My ortho was a proponent of PRP. Used in my labrum repair and Achilles' tendon surgery. My insurance covered the cost since it was associated with the surgery. Small sample size of 2 but I healed pretty well. Obviously difficult to quantify how much, if any, impact PRP had but I'd like to think some.

Couldn't use any anti inflammatory (even supplements) so had to go cold turkey post op (hate oxy and Vicodin so didn't use) ortho said they would inhibit impact of PRP.

My willingness to use was made easier as PRP covered as part of surgery.

I'm pretty sure this guy is cheaper than other places that do it.

Its possible I mixed up some of what he said regarding the loose ACL and the tracking of the kneecap. I am sure that my left knee is less stable than the right knee and the left knee cap/knee tracking is less than good based on examinations by at least two orthopedic surgeons, this doc and my chiro, all of whom told me similar things. The advantage this guy had was he also did an ultrasound and saw the MRI.

I am mildly concerned that this might not work, but as far as cost goes, my insurance sucks. I would be paying about $300 more for another opinion.

All that is very good to know, thanks. I want your health insurance.


I am leaning towards doing the procedure right now, but am waiting on being emailed more info by the doc tomorrow, and I might ask my chiro for his opinion again as well after he hears more about how the exam went. My chiro is basically an orthopedic doc who does not do surgery. He has been right about more things than many of the MDs I (and my ex gf) have seen and several good MDs, including a couple of prominent neurosurgeons, have recommended to me that I continue going to him for treatment and advice.

8/20

bench press (straight legs)
45x15
95x10
135x10
185x5
225x3
275x2
315x1

two board presses
size 54 rage x
455x2

single ply Katana scoop neck
495x1

size 52 rage x
545xf

I tried my SHW teammate's SDP again.
545xf, lol
He stretched this shirt out. I got almost nothing out of it.

pushups
20x4

band rows and band face pulls

Neurologist says he isnt super informed on the procedure, but says that stem cells do show promise. He says if the cost was ~$400 instead of $3850, he would tell me to do it.

My PRP experiences...

So visibly, via ultrasound, the PRP did a really good job. Performance wise, well, I still ended up with surgery both times.

That is good to know.

What did they inject, just plasma or did they use any stem cells?

Was it only to heal tendon damage? In what joints?

I didn't use stem cells, doc thought we were good doing just that (they do both). Plus it was cheaper.

Tendon damage, both elbows. I probably should have kept more detailed notes, but that's the information I have.

My doc thinks I need basic prp for part of it, and basic stem cells for part of it, but I do not need the more concentrated version of stem cells that is more expensive. fwiw, he has performed many similar procedures on powerlifters and other pro athletes like NFL players and MMA fighters.

yeah, I think I remember you mentioning this in your log when you had it done.

So basically, prp basically worked for you twice as far as making you a normal, functioning human, but when you put it to the test as a pro athlete, it gave out?

Exactly.



Maybe my injuries were too much?
Maybe more healing time without competing would have helped?
Maybe it was bad luck?

*shrug*

I'm thinking back to my appointment and the doc said lots of stuff about not trying to do too much too soon even if it felt great, so maybe more healing time was what you needed.

8/23

speed bench
45x15
95x10
135x10
185x5
225x3
275x2x3
295x2
315x1x2
335x1

blast strap cross rows
12x3

face pulls

8/25

DL
225x5x2
315x3
405x2

suit
495x1
585x1
615x1x2
All the warmups were fast. The 1st 615 was slow because I was forward - I had my belt too tight and that pulled me forward. The 2nd 615 was better and less slow (I loosened my belt a notch and that helped), but I was a little forward.

band DLs
315 + black band - 3. Too easy.
315 + huge red band - 3. Hard.
315 + huge red band & green band - 2. The 1st rep was a bit slow. The 2nd rep was fast and good, but I was worn out after it.

kb swings
203x4. I was spent.

8/27

bench press (straight legs)
45x15
95x10
135x10
185x5
225x3
275x2
315x1

two board presses
size 54 rage x
455x2
500x1

size 52 rage x
545x1
I widened my stance so that I got a little leg drive. My hips didnt like this, but it didnt bother my knee at all.


My left upper trap felt a bit jacked up, so I stopped pressing and did some light pulling. I think this was probably due more to handing off some heavy attempts more so than the pressing I was doing. It put my neck in a riskier spot for pressing though.

standing 1 arm cable rows
4 sets

face pulls
20, 15

8/30

speed bench
up to 275x2, then 2 board press up to 315x3

My neck tightened up on the left side, so I stopped.

The last week or two, I started having very minor issues in the arm and neck and upper back again, probably because the cortisone injection I got in May is wearing off. The neck is not fully healed. Also, I have come to learn that cortisone actually has a degenerative effect on discs and cartilage, so getting another injection in my neck is not going to help long term.

As I was trying to decide whether or not to have this knee procedure done, I started thinking about possibly having the doc do my neck at the same time he does my knee. I talked to him about it and the cost difference is not huge, and he actually specializes in fixing neck issues with this treatment, so I scheduled it for 9/22.

I had to get a digital motion xray on the neck for this procedure to work best. The doc who did the xray found tons of stuff wrong with my neck, including a stretched out ligament on the left side that apparently tells him that I had whiplash at some point a long time ago. He rattled off dozens of other issues that I cant remember as well.

On Wed., I had gotten the xrays done earlier in the day, so i was a bit sore and stiff already from neck movements I had to do during it. I had a lot of this stuff in my head when I was benching, so when my left upper trap started acting up, I got scared and shut everything down. I will need to discuss how benching affects my neck with the doc doing the procedure.

I thought about it and I think the whiplash happened when I was playing sandlot tackle football when I was about 17 - I was carrying the ball and didnt see a guy coming who horse-collar tackled me and I landed on my neck and head. I think that is when the whiplash probably happened and I also think I probably got a concussion as well. Of course, at the time, I wanted to act like a tough guy, so I went back in the game and kept playing.

The doc who took the xrays told me that the doc who will be doing the procedure on my neck will be able to do a lot of good things for it. Xray doc also took shots of both knees. Apparently my right knee is bad too, but I dont have the same symptoms and pain, so I am not going to get it worked on. When you get these procedures done, you can add another one for way less cost, but you cannot do too many at one time because the body cant handle so much at once.

I skipped DLing last night because my GF is sick and I was feeling a tickle in the back of my throat, so I might be getting it too.

9/4

DL
225x5x2
315x3
405x2

suit
495x1
585x1
615x1

Everything moved ok, but I was feeling run down and a little sick, so I stopped.

Geez, that sucks about your neck. All the best on your 9/22 surgery. Did the doc tell you how long you have to rest after surgery before you can lift again?

thanks! Doc says 2 - 5 days of pain before I can lift light weights, then 2 - 4 weeks before I can go heavy.

Sad to hear about your neck situation. Good luck and get well soon.

Thanks!

I talked to the doc. Apparently my neck needs 11 injections, while my knee only needs 6. The neck will also require some physical therapy afterwards. I knew this thing was bad.

I'm going to stop benching and do only pushups until after this is healed.

9/8

DL
225x5x2
315x3
405x2

suit
505x1
585x1
615x2 - this moved pretty good, but I kind of felt sinus pain after it and have been sick the past week or so, so I decided to shut it down.

I changed my mind. I felt great yesterday, so I decided to try benching a little and see how it would go. Everything moved great.

9/10

bench press
45x15
95x10
135x10
185x5
225x3
275x2
315x1

two board press
size 54 Rage X
455x2
495x1

size 52 Rage X
545x1 - smoked it. It seemed way too easy. I realized that the guy holding the board slipped a 3 board in instead of a 2 board. I scolded him and immediately laid back down to do a two board press.
545x1 - smooth and strong. Very good form.

585xf - I jacked up my shirt quite a bit by pulling the collar down and turning the sleeve seems in. That led to me touching way too low because I didnt fight the shirt hard enough to keep my elbows out on the descent. Since it touched way too low, I got basically no pop out of the shirt and it barely came up at all. I could have gotten this if I had fought harder to keep my elbows out. I decided this attempt was as much as I should do in the interest of protecting my neck.

face pulls & 1 arm cable rows

More importantly, how does everything feel?

I was a little stiff in my left upper trap afterwards, but my gf loosened that up for me No bad arm pains or anything like that.