Interest in regenerative medicine is skyrocketing, and for good reason. Regenerative therapy treatments have been shown to do the following:
Limit the need for pain medications
Provide a possible alternative to surgery
Since regenerative treatments are non-invasive and involve a very quick recovery time, they are especially popular in sports medicine and amongst the active population, such as skiers, cyclists, and mountain bikers.
Meet Dr. Matthew Gnirke, Interventional Sports & Spine Medicine
Dr. Matthew Gnirke, whose primary specialty is Interventional Sports and Spine Medicine, completed his residency training in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the University of Colorado, where he was chief resident.
Subsequent to this, Dr. Gnirke went on to advanced fellowship training with Dr. Marko Bodor in Napa, California. His fellowship training was focused on the practice of interventional sports and spine with an emphasis on regenerative medicine.
So What is Regenerative Medicine?
“Regenerative medicine focuses on using the body’s own proteins and cells to promote the natural healing process. This helps to limit the need for pain medications and surgery, which carry a more troubling side effect profile when compared to regenerative treatments,” says Dr. Gnirke.
Regenerative therapy treatment includes the following ortho biological treatments, which are administered by Dr. Gnirke. These treatments can help patients to successfully manage various musculoskeletal disorders:
PRP (Platelet-Rich Plasma) Treatments
Bone Marrow aspirate concentrate (BMAC) Stem Cells
Designing a Regenerative Medicine Treatment Plan That Works
The first thing Dr. Gnirke does for patients is to get an accurate and proper diagnosis. By pinpointing the pathology, successful treatment is more readily achieved.
“I accomplish this by obtaining a careful history and physical examination, reviewing imaging studies and providing real-time musculoskeletal ultrasound diagnostics,” says Dr. Gnirke.
Are You A Candidate for Regenerative Treatment?
Some conditions are more responsive to regenerative treatment, and Dr. Gnirke uses ultrasound and fluoroscopy to pinpoint the pathology.
“The central focus of my practice is to precisely diagnose and properly treat patients with musculoskeletal disorders,” Dr. Gnirke said. “I perform diagnostic musculoskeletal ultrasound and electromyography to pinpoint the exact site of the injury and pair this with fluoroscopy and ultrasound-guided interventions to deliver accurate treatments.”
If you have the following diagnoses, you should think about regenerative treatments:
arthritis disc degeneration
degenerative traumatic tendon injuries
meniscus and labrum pathology
nerve injuries
Is Regenerative Treatment Right For You?
If you have a musculoskeletal disorder that has not improved with therapy, anti-inflammatories, or activity modification you are a good candidate for regenerative treatments.
However, Dr. Gnirke stresses that the treatments aren't right for everyone, which is why you should visit a specialist to see if they are right for you.
“I also enjoy helping patients navigate their recovery with a concentration on injury prevention, physical therapy and exercise-based treatments, conventional anti-inflammatory medications, and injections, as well as surgical discussions and referrals when needed,” he adds.
“My goal is to match a careful treatment plan with a patient’s diagnosis and circumstance that best suits them remaining as active, pain-free, and healthy as possible.” '