Living Pain-Free with Marc Darrow, MD
Part 1
Caller issues discussed
- Jill has Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, a shoulder tendon tear, and concerns about choosing PRP, stem cells, or exosomes while avoiding surgery.
- Robert reports improvement after regenerative treatment to his heel, ankles, knees, hip, lower back, and neck and has returned to the gym after more than a decade.
- Stephen asks how long recovery generally takes after stem-cell treatment.
- Donna asks why stem-cell treatments are heavily promoted on social media and why patients travel abroad for them.
- Nikur asks whether stem-cell treatment relieves pain or repairs tissue, who is an appropriate candidate, and which conditions respond best.
Transcript
ANNOUNCER: Are you living in pain? Is it joint pain or muscle pain? If so, stay tuned. Welcome to Living Pain-Free with Marc Darrow, MD, from the Stem Cell Institute in West Los Angeles. This is the program that can give you effective solutions for the pain you’ve been living with.
Dr. Darrow is a medical doctor, board-certified through his studies at UCLA. He uses stem cells and platelet-rich plasma to heal the body, and he teaches about the use of stem cells, PRP, and Prolotherapy.
Today’s program could open up a new life without pain for you. To speak with Dr. Darrow, call 866-870-KRLA. That’s 866-870-5752.
Ask for a copy of Dr. Darrow’s book, Stem Cell and Platelet Therapy: Regenerate, Don’t Operate. Now, here’s Marc Darrow, MD.
MARC DARROW, MD: Hello, ladies and gentlemen. This is Marc Darrow from the Stem Cell Institute, and this is Living Pain-Free. We have a caller coming in right now. Jill is waiting from Palm Springs, so I’m going to get to you quickly. First, I want to say that this is all about how you heal your body without surgery.
Jill is not ready yet. The call screener is still getting her information, so I’ll keep talking until I see that. We heal everything from the top of the head to the bottom of the feet with simple injections. You walk into the office. You don’t need anyone to drive you, and you don’t need anesthesia. It’s so easy. Surgery is so difficult.
How do I know? I had shoulder surgery that failed me miserably. A lot of you listening have had failed surgeries. Surgery sounds great. It sounds like a finite little thing: you go in, get it done, come out, and you’re better. That’s not the way it happened for me, and I know it has not happened that way for many of you either. There are all kinds of potential sequelae, or side effects, and that’s a real problem when you’re not expecting something to happen. People who have had failed surgeries come into our office almost every day.
Jill, can you hear me?
JILL: I can hear you.
MARC DARROW, MD: Good. Do you have any questions about stem cells, PRP, or how to heal without surgery?
JILL: I have a couple of questions about how to heal without surgery. I have autoimmune thyroiditis—Hashimoto’s. I also had surgery within the last year that was physically demanding for me. It was an elective surgery, and I’m an athlete.
MARC DARROW, MD: What was your surgery?
JILL: I had my implants replaced and had a mesh bra put in. My implants were about 20 years old. I’ve been an athlete my whole life, but I’ve been somewhat reckless about it. I didn’t take breaks. I would run 10 miles and then work out aggressively with a trainer six days a week. I’d decide to run a marathon because it sounded like fun.
My shoulder tendon is torn. What would be the better treatment choice for me in this situation? I had excellent results from PRP for a torn meniscus in my knee, but I’m wondering about the difference between PRP with exosomes and stem cells. What is the best choice, what might the result be, and do you think I should avoid surgery?
MARC DARROW, MD: I think you should always avoid surgery if you can. Surgery is invasive. You’re cutting open the skin. Even if it’s arthroscopic, which is often presented as something simple, it’s still an incision, and the same type of damage can occur. In my opinion, surgery should not be done in most cases.
Did you have meniscal surgery, or did you only have PRP or stem cells injected?
JILL: I only had PRP—no surgery. It took time, but it really helped.
MARC DARROW, MD: Good. Both of my knees have medial meniscal tears, and all my orthopedic colleagues think I should have had surgery, but I have no pain. I run every day, and I’m going to play golf today. I put stem cells into my knees, and they healed very quickly. It sounds like yours did too.
The first law of medicine is to do no harm. Doing no harm means staying away from invasive treatments and medication when you can. Stay away from doctors if you can. My patients laugh and ask, “You mean stay away from you?” I say, “Yes, stay away from me if you can,” because anything a doctor does can potentially cause problems.
Doctors are intelligent, but we want to be conservative. Surgery is not conservative, even when it’s arthroscopic. We see too many failures.
You said you have a rotator cuff tear or that the tendon is torn away from the humerus. That is something we may be able to help considerably. I need to examine you. I can’t promise anything to anybody, but using PRP and stem cells is certainly a more conservative path.
You also mentioned exosomes, which are a newer healing tool. All of these treatments can be useful, with different levels of efficacy. In the past, we performed Prolotherapy using concentrated dextrose to create irritation and inflammation, followed by fibroblastic activity that lays down new collagen, cartilage, tendon, and ligament tissue. That worked well, but today we can combine PRP with stem cells and exosomes.
PRP is platelet-rich plasma. We draw blood and spin it in a centrifuge. The heavier red cells go to the bottom, and we siphon off the plasma at the top, which is rich in platelets. Platelets are part of the body’s first response to injury. When something is injured, platelets in the blood travel to that area and begin the healing process naturally.
For a deeper injury or one that is harder to heal, we may add stem cells to the platelets. For someone who wants to encourage faster healing, exosomes can be added. Exosomes are vesicles. They do not have cell walls like cells, but they are produced by stem cells and can efficiently direct the healing response. We can add exosomes to platelets and stem cells as a boost. Right now, I think that combination offers the best healing potential available. If something better comes out tomorrow, I’ll use it.
There is good reason to hope your shoulder can heal, but we need to examine it in the office and perform an ultrasound. We need to see whether there is an avulsion involving a small piece of bone. When tendons tear, they sometimes pull off a small chip of bone. Usually, it’s not a major problem and can heal very well with PRP and stem cells, but I need to evaluate it with ultrasound.
I can tell from your voice that you’re not miserable or in the emergency room.
JILL: I’m not miserable.
MARC DARROW, MD: Good. If you’re not miserable, there’s a high probability that what I do can help you heal. I just need to examine it.
JILL: That would be amazing. I don’t like being inactive.
MARC DARROW, MD: I’m with you. I had a prostate ablation and had to be inactive for a while. I was unhappy because I’m accustomed to exercising every day. It gives me endorphins, especially when I can exercise outdoors and get some sunlight. Even when it’s dark after work, I still go out and get my body moving. You sound like the same type of person. I look forward to seeing you.
For those who want the office number, you can receive a free telephone consultation with my staff. The number is 800-300-9300. By calling, you can receive a free copy of my book, Stem Cell and Platelet Therapy: Regenerate, Don’t Operate. It contains approximately 250 studies about stem cells and PRP, how they work, and how the body can heal. “Regenerate” means we can use these cells in an injection to help heal and regenerate tissue.
Jill, thank you so much. God bless you. I appreciate you, and I hope to see you in the office.
Our website is stemcellinstitute.com. You can watch videos of me performing these treatments. Every page has a place where you can email me, and I answer every question every day. To speak with me live in the studio, call 866-870-5752.
Robert, you want to give us a shout-out? That means you’ve been to us and hopefully have good news. How are you today?
ROBERT: Dr. Darrow, it’s your brother from another mother. How are you doing today?
MARC DARROW, MD: I’m good. I don’t know who you are yet, but I’ll probably find out soon. What happened to you?
ROBERT: I had stem cells on June 1. It has been three months. I hadn’t been in the gym for probably 12, 13, or 14 years, and now I’m back in the gym and feeling unbelievable.
I had my heel bone, both ankles, both knees, my left hip, my lower back, and my neck treated. Everything is doing well.
MARC DARROW, MD: That’s amazing. You’re a good healer. I’m also a good healer. I’ve treated both knees, both shoulders, both elbows, my wrist, my neck, my back, and all my ribs following injuries from my old gymnastics days.
I appreciate that, Robert. I’m glad you healed and that your experience provides a good example for people. It’s important to understand that there are no guarantees with these treatments. There are no guarantees with any medical treatment, and certainly none with surgery, which is very invasive.
I think you took the right path. I’m glad you’re doing better and are back in the gym. That’s a long time to go without working out. God bless you.
MARC DARROW, MD: We have several callers today. Stephen, can you hear me?
STEPHEN: Yes. I’m calling from Santa Monica. I’m wondering what the average recovery time is after stem-cell treatments.
MARC DARROW, MD: That’s an impossible question to answer, but it’s a great one, and people need to hear it. How soon will someone improve after receiving stem-cell injections? I’ve been doing this for almost 30 years, and the answer is that I don’t know, because everyone is different and heals differently. Every injury is also different.
You can have the same injury as someone else, and that person may not heal while you may heal after the first treatment. Typically, it may take one to three treatments, but I’m not saying that will necessarily apply to you. Hopefully, the first treatment will be enough.
For example, if you have what is called bone-on-bone hip arthritis—and I don’t simply mean that a doctor used that phrase, because doctors use it frequently—it becomes significant when the bones are truly not moving. If you have a locked hip or shoulder, it may take several treatments to grow enough cartilage to restore movement.
Recovery can involve anything from a sprain or enthesopathy, where a muscle, ligament, or tendon attaches to bone, to severe arthritis. Enthesopathies can improve fairly quickly, while severe arthritis may take longer. However, I’ve seen many people who were told they had severe arthritis heal with one treatment.
We have people sign a consent form stating that there are no guarantees. I don’t know precisely what will happen, and I want to be transparent. I don’t want people jumping on the bandwagon and thinking this is automatically a miracle. It is a miracle for many people. For others, tissue growth is slow and occurs a little at a time, which can be frustrating.
Stephen, thank you so much. I appreciate your call.
Donna is next. Donna says stem cells are very popular on social media. I wouldn’t trust social media with anything, and I don’t automatically trust doctors either. You have to investigate for yourself. Donna, are you with us?
DONNA: Yes, I’m here.
MARC DARROW, MD: Are you asking why stem cells are so popular on social media?
DONNA: Yes. Why is that happening now? I’ve even seen promotions encouraging people to go to Mexico for stem cells.
MARC DARROW, MD: You’ll see people going to Costa Rica, Mexico, Thailand, Germany, and other places around the world. Stem-cell treatment is becoming very popular.
The reason you see it on social media is often financial. If someone is promoting something on social media, they’re usually selling something. I always say to follow the money. Find out what treatment costs at a local clinic compared with Mexico, Costa Rica, or Panama. You may find that the prices are astronomical. These clinics can charge a fortune, and sometimes a nurse or someone without sufficient experience performs the injections.
There can also be a celebrity connection. You may see celebrities visit these clinics, but they may be paid by the clinic or receive treatment for free. Be careful.
I have a referral source in Chicago who is a bodyworker. He used to send all his patients to Costa Rica. The treatment was very expensive, and the results were fair but not great. He was then referred to me for treatment. After I worked on him, he began sending those patients to me instead. It is easier to come to California, easier to receive treatment in the United States, and much less expensive at my clinic.
Another consideration is that if you receive treatment outside the country and something goes wrong, you may need care from a local hospital there. I’ve never had a problem, but problems can happen. Be safe, investigate thoroughly, and stay local when possible.
In medicine, go to the doctor who performs the procedure most often. That applies whether you’re having an ablation for atrial fibrillation or surgery to remove a cancer. Find out who is busiest and who has performed the procedure most frequently.
I had surgery for a pheochromocytoma and traveled to San Francisco for it. I investigated specialists around the world, including in Germany and at the National Institutes of Health. One doctor in Los Angeles had performed only one of these surgeries, so I wasn’t going to see him. The specialist I chose in San Francisco had performed 300—more than anyone else I found—and my surgery went perfectly.
Donna, thank you so much.
Before we go to Nikur, the telephone number to speak with me live in the studio is 866-870-5752. For a free telephone consultation with my staff, call the office at 800-300-9300. To watch videos of these procedures, visit stemcellinstitute.com. Every page has a place where you can email me.
Nikur, can you hear me?
NIKUR: I can. Can you hear me?
MARC DARROW, MD: Yes. Did I pronounce your name correctly?
NIKUR: If you can solve my problem, Doctor, you can call me anything you want. I’ve been reading about stem cells for managing knee pain and lower-back pain. I’m interested in whether this is simply for pain relief or whether it actually repairs the tissue.
MARC DARROW, MD: It isn’t a pain-relief treatment. That’s a great question. The goal is to regrow the tissue so the pain goes away because the area has returned to a healed biological and anatomical state.
NIKUR: Are some people better candidates than others?
MARC DARROW, MD: Not necessarily. Age and disease state don’t necessarily determine candidacy. I’ve treated patients ranging from approximately 12 years old to 100 years old. One of the youngest was an elite tennis player whose shoulder was severely injured. She was ranked number one in the world for her age group, and her parents repeatedly sent her to intensive camps because they wanted her to become a star. She injured her shoulder, and we helped her improve.
Most of our patients are middle-aged or somewhat older, but these treatments can potentially work for people of many ages. That doesn’t mean they’ll work for everyone, especially because not everyone follows instructions. Patients sometimes resume activity too soon.
Jill, the first caller, said she needs to work out every day. If I inject her and she exercises the same day or the next day, she could disrupt the new tissue that is growing. That may slow or prevent healing.
There are certain conditions I won’t inject. I’ve declined to treat a few people whose arthritis was so advanced that I didn’t think the procedure would be worthwhile. In general, however, treatment may help musculoskeletal problems from head to toe.
I’m also beginning to treat some cases of neuropathy. People may report numb feet caused by a tibial or peroneal nerve problem. We may be able to inject PRP or stem cells along the affected nerve to encourage healing. Neuropathy is a major problem that may arise from diabetes, alcohol abuse, or chemical exposure. Some cases may be helped, and I hope this becomes the next major frontier.
We treat knee and lower-back problems every day. I still need to examine you before determining whether I can help. I have to touch your body, evaluate you, and find the pain generator. That is the key to healing. If I don’t identify it and inject only according to an image, I may miss the true source of the pain.
Never undergo an injection—or surgery, if you choose that route—based solely on an image, except in situations such as an obvious severe fracture. When it comes to musculoskeletal pain, images alone do not determine where the pain originates.
NIKUR: Of the musculoskeletal conditions you treat, is there one for which you see a higher success rate than others?
MARC DARROW, MD: No. I see success throughout the body. Knees are the most common area we treat. There’s an old saying that the knees are the first thing to go. We probably treat shoulders and lower backs next, followed by necks, but we treat everything.
We relieve many headaches that stem from neck problems. We also treat finger joints, toe joints, plantar fasciitis, turf toe, de Quervain’s tenosynovitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, and many other conditions. I’ve worked on all of them and have had excellent success.
Most failures I see occur because the patient doesn’t follow instructions and resumes activity too soon. I tell a story about a patient whose knees I treated. He was an avid golfer and returned feeling grouchy, saying the treatment didn’t work. His wife rolled her eyes and said, “You didn’t listen to the doctor. You played golf three times.” He replied, “Three times is nothing.” I reminded him that he had promised not to play golf while healing.
We’re going to the break, so everyone please stay with us. This is Marc Darrow, MD, and you’re listening to Living Pain-Free. For a free telephone consultation with our staff and a free copy of Stem Cell and Platelet Therapy: Regenerate, Don’t Operate, call the office at 800-300-9300. After the break, call the studio and speak with me live at 866-870-5752.
ANNOUNCER: You’re listening to Living Pain-Free with Marc Darrow, MD, at the Stem Cell Institute in West Los Angeles. To schedule an appointment, call 800-300-9300. Marc Darrow, MD, will be back in just a moment.
Part 2
Caller issues discussed
- Zachary asks whether a friend with non-debilitating back pain should undergo urgent back surgery.
- Arthur has experienced centralized, chronic lower-back pain for 35 years following a motorcycle accident and asks about myofascial treatment, shockwave therapy, PRP, and post-treatment activity.
- Reuben asks whether he can use a recumbent exercise bike two and a half weeks after receiving PRP injections for his lower back.
- Joshua asks how artificial intelligence may affect medicine, Marc Darrow’s practice, portfolio management, and future employment.
- A listener reports continued pain and limping after 2022 surgery for a bucket-handle meniscus tear, along with hip-to-ankle symptoms and atrial fibrillation that began during surgery.
Transcript
MARC DARROW, MD: Ladies and gentlemen, thank you so much for listening to Living Pain-Free. I hope to educate you about avoiding a needless orthopedic surgery that can cause all kinds of problems and changing your mindset toward a simple injection of PRP—platelet-rich plasma—or stem cells.
You walk into the office, receive your injections, and walk out. There is no anesthesia, and you don’t need a driver. It’s very simple. I’ve used these treatments throughout my body with amazing results. I’ve been doing this work for almost 30 years, and I taught it at UCLA for 20 years after my residency there.
I’m going to Zachary, who has been patiently waiting. Zach, how are you today?
ZACHARY: Hi. I have a question. I know someone who went to a doctor and was told, “You need back surgery right away.” I’ve known him for a while, and I don’t think back surgery is the best option because nothing seems debilitating.
MARC DARROW, MD: That’s the answer right there. If something isn’t debilitating, why would you undergo surgery?
Back surgeries fail, in my opinion, more than almost anything else. Neck surgeries can also be horrible and dangerous. The doctors performing those surgeries all day would disagree with me, but I see the results, and they are often horrible. I’ve seen good outcomes too, and I’m not going to dispute that. I like to be transparent, but I see too many horrible outcomes, and I’m not a fan.
From what you’ve said, your friend isn’t debilitated. The first step is to get an examination from someone who isn’t a surgeon. When I see patients with failed surgeries and ask whether the doctor examined them or only looked at their images, they often say, “No, they never touched me.”
If you can bring your friend into the office, it will take me less than a minute to determine whether he may be a candidate for PRP or stem cells by touching the area. In medicine, we have something called the jump sign. If you press a certain area and it hurts, that is typically where the pain is being generated. I’m looking for the source of the pain, not merely what an image shows.
In my opinion, images are often misleading. Many people would argue with me. I’m not the god of medicine, but I have almost 30 years of experience and taught this at UCLA for 20 years, so I have some background in the field.
If someone has only lower-back pain, I don’t see a reason to perform surgery. If the person’s leg is nonfunctional because a nerve is severely compressed, surgery may be considered, but even then it may not be necessary. I’ve treated many people in that situation.
Many people with arm or leg pain thought to be radiculopathy may not have true radiculopathy. The pain can come from a trigger point in the ligaments of the neck or back and be referred down the arms or legs.
That was a great question, Zach. I appreciate it. God bless you, and have an amazing day.
I’m going to Christine, who has been waiting a long time. How are you, Christine?
ARTHUR: My name is Arthur.
MARC DARROW, MD: Arthur. I’m sorry.
ARTHUR: That’s okay. My sister’s name is Christine, so I don’t know how that happened. Good morning, Dr. Darrow. This is my third time calling. I listen to your show, and I don’t want to miss it anymore.
I’m somewhat desperate. Since I first spoke with you more than a month ago, I’ve had myofascial treatment and two shockwave treatments at an integrative clinic. They know about PRP, but they wanted to perform those treatments first. What do you think about myofascial treatment?
I’ve had chronic back pain for 35 years. It doesn’t run down my leg. It’s centered in my back and is a constant gnawing, aching pain. During the myofascial treatment, I lie on a table while the practitioner moves the muscles. She says my brain has released negative signals that have taken on a life of their own. Because I’ve had the pain for so long, my brain thinks I still have real back pain when there may no longer be anything structurally wrong.
She also tells me to forget the images, as you were just discussing. I had an MRI showing disc herniations at L4–L5 and L5–S1, but I don’t think you pay much attention to those.
MARC DARROW, MD: I have herniated discs in my neck and lower back, but I don’t have pain. It means nothing by itself. If a disc is pressing on a nerve, you may have paresthesias, numbness, or tingling down your arms or legs, although even those symptoms may not necessarily come from the herniated disc. We have to be careful and identify the pain generator.
Centralized lower-back pain is typically easy to treat with PRP or stem cells. Depending on how quickly you want to heal, you can decide which treatment you want to use.
The first thing you need to do, Arthur, is come in for an examination. The office number is 800-300-9300. In one minute or less, I may be able to tell what is happening by touching the area.
ARTHUR: That sounds like a miracle. I spoke with Julia and Jackie, and they told me about your experience. I definitely want to come in. It’s simply a long distance.
MARC DARROW, MD: This is what we do all day and have done for almost 30 years. We probably have as much experience as any clinic in the world, and I may have performed more of these procedures than anyone. When I attend national meetings, people ask how I do so much. It’s because I love it. This work is the love of my life next to my wife and family.
I’m driven to do this because it’s amazing to watch people heal so efficiently, easily, and safely.
ARTHUR: What about the myofascial treatment? I’m 61, but in my mind, I’m 16.
MARC DARROW, MD: I’m 16 too.
ARTHUR: That mindset has a lot to do with keeping you energetic. Your chronological age may be one number, but you can feel 16, as you said.
MARC DARROW, MD: I’m outside the box with everything. I was one of the early initiators of regenerative medicine. In the early days, it was Prolotherapy. It evolved into PRP and then stem cells. I was one of the first doctors to perform these treatments, and I’ve probably performed more than most.
That alone has helped keep me young because my body was beaten up from gymnastics and other sports. I’ve probably been injured as much as anyone who isn’t a stunt performer. I’m fortunate because when I’m injured, I can drive to the office, inject myself, and heal.
I don’t believe age has to define anybody. My world is primarily the inner world. I live in the outer world, but in my inner world, I create what I want.
ARTHUR: My problems started after a motorcycle accident in 1992. I was hit by a drunk driver, and my life fell apart at that point. I started experiencing all this pain. Thank God I’m still alive and have my limbs, but I flew off my bike even though the collision happened at only about 20 miles per hour. Ever since then, I’ve had back pain and arthritis.
MARC DARROW, MD: That can last a lifetime if you don’t treat it. I’ve had patients with 50 years of lower-back pain improve after one treatment, and they ask, “How can that possibly be?”
ARTHUR: Do you incorporate shockwave therapy or myofascial treatment? Do you believe in those treatments?
MARC DARROW, MD: I believe in anything that helps someone heal without causing harm. There are eight billion people on the planet and probably eight billion ways to heal. I endorse them as long as they aren’t hurting anybody. Unfortunately, surgery hurts too many people and fails too often. As I learned personally, my shoulder surgery failed.
ARTHUR: I’m very sore from these two treatments. Is that normal? The practitioner told me not to exercise for at least two days after shockwave therapy. Is PRP similar? You mentioned another caller who was an exercise fanatic and was overdoing it. If I receive PRP injections, would I need to avoid significant activity for three days?
MARC DARROW, MD: I haven’t examined you, so I can’t answer your specific questions. I need to see what is happening.
I think shockwave therapy is great if you like it, but personally, I don’t like it. I had the first shockwave machine in Los Angeles many years ago. It hurt badly, and I didn’t like the repeated pounding for eight to 12 minutes.
ARTHUR: It’s about 10 minutes of repeated pounding, like a hammer. It gets louder and then softer.
MARC DARROW, MD: I don’t like that. There is a shockwave treatment called OmniWave that doesn’t cause pain. You may want to try that if you want to continue with shockwave therapy.
I have access to many treatments, but they aren’t what I do for a living. I believe my approach works best, so I focus on injections of PRP and stem cells.
Arthur, we have two more people waiting. God bless you. I appreciate your calls, and we’ll talk again soon.
Reuben, you’re calling about back pain. What’s happening?
REUBEN: Good morning, Doctor. How are you?
MARC DARROW, MD: I’m living it up. I don’t think it gets any better than this.
REUBEN: That’s the attitude to have, especially when I come into your office. You always have a good attitude and good patience. You make people feel important and don’t talk down to us.
MARC DARROW, MD: There’s only one person I’m going to talk down to in this world, and that’s me.
REUBEN: I appreciate that, especially when I’m coming in with pain. You gave me PRP injections in my lower back about two and a half weeks ago. I can’t schedule the second appointment right now because of finances. Is it okay if I start using a recumbent exercise bike for cardio?
MARC DARROW, MD: No. When your legs move up and down, that will affect your lower back.
People always ask what to do and how often to receive treatment. The best approach is to do the treatments consecutively. If you don’t improve within a couple of weeks, return and consider the next step. We provide a free consultation and examination after the first treatment, as often as you need. Come back anyway. I want to see you and assess whether there has been improvement.
Another important point is that people may have a treatment, return, and say, “I didn’t get better.” We then discover that the original problem improved, but another underlying painful area became noticeable. The brain focuses on one thing. You can have several painful areas, but you focus on the worst one. When that area heals, the others become noticeable.
I see that all the time. People say the treatment didn’t work, but when I examine them, the original pain is gone. When I ask them to identify the current pain, they point to a different place.
I won’t know what is happening with you until I reexamine you. Then we can determine the next step.
REUBEN: Got it. That makes sense.
MARC DARROW, MD: God bless you. Come back. You can call the office now for an appointment at 800-300-9300.
Joshua, are you with us? You’re asking about artificial intelligence and the future of your work.
JOSHUA: I’m doing well. Thanks for having me.
MARC DARROW, MD: Before you ask your question, I’ll tell you what I’ve heard about AI and medicine. One of the people I consider among the most brilliant on the planet is Elon Musk. He says that within a relatively short period, there will be no human surgeons in medicine. Robots will do the work because they will have comprehensive knowledge and precision that a human hand cannot match. Does that answer your question?
JOSHUA: Yes. At a personal level, do you see AI being integrated into your practice and its processes? As a portfolio manager, I see a lot of AI integration. Some lower-level jobs are being replaced, and in-depth research may no longer be necessary. I’m curious whether AI is slowly being integrated into your practice.
MARC DARROW, MD: I’ll tell you a quick story. Yesterday, I read an article about an expert witness whose livelihood was built on court cases. I’m also a lawyer, so I’m interested in that. The expert witness used ChatGPT to create an approximately 860-page report for a trial and charged $90,000 for it. He was severely criticized.
We have to be careful with AI and not abuse it, because at this point it can abuse us. I know that because I use it throughout the day and ask it questions. I don’t automatically believe it, but I use it as a source. Many times, it gives me information that I know is wrong. I respond that it is incorrect and provide the research, and it replies, “Yes, you are correct. Thank you for educating me.”
We aren’t yet at a stage where we can fully trust AI, but I use it because it’s a good starting point for information. If I need to organize a PowerPoint presentation, I can enter the topic and receive an outline in a minute that might otherwise have taken hours to assemble. I’m very judicious about how I use AI today. I think it will eventually affect everything.
Elon Musk has also said that humans may not need to work in the near future because AI will generate so much wealth that government support will allow people simply to exist. People like me who love working will still be able to work. I don’t know what I’d do if I didn’t have my work in medicine. I love watching people heal. Obviously, my wife comes first in my life, but medicine has always been my calling. Even as a little child, I saw myself wearing a white coat.
If AI takes my present work away, I’ll find another way to participate in medicine, perhaps by working with AI in medicine. It will eliminate some jobs in medicine, just as it is affecting other industries.
I belong to an AI think tank, and many people with large businesses are creating AI agents and reducing their workforces. I tell employees who lose their jobs to learn AI because it is the future.
As a portfolio manager, you’ll use AI. Many people may decide not to hire a portfolio manager and instead ask AI how to manage their assets.
JOSHUA: Exactly.
MARC DARROW, MD: We may lose some of the jobs we’re doing, but we’ll find other things to do. The way things are going, we may all be working in AI in the future. That’s my opinion.
Joshua, God bless you. I appreciate the great question.
We often hear that radiologists may lose their jobs because AI can read imaging better than a human. I still see radiologists reading my films, but perhaps they’re using AI to identify findings and then dictating the results after reviewing the film. If I were a radiologist, that’s what I would do.
My work is manual. I have to put a needle exactly where it belongs, using ultrasound to guide it. Will AI eventually do that better than I can? I hope so. I always welcome something better.
I’m going to read an interesting question submitted through my website. I receive questions all day from around the world.
The listener writes: “Dr. Darrow, I can’t wait to meet you and have an examination. I tore my meniscus and have a bucket-handle tear. I had surgery in 2022, but I’m still in pain and limping.”
That’s sad, and we see it frequently after surgery. In this case, part of the knee’s meniscus was removed. Having a bucket-handle tear does not necessarily mean surgery is required. If it is a true bucket-handle tear that is obstructing the joint so the knee cannot move, that is a different situation. However, I regularly see people with bucket-handle meniscus tears who can move their knees, and we treat them.
This listener had surgery in 2022 and is still in pain and limping. In my opinion, that surgery should not have been performed.
The message continues: “I now have pain in my hip and along the outside of my right knee down to my ankle. It almost feels as though my ankle has been sprained. During the last 15 minutes of my surgery, I went into AFib, so now I’m also dealing with a heart condition.”
I’m sorry that happened. In my opinion, I don’t like surgeries because I’ve seen horrible things happen.
God bless you all. Thank you for calling. It has been a great show. Call the office at 800-300-9300 for a free telephone consultation with my staff and a free copy of my book about stem-cell and platelet therapy.
ANNOUNCER: You’ve been listening to Living Pain-Free with Marc Darrow, MD. To schedule an appointment, call 800-300-9300 and ask for a copy of Dr. Darrow’s book, Stem Cell and Platelet Therapy: Regenerate, Don’t Operate,