This video features a patient testimonial with Dr. Don Buford discussing why regenerative medicine clinics are not all the same, emphasizing the importance of doing thorough research and asking questions before getting procedures like PRP (platelet-rich plasma).
Key Highlights:
- Patient Background: The patient is a registered nurse who suffers from chronic back pain due to a long-standing injury and previously underwent a lumbar fusion.
- Experience at Another Clinic:
- No Imaging or Record Review: Prior to seeing Dr. Buford, she visited a different clinic where a mid-level provider proposed a treatment plan without reviewing her medical history, MRI scans, or X-rays.
- No Imaging or Record Review: Prior to seeing Dr. Buford, she visited a different clinic where a mid-level provider proposed a treatment plan without reviewing her medical history, MRI scans, or X-rays.
- Unconvincing Treatment Explanation: The provider suggested that injections only needed to be placed "close" to the affected area because the treatment would "know where to go."
- High-Pressure Sales: She was quoted $12,000 for the plan and felt heavily pressured to start treatment the same day, describing the experience as feeling like a sales pitch rather than sound medical advice.
- Conclusion: Her experience led her to seek care from a specialized orthopedic physician with formal training in regenerative medicine rather than a high-pressure clinic.
Questions about this treatment
- Why are regenerative medicine clinics not all the same?
- Regenerative medicine practices can differ in physician training, diagnostic evaluation, imaging review, physical examination, treatment planning, injection techniques, clinical experience, and patient communication.
- What questions should I ask before getting PRP?
- Patients should ask who will perform the treatment, what condition is being treated, what diagnostic evidence supports the treatment, whether imaging and medical records have been reviewed, how the treatment is performed, what risks and alternatives exist, and what follow-up care is provided.
- Should a doctor review my medical records and imaging before PRP?
- A thorough clinical evaluation may include reviewing relevant medical history, previous imaging, current symptoms, and performing an appropriate physical examination before determining whether PRP is suitable.
- What is PRP treatment?
- PRP, or platelet-rich plasma, is prepared from a patient's own blood and contains a higher concentration of platelets than normal blood. It may be used as an orthobiologic treatment for selected musculoskeletal conditions.
- Is PRP appropriate for everyone?
- No. PRP is not appropriate for every patient or every condition. Suitability depends on the diagnosis, symptoms, examination findings, imaging, medical history, and available treatment alternatives.
- Who provides regenerative medicine treatment at Texas Orthobiologics?
- Regenerative medicine and orthobiologic treatments at Texas Orthobiologics are provided under the care of Don Buford, MD and the Texas Orthobiologics team in Dallas, Texas.
Every patient is different, and a video is not a promise of the same result. If you want to know whether an orthobiologic or surgical option fits your own injury, that starts with an exam and imaging — not a video.
