the hip (Bo Jackson and Brett Favre). Bo Jackson never played professional football again after he was tackled and injured his hip. Favre was lucky, the secondary arthritis never set in, and his avascular necrosis of the hip remained stable. Despite occasional hip pain. The prognosis for Brett Favre is eventual osteoarthritis of his hip. The utility of stem cells in the management of Avascular Necrosis (AVN) is multifold. Acute effects are aimed at increasing blood flow through angiogenesis. Secondly, the stem cells may produce new bone cells via differentiation, thirdly, the stem cells may exert a positive effect on the joint, preventing secondary osteoarthritis. All three combined is excellent. Yet, just preventing the secondary arthritis may be enough to keep a patient functional and prevent a total hip joint replacement. When a patient presents with hip AVN, all these considerations are weighed and measured. It is through such an approach that optimal out comes occurs. Dr. Dennis Lox serves patients in the greater Tampa Bay area, including, Clearwater, St. Petersburg, Tampa, New Port Richey, Sarasota, Orlando and Spring Hill and can accommodate the needs of patients throughout Florida, the United States, the Western Hemisphere, and Europe, as well. To learn more about stem cell therapy and other regenerative services offered by Dr. Lox, call (727) 462-5582.
Dr. Lox | http://www.drlox.com/ | Call (844) 440-8503 What do you do when your told your knee is not quite bad enough for replacement surgery? If you or a loved one has faced the situation that your doctor has informed you your knee has a lot of arthritis and eventually you will need a knee joint replacement….but not yet. Where do you go with that information? A common side comment is, you will know when it’s time. Equally an un-soothing statement. At this juncture, conservative treatment continues. Pain medications, anti-inflammatories, cortisone injections, rooster comb shots (hyaluronic acid). All of these treatments have led up to this point. Some provide short term relief of pain, yet all do not prevent the inevitable future appointment to schedule joint replacement surgery when desperation and frustration take over. Perhaps a timeline could occur where you never had to make that appointment. If you could halt the progression of arthritis or better yet repair the knee just enough to allow better function and less pain, you could avoid the surgery appointment. An alternative is needed. Enter regeneration medicine. Repair and regenerate are goals of this field. Obviously goals do not always meet everyone’s expectations, therefore reasonable goals for those with degenerative arthritis must be obtained. Preventing loss of function, reducing pain, stiffness, and swelling are reasonable goals. Combining this with repairing the degenerative pathway that occurs inside the joint at the cellular level provides a step in this direction. Medicine has moved towards a new frontier. Treatment and research have been directed to cellular mechanisms. Chemicals such as cytokines and chemokines are targeted for altering specific negative functions or enhancing positive functions. Genes, DNA, and transcription of proteins have altered the way medicine approaches repair of knee pathology. Dr. Dennis Lox is a Regenerative Medicine specialist who focuses on the way new therapies can be utilized to more effectively treat disorders that were previously thought to be untreatable. Dr. Lox states patients were often given palliative medications, therapy, or even surgical recommendations for these type of problems without hope of modifying their outcome. The field of Regenerative Medicine provides cutting edge treatment options for problems that were offered little hope in the past. By combining Regenerative Medicine with rehabilitation strategies such as biomechanical knee joint stress modifications, the paradigm of waiting for your knee to further fall apart so then you can have knee joint replacement may be avoided. Alternative strategies such as Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) and Stem Cell Therapy have been advocated as approaches to knee joint arthritis. Dr. Lox notes that Regenerative treatments focus on healing and repair at the cellular level where joint breakdown and inflammation begin. There are many factors which facilitate joint breakdown as well as factors enhancing joint repair. Knowledge of these processes, coupled with PRP and Stem Cell Therapy can provide an alternative to future knee joint replacement when you are told you are not quite bad enough yet.
Running Injuries Dr. Lox | http://www.drlox.com/ | Call 844-440-8503 It is rewarding to return an athlete to their sport. Knee ailments derail many athletes, so when they turn to Stem Cell Therapy with Dr. Dennis Lox, he is strict on getting them to follow his advice to improve their chances of a successful outcome. Imagine this: two marathon runners in the office the same day to have their knees done. Obviously, they strike up a conversation and when they realize they are both marathon runners, they start comparing times and races. Both do well with their procedures. One flew in from New York the other drove from another Florida metropolitan area. The first who flew in from New York already had a phone followup consultation, and was doing great 2 months out biking up to 60 miles, but no running was allowed. The second was seen in the office for follow-up and he too was doing great after his stem cell treatment. He inquired about his waiting room friend (the competitive spirit). He too was biking, in the gym, and swimming. Returning to marathon running places great stress on a degenerative knee joint. Dr. Dennis Lox is adamant about physical conditioning, yet not allowing over mechanical stimulation of the knee joint too soon after stem cell therapy. Too much mechanical stimulation will stimulate overproduction of IL-6 and Nitric Oxide which may degrade the extracellular matrix (the support system to cartilage cells), this will be contrary to the goal of rebuilding or repair of cartilage. Just one of the many variables Dr. Lox must juggle with athletes, but in the end it is well worth it.
Dr. Lox | http://www.drlox.com/ | Phone (844) 440-8503 Elbow pain may encompass a variety of disorders as it is a region where many different muscles, tendons, nerves, ligaments, and joints are found. In addition, there are bursas which can be inflamed and intraarticular joint problems such as arthritis that must be considered. Frequent causes of elbow pain include tennis elbow, tendonitis, golfer’s elbow, arthritis, bursitis, and nerve pain. The elbow joint is formed where the long bone in the arm (humerus) meets the inner bone of the forearm (the ulna) and the outer bone of the forearm (the radius) to form a hinged joint. Also in the elbow, the radius and ulna meet to form a joint that allows rotation of the forearm or pronation and supination. This is the twisting inward and outward motion that occurs in the forearm. The major muscles involved around the elbow in the anterior aspect are the biceps that flexes the elbow, hinged joint and the triceps, the large muscle in the posterior aspect of the arm which extends the elbow. The outer bone of the elbow is known as the lateral epicondyle and this is the bony protuberance of the humerus. The inner portion of the elbow with the bony protuberance is called the medial epicondyle. The tendons insert on to the epicondyles and may be a source of pain with chronic inflammation or tendonitis referred to as lateral epicondylitis or tennis elbow. The medial aspect of the elbow tendons insert and can be also a painful area with tendonitis referred to as medial epicondylitis or golfer’s elbow. In the posterior aspect of the elbow, there is a bursal sac which overlies the bony protuberance known as the olecranon and this bursa is referred to as the olecranon bursa and this can be involved with chronic inflammation or irritation from a variety of causes. A large nerve tracks along the olecranon in the region referred to as the funny bone, the ulnar nerve, can be irritated from acute or repetitive trauma and can give nerve-type symptoms in this area. Additionally, the radial nerve can be entrapped as well as the median nerve at the region of the elbow and cause nerve symptoms that may be confused with other chronic conditions. Intraarticular pathology such as arthritis can be the result of multiple problems most frequently degenerative or osteoarthritis. Other inflammatory arthritis such as rheumatoid arthritis needs to be considered in the differential diagnosis. A skilled history and physical examination should be performed by a physician knowledgeable in sources of elbow pain. Additionally, laboratory testing or radiographic studies may be necessary as well as electro diagnostic testing (EMG/nerve conduction studies) to evaluate more difficult cases.
Achilles Tendinitis Dr. Lox | http://www.drlox.com/ | Phone: 844-440-8503 Tears to the Achilles’ tendon can be not only painful, debilitating, and the prospect of surgery is ominous. The downtime from Achilles’ tendon surgery is normally 6 months. A painful 6 months. Dr. Dennis Lox an expert in Sports and Regenerative Medicine, has treated many Achilles tendon tear and rupture successfully with Stem Cell Therapy. Though no one likes a needle injection, the procedure is a walk in the park compared to Achilles’ tendon repair. Harnessing the bodies own regenerative capacity to heal makes complete sense. Dr. Lox views the future of Regenerative Medicine as bright and the options for the future are immense.
Chronic Shoulder Pain Dr. Lox | http://www.drlox.com/ | Phone: (844) 440-8503 Chronic shoulder pain may have many etiologies. When the pain arises from a supraspinatus tear it poses difficulty especially with sports. The supraspinatus is one of 4 muscles that comprise the rotator cuff. Of the 4 muscles that form the rotator cuff the distal supraspinatus tendon inserts on the greater tuberosity. It also traverses under the acromium and is subject to wear and tear by impingement. Of the rotator cuff muscles the supraspinatus functions to initiate shoulder elevation (abduction). When a tear occurs it makes elevation of the arm difficult. Activities overhead and upper extremity sports become more difficult. For these reasons patients are looking for alternatives to shoulder surgery and are increasing looking at Regenerative Medicine as an alternative. Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) and Stem Cell Therapy are regenerative techniques used to treat supraspinatus and rotator cuff disorders. Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) is a technique in which the patients’ blood is drawn and concentrated to yield a higher level of platelets which release growth factors to aid in the healing process. Stem cells may regenerate tissue and are potent Immumodulatory cells. This means the stem cells can decrease inflammation in the joint. The healing potential of stem cells is an attractive and viable alternative to shoulder surgery.
Dr. Lox | http://www.drlox.com/ | 844-440-8503 Chronic hip pain often leads patients to the orthopedic surgeon, and If hip arthritis is present not to infrequently a recommendation for total hip joint replacement is made. Many patients consult Dr. Dennis Lox for Stem Cell Therapy for hip osteoarthritis as an alternative to hip replacement. If the hip joint is still displaying evidence of a joint space stem cells can be of greater value. However, Dr. Lox has treated patients with severe hip joint arthritis and the patients functional level improved and they were able to avoid hip joint replacement. Many factors are involved in the success of treatment. Dr. Lox performs a thorough evaluation prior to consideration of stem cell treatment for chronic hip pain. There are many other etiologies for chronic hip pain including avascular necrosis (AVN) or osteonecrosis, referred pain from other regions such as the low back, and pain arising from the groin. If it is determined the patient is a good candidate for stem cell therapy, the procedure is relatively simple. It is a half day outpatient procedure. The patient walks out of the office. Generally there is minimal pain and pain medications are not needed. There is no lengthy recovery as in hip replacement surgery, and physical therapy is not needed. All these factors make stem cell treatment for hip arthritis an appealing alternative to hip replacement surgery.
Osteoarthritis Stem Cell Treatment Testimonial. Dr. Lox can be reached at http://www.drloxstemcells.com/ or Call (844) 440-8503 for information on Stem Cell Treatment.
Arthritis Stem Cell Therapy Testimonial. Dr. Lox can be reached at http://www.drloxstemcells.com/ or Call (844) 440-8503 for information on Stem Cell Therapy.
The knee is a complex joint. The meniscus functions as a shock absorber and gliding mechanisms for the knee bones. When the knee meniscus is torn, it is not as efficient in this ability. If a large tear, such as a bucket handle, flips up and obstructs the joint, it may be a mechanical block that prevents motion and effective knee use. Surgical removal may solve this. Many meniscal tears are not causing this obstruction. Additionally, removal of any meniscal tissue by surgery creates a hole or divit in the the meniscus. This accelerates the arthritis process. The goal of Regenerative Medicine is to repair, regenerate and heal. If stem cell therapy is used in a meniscal problem that is not surgically treated, the stem cells job is then to fix the problem. This as in all medicine is not full proof. However, stem cells will not cause arthritis of the meniscus as surgery or trauma will. Now, if surgery has resected meniscal tissue creating a hole or divit, the stem cells may repair this hole. This in the best case scenario, would correct the problem, and prevent arthritis development. The treatment of patients who failed to improve with knee meniscal surgery with Stem Cell Therapy is becoming more common. Dr. Dennis Lox a Regenerative and Sports Medicine physician explains the stem cell treatment procedure for knee meniscal tears. Dr. Lox has treated many athletes, including professional football players who did not improve with knee surgery, and responded to stem cell therapy. Dr. Lox has also treated physicians, who also failed knee meniscal surgery and improved with stem cell therapy. Dr. Lox | http://www.drloxstemcells.com/ | Call (844) 440-8503
You have just been told you need a knee replacement. Is there another option? Perhaps. Treatment for most conditions have options. Understanding the pros and cons of knee replacement is very important. There are no guarantees. In most cases there are no serious problems, however many complications can occur. Knee replacements may have a lifespan of 10-15 years, before wearing out. Health issues in the future can not always be foreseen. Many individuals now seek to avoid knee replacement. There is also a trend to try and halt the progression of arthritis so as to avoid knee replacement. Stem cells are becoming an ever increasing consideration in these circumstances. The key is to have an experienced physician to assist in the decision making process. Dr. Dennis Lox is an expert in Sports and Regenerative Medicine. Dr. Lox believes in helping the patient to become more educated to arrive at a decision. This takes into account many factors, that are discussed with the patient. There is no cookie-cutter recipe to this. Stem cell therapy should be discussed in the context of each patient’s unique circumstances goals and desires, in relation to what is resonance to expect. This is dependent on severity of arthritis, overall health and intended activity level. A highly active athlete will subject the knee to greater future stress than a sedentary individual. This does not preclude stem cell treatment, it is just a variable Dr. Lox will discuss with each patient. Not too infrequently, patients are told they need a knee replacement, tey do well with stem cell therapy. This is part of the education process. Dr. Lox | http://www.drloxstemcells.com/ | 844-440-8503
Jim Virostko has farmed his entire life. The last six years on his Parke County farm have been especially tough though. Jim Virostko has farmed his entire life. From the time I was big enough to start helping out on the farm they keep me busy, Virostko said. The last six years on his Parke County farm have been especially tough though. Not because of lost cattle, or bad crops, but rather a bum shoulder. It was quite a nagging pain, Virostko said. Jim was just in a lot of pain all the time, Pam Virostko, Jim's wife said. Doctors told the couple a complete shoulder replacement was the only way to permanently relieve the pain caused by osteoarthritis. I said should replacement? I thought maybe it was like rotator cuff type surgery, Jim Virostko said. His wife had something else in mind. we asked surgeons, hospitals and doctors and really they didn't know about stem cell therapy, Pam Virostko said. That's when fate stepped in. I thought this is our referral, this is the referral we're looking for, Pam Virostko said. Pam sent Dana an email asking for Doctor Lox's contact information. One month later, the couple was in Florida preparing for Jim's stem cell replacement procedure. And the rest is history. I had basically instant relief from that point on, Jim Virostko said. Jim can do all the things he couldn't do before, Pam Virostko said. Dr. Gabi Waite, a professor at the IU School of Medicine says stem cell treatments like Jim benefited from are highly experimental at this point. Research is a slow process and for stem cell research and for stem cell therapy we are only at the very beginning, Dr. Waite said. But it brought an end to one man's excruciating shoulder pain. It's still got a little bit of soreness but i can do more now than I've been able to do in the last five years, Jim Virostko said. Dr. Lox | http://www.drloxstemcells.com/ | (844) 440-8503
Elite Soccer Player uses Stem Cells for Knee Pain at Dr. Dennis Lox M.D. Center of Regenerative Medicine Centers. Dr. Lox | http://www.drloxstemcells.com/ | (844) 440-8503 | info@drloxstemcells.com
Torn Meniscus and Stem Cells Testimonial. Stem Cell therapy could help in healing musculoskeletal injuries. Dr. Lox | http://www.drloxstemcells.com/ | (844) 440-8503 | info@drloxstemcells.com
Stem Cells used for Torn Bisceps Muscle Testimonial. A Torn Bisceps Muscle responds well to Stem Cell use, as witnessed here. Dennis M. Lox, MD Dr. Lox | http://www.drloxstemcells.com/ | (844) 440-8503 | info@drloxstemcells.com
Stem Cells For Failed Back Surgery. Dennis M. Lox, MD treats patients that suffer with Failed Back Surgery Syndrome with Stem Cells with great results. Dr. Lox | http://www.drloxstemcells.com/ | (844) 440-8503 | info@drloxstemcells.com
