Background
I am 81 years old, very independent and have always been very active, walking 3-5 miles a day, yoga daily and active in the local community, volunteering the seniors and less fortunate with tax preparations. Starting in 2011, I found myself slowing down, less energy and loss of strength. To say this was frustrating is an understatement. At the center of this “chronic fatigue” was a debilitating back pain. It first started as an intermittent pain in my lower back, eventually spreading up to my neck. Not clear if I injured myself or it was part of aging I continued to push through the pain daily, never taking any medication. In the summer of 2013 I noticed other problems – I could not reach objects in the shelves in my kitchen or lift heavy objects above my head. Was I shrinking? I thought to myself. My son also commented about the conditions that were materializing and suggested an x-ray was an order. Well the x-ray came back, revealing I had a progressive case of scoliosis. The lower part of my spine curved to the left and looked like a “banana” in the x-ray. What next? I thought. My son mentioned a procedure that involved using my own blood that could help with the pain and potentially slowing down the progression of the scoliosis, PRP/CRP. As a health practitioner, my son was quite familiar with “regenerative medicine” and believes I would benefit from the procedure. Moreover, his research led him to one of the leaders in regenerative medicine – Dr. Greco of the Greco Group, who also successfully treated another client with scoliosis.
The Treatment
Without any delay, we sent my x-rays to Dr. Greco and he confirmed that my scoliosis was progressive, though he had some optimism in his voice that I would gain some benefit from the treatment. The day of the treatment I arrived at the clinic, which was very tranquil, making the experience even better, if you ask me. After being greeted by Dr. Greco he began our conversation by inquiring about my pain and mobility and overall health. He was so easy to speak with, which was quite refreshing. After reviewing my x-rays with me again he then spoke about the treatment, explaining every step in terms I understood. His patience and attention to detail was wonderful. Once I fully understood the procedure. The nurse then drew my blood for the procedure. While my blood was being prepared, Dr. Greco used an ultra-sound machine to examine my back in more detail to determine the areas for the injections. After the areas were identified for injection, the nurse and Dr. Greco went to work. The injections went fast, with little to no pain. What happened to next was truly amazing. Immediately the pain in my neck was gone. Dr. Greco mentioned gradual relief from pain. This was immediate in the upper area of the back. After leaving the clinic with my son, I noticed that the pain in my lower back was beginning to subside and I was standing up straighter walking better (faster). The next day I woke up and the pain in lower back was even less and I was standing even more strait. My son explained to me that the injections contained a lot different things that were captured from my blood, among them were growth factors and proteins, which are used for building and maintaining healthy tissue. With this in mind, he has prepared a physical therapy regime for strengthening the back that will take advantage of growth factors and proteins. “Kind of like a helping hand”.
One week after the procedure and with my physical therapy, I have 70 percent less pain, energy level is back to what it was in 2010. I can walk 4 miles 15 minutes faster than before procedure, my mental fatigue is gone, I attributed this to the reduction in pain, sleeping better. Clothes are fitting better and best of all I can reach the cabinets in my kitchen without any pain or a step stool !!! I am taller – I say, which was confirmed by my entire family. In closing, I must say the decision to have the PRP/CRP procedure with the Greco Group was one I should have made sooner. I was in pain longer than I needed to be.