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What Climbing Back Pain? A Story of Heroism and Courage in Nepal

Chris Warner is an inspirational speaker and expert mountain climber who can tell us a thing or two about climbing back pain and how he never lets it slow him down. Chris was recently seen by our Colorado clinic before a big Nepal trek. Suffice it to say that his e-mail about the results of…read more

Patient Right to Try Laws: Who in their Right Mind Would Oppose this Movement?

A loved one lies dying, withering away. A new drug shows promise in treating this disease. Shouldn’t it be a “no-brainer” that the dying person can chose whatever therapy they want, including an unapproved drug? Isn’t this a basic human right protected by the U.S. constitution? No, in fact judges in big court cases have…read more

Magic Amniotic Stem Cells in a Vial, Local Anesthetics, and High Dose Steroids: The Wild West of Stem Cell Injections

This week I examined a new patient in clinic who exemplifies the wild west of stem cell injections that has developed. This was a competitive distance runner who had an outside (peroneal) tendon inflammation with small degenerative tears. He had a stem cell injection and what happened before and after exemplifies the issues of the…read more

Spinal Fusion Recovery Plan? Use Your Own Bone and Stem Cells Over Expensive Fusion Drugs

Fusion is a surgery to be avoided for 95% of the patients for which it’s recommended. Having said that, if you really need the surgery, you also need a spinal fusion recovery plan, which like most things involves education. While BMPs are commonly used in spinal fusion surgery, most patients have no earthly idea what…read more

Algae use Quantum Computing to Be More Efficient: Implications for Stem Cells

I don’t usually blog about algae, but I read a study recently that simply blew me away. Basically, certain forms of algae that live in light poor environments use the same techniques currently being used in quantum computers to squeeze every last ounce of energy from that light for photosynthesis. With a single paper, the…read more

Vitamin D and Heart Disease Research

What’s the latest on Vitamin D and heart disease research? Is there a link between vitamin D deficiency and coronary artery disease (CAD)? We know vitamin D and calcium protects us from osteoporosis as we age, but Vitamin D and heart disease research suggests its benefits go much deeper.…straight to the heart in fact. Vitamin…read more

Kids Knee Problems: Many Heavier Kids have Evidence of Knee Arthritis

Are kids knee problems being fueled by an obesity epidemic? A sedentary lifestyle and poor diet can lead to childhood obesity, but few would have imagined that childhood obesity can result in knee arthritis in young adults. There has been a lot of focus the past few years on the dwindling activity levels of our…read more

Looking for Safer Stenosis Back Surgery Recovery? Skip the Fusion!

Can a safer stenosis back surgery recovery can be had by skipping the fusion?  When I began practicing medicine 25 years ago, a low back fusion was rare. However, over the last two decades low back fusion rates are exploding. Despite more widespread use, the practice is far more dangerous than the older style surgery…read more