Bradley’s Regenerative Medicine Success Story

Bradley was experiencing pain and mobility issues in his shoulder – and the possibility of shoulder surgery was looming over his head. Not wanting to be out of commission for so long after a procedure, Bradley looked to regenerative medicine for an alternative option.   

Kevin Dankert, DO, with ProMedica Physicians Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, was able to utilize regenerative medicine to treat Bradley’s shoulder pain. Getting him back to doing what he loves within a week of his visits. 

Here’s Bradley’s story, in his own words.*

How Regenerative Medicine Helped Me Avoid Surgery

By Bradley Smith

Regenerative medicine, in which Kevin Dankert, DO, excels, is not for the faint of heart. It is a treatment protocol in which your own stem cells are used to repair your damaged bones and tendons. At the beginning of my journey, I was facing the prospect of losing up to eight months with micro-surgery and physical therapy. Being over 60 years old, the success rate of a normal rotator cuff surgery drops.

My choice was to have surgery and then do regenerative medicine, or just regenerative medicine. After consulting with other providers in Ann Arbor, I decided to go with Dr. Dankert and regenerative medicine. My procedure was performed over the course of three days (all short visits and less than two hours each). They were done with local anesthesia, reducing the post-procedure recovery time to zero.

Dr. Dankert and his team have excellent credentials. Being awake through the process was interesting in that I could see the injections as they were completed and noticed the effects. There were a few twinges, but nothing that made me upset or express pain. Further, being awake through the procedure allowed Dr. Dankert and his team to talk me through the process, which provided a better patient for them and an experience in which I can describe what goes on in great detail.

The worst part was actually the fear of the procedure. About three minutes in, I realized the fear was much worse than the procedure itself. Despite his youthful appearance, Dr. Dankert has greattableside manner and a very calming approach. He was even able to answer questions while he was performing the procedure. He always referred to me by my name, not as 'the patient' or 'the subject'. I was treated as a respected human being throughout the process. 

As an engineer, I thought the explanations and knowledge were great. As a performing musician, I knew that I could return to work before the next performance in six days, so that was very calming.

I wholeheartedly recommend this procedure to anyone facing rotator cuff surgery, as Dr. Dankert and his team are second to none. In my case, the prediction for a positive outcome is far better than that of traditional surgery. I recommend at least a consult with Dr. Dankert or the regenerative medicine team before undergoing a surgical procedure. The second opinion will be healthy, and the likelihood of a better approach makes it worth the time.

Six months after the procedure, I am able to hold drywall sheets over my head and drive screws into studs with my other hand. The regenerative procedure under Dr. Dankert's miraculous hands was a screaming success.

*Like all medical procedures, procedures using Regenexx lab processes have a success and failure rate. Patient reviews and testimonials on this site should not be interpreted as a statement on the effectiveness of treatments for anyone else.