Hmmm, let me think (tongue in cheek) $10K for a Orthopod' to open me up under the knife or a quick $5K injection?
Bear in mind this is tennis elbow, one of the most successful orthopedic surgery interventions in tendons, unlike many other areas of tendon surgery and ATI application. This is indeed putting ATI against arguably the best surgical case out there....
Love that they got these results. When I had ATI I was all about function. I can endure pain, I just wanted function where I feared I was facing a life of disability with a lame right arm otherwise, without my personal ATI application. The pain relief was quick, and I dared to hope it was indicative of eventual functional improvement and then strength improvements WITHOUT pain (you only find out as you test it - gingerly) and unlike before ATI, pain did not emerge as I progressed (and of course no regression of any small strength gains I'd made in the past pre-ATI). I tried to be conservative with my own progression after the ATI injection, but soon outpaced my pre-meditated plan of progressive isometrics and eccentrics (standard physio approach) because simply pain just did not re-emerge as I progressed the loading over weeks, that quickly became months. I was nervous I'd overdo it. I never did.
Where before I never could curl beyond 3-4KG with an injured and painful bicep (with a withered tendon under MRI) without more pain emerging, I was curling 8KG within weeks pain free. I got an MRI within months that showed a drastically thicker tendon with very little signal (indication of tendinosis). Yes I am both that conservative and perhaps intense (and at least able to mock myself in that respect), but it then gave me the confidence to proceed - I had been told I was mad to have stem cells by one specialist who will remain nameless, who frankly didn't know tendinitis from tendinosis for all his titles.
Not vanity, pure function, I was soon curling 10KG. I have curled 12KG for nearly a decade now post ATI as part of a regularly gym routine (including pull-ups, rows, etc) surfed and hit the heavy punch bag regularly. I barely think about my bicep tendon anymore. Bear in mind I could not pick up a kettle with my right arm before, or drive a car without fear of pain at having to pull the steering wheel sharply for a round about.
Honestly, investments aside, this treatment, if my personal experience any indication (and clearly those clinically trialed in this, and the previous ATI vs corticosteroid trial), could bring relief to millions globally. It so needs to be in the market place.
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