Welcome to Living Pain-Free
Are you currently living with pain? Whether it’s joint pain or muscle pain, we invite you to stay tuned for valuable information. Welcome to “Living Pain-free” with Dr. Marc Darrow, MD, and Dr. Thomas Grove, DO, from the Stem Cell Institute in West Los Angeles. This program is dedicated to providing you with effective solutions for the pain you’ve been experiencing.
Dr. Darrow is a board-certified medical doctor who completed his studies at UCLA. He utilizes stem cell and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapies to help heal the body and regularly educates patients about the use of stem cells, PRP, and prolotherapy.
Dr. Grove is a regenerative medicine specialist and a recognized expert in ultrasound-guided injections, drawing from extensive experience as both an athlete and a strength and conditioning coach. Today’s program may introduce you to a new, pain-free way of life.
To speak with Dr. Darrow and Dr. Grove, call 866-870-KRLA (866-870-5752). You can also request a copy of Dr. Darrow’s book, “Stem Cell and Platelet Therapy: Regenerate, Don’t Operate.” Now, here are Dr. Darrow and his co-host, Dr. Thomas Grove.
Meet Dr. Thomas Grove
Hello, everyone. Welcome back to “Living Pain-free.” I’m Dr. Thomas Grove, a board-certified physician trained in sports medicine. My passion in life is helping people return to an active lifestyle, and one of my favorite tools for achieving this is regenerative medicine. Our goal is to support the body’s ability to regenerate damaged tissue using advanced techniques and therapies.
Today, we have more options than ever before, including stem cells, platelets, growth factors, and exosomes. These natural components of our bodies are mobilized during injury to promote healing. We can now concentrate these cells and deliver them through targeted injections, using image guidance to precisely treat damaged tissue. This approach can help control pain and restore function, offering a conservative alternative to surgery or long-term medication use.
We use musculoskeletal ultrasound as our imaging tool of choice. With this live imaging, we can dynamically examine your tissue, move the probe, and even adjust your position to get a true three-dimensional view. From there, we create a personalized care plan with the goal of avoiding unnecessary surgeries and reducing reliance on pain medications and anti-inflammatories.
If you’re considering surgery or wondering if regenerative medicine could help with your pain, give us a call at 866-870-5752. For a limited time, you can request a free copy of our book, “Stem Cell and Platelet Therapy: Regenerate, Don’t Operate.” You can also schedule a free phone consultation with our staff at 800-300-9300. For additional resources, including procedure videos and educational content, visit our website at www.stemcellinstitute.com.
Tendons: Structure, Function, and Common Issues
Understanding Tendons
Today, our focus is on tendons—often confused with ligaments. Remember, tendons connect muscle to bone, while ligaments connect bone to bone. We’ll discuss tendon anatomy, common injuries, and why they’re so frequently treated in our clinic.
Tendons are made of tough, fibrous connective tissue, primarily collagen, which is also the main protein found in bones, ligaments, and cartilage. The specific point where muscle attaches to bone is called the enthesis, and the area where muscle transitions into tendon is the musculotendinous junction.
Tendons are incredibly resilient—mostly composed of water (about 60-80% of their total weight) and collagen, mainly type I with smaller amounts of types III, IV, and V. This parallel arrangement of collagen fibers gives tendons their strength and ability to resist substantial forces.
Anatomical Layers and Microstructure
The tendon’s structure includes several layers:
- Paratenon: The outermost layer.
- Epitenon: The middle layer.
- Endotenon: The innermost layer, wrapping around individual fiber bundles.
These bundles, called fascicles, contain stem cells that are ready to help with tissue repair when injury occurs—think of them as the body’s “National Guard.” Stem cells are found throughout the body, including blood vessels, fat, bone marrow, and within tendons themselves.
At the microscopic level, fibers are made up of cells called tenoblasts and tenocytes. The enthesis, where the tendon anchors to bone, contains Sharpey’s fibers for firm attachment.
Sensory Receptors in Tendons
Tendons are equipped with specialized sensory receptors:
- Golgi tendon organs: Detect muscle tension and protect against excessive force.
- Ruffini corpuscles: Sense pressure and stretching.
- Pacinian corpuscles: Respond to rapid movement and changes in acceleration.
- Nociceptors: Pain receptors that often bring patients into the clinic.
These receptors are essential for proprioception—the sense of body position and movement—which helps prevent injuries and maintain balance in everyday activities.
Types and Functions of Tendons
The human body contains over 4,000 tendons. The shortest, the tendon of the stapedius muscle in the inner ear, is just 1–2 millimeters. The largest and strongest is the Achilles tendon, capable of withstanding forces up to ten times your body weight. Because they bear such significant loads, tendons are susceptible to injury—especially with high-impact activities.
Common Tendon Conditions and Terminology
Understanding medical terminology is important when reviewing radiology reports:
- Tendinitis: Acute inflammation of the tendon, often from a recent injury or microtrauma. It typically resolves within days to weeks. On ultrasound, the tendon appears thickened and swollen, with increased blood flow (neovascularization) visible on Doppler imaging.
- Tendinosis: Chronic, non-inflammatory degeneration of the tendon. Repetitive microtrauma leads to structural changes and poor healing over months. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and steroid injections can impede the healing process and may even damage tendon cells.
- Tendinopathy: A general term indicating a problem with the tendon, without specifying the exact nature.
- Tenosynovitis: Inflammation of the synovial sheath surrounding certain tendons, such as those in the fingers, toes, and wrist. A common example is De Quervain’s tenosynovitis, affecting tendons on the thumb side of the wrist.
- Paratenonitis: Inflammation of the paratenon, the protective covering of certain tendons like the quadriceps, patellar, and Achilles tendons.
- Tendon rupture: A complete tear of the tendon from the bone, often requiring surgical intervention. Partial-thickness tears, however, may respond well to regenerative treatments and do not always require surgery. It’s important to distinguish between a full-thickness tear (which may still have some attachment) and a full rupture (complete separation).
Radiology reports can sometimes sound alarming, but not all tears require surgery. Imaging techniques like musculoskeletal ultrasound allow for dynamic assessment, revealing issues that static MRI or CT scans may miss. This tool enables precise diagnosis and personalized treatment planning.
Conservative Treatment and Regenerative Medicine
Our philosophy prioritizes conservative care whenever possible. We aim to help you avoid unnecessary surgery and reduce reliance on medications that may cause further harm. Regenerative medicine, using platelet-rich plasma and stem cell injections, is a cornerstone of our approach. Rather than simply masking pain, we focus on delivering healing cells to the affected area, allowing for natural tissue repair and restoration of tendon function.
Surgery may be necessary for complete tendon ruptures, but many partial tears can heal with regenerative therapies. Surgical repairs often result in scar tissue, which doesn’t have the same strength and flexibility as healthy tendon. Our goal is to restore normal tissue structure and function through natural healing processes.
Contact Information
For more information or to schedule a consultation, call us at 866-870-5752 or 800-300-9300. Visit our website at www.stemcellinstitute.com for free resources, educational materials, and to connect with our team. Our practice is located at the Stem Cell Institute in West Los Angeles.
Radio show 1-24-26 Part 2 Understanding Tendon Pain and Regenerative Medicine