The Doctor is the Difference: Choosing an Effective Treatment

Dr. Yeargan at the Regenerative Medicine Clinic in Wilmington, NC

This year there has been a drastic rise in research but most of that was related to the onset spread of covid-19. Research is one of the most necessary and profitable aspects of the medical field and that is just simple supply and demand. When a need or illness arises pharmaceutical companies spend large amounts of their own research and development money, grants, and donations to find cures or solutions. This is not a quick process and often bureaucratic red tape can create frustrations for the pharmaceutical industry. That red tape can be frustrating to patients but it is also a protective measure to ensure that patients are only receiving the best possible care.

In 2013, Science Daily found that “Stem cell research is growing twice as fast (7%) as the world average growth in research (2.9%)” and “stem cell publications are 50% more cited than the world average for all related subject areas, with the following field weighted citation impact (FWCI).” Basically, stem cell research is not only the fasting growing research field but also the most popular. The treatments being found using stem cells have a higher efficacy rate and since they are classified as a biologic they do not carry the same level of harmful side effects and possible injuries that can be created by using pharmaceuticals. Biologics research also allows for doctors in the field to adjust treatments and practices more quickly and to align with current research because changes do not have to go through the same process as they would if you changed a drug. The difference is simple really- you’re using a natural human cell to heal your body not a manufactured drug. That is not to say that there is not oversight in stem cell treatments but merely that there are different processes that take place.

It sounds as if stem cells alone are the solution when in reality the doctor performing your procedure is key to the efficacy of the procedure. Since biologics are regulated in a different manner it means that a wide range of doctors are performing stem cell treatments. You’ll find stem cell treatments being offered by doctors, chiropractors, and surgeons. There are also a wide range of stem cell therapies available that differ in the type of stem cells being used, for example cord blood versus stem cells originating from the patient’s bone marrow. Lastly, you’ll find major differences in how the doctor retrieves and applies the stem cells being used in the treatment. In the case of arthritis, osteoarthritis, or other joint and bone issues you will find that there are hundreds of doctors marketing a wide range of treatments that all boast the “stem cell” title but without explaining the difference. It can be easy to price shop and use that as a driving factor but unfortunately you might find yourself shelling out money for a treatment that is as effective as going on an ice cream diet.

When Dr. Yeargan began working in regenerative medicine he chose to do so coming from a background as an orthopedic surgeon. He saw the harm in invasive procedures as a first option and decided to research solutions that would allow people to recover using only their own cells instead of replacing joints. Those solutions also provided shorter recovery times and greater results. Large pharmaceutical companies are gifted grants in order to create drugs to treat different illnesses. We have seen that this year with the amount of funding that was provided to create the vaccines to fight covid-19. On the other hand, Dr. Yeargan believed so strongly in his approach that all of his research has been funded by the Regenerative Medicine Clinic (his own office). It’s not often you will find a medical professional willing to throw their own money into the research. When you have large companies doing research they are out to protect their bottom dollar (and sometimes it pays off for everyone including the patient). Then doctors are prescribing drugs and fulfilling procedures that they learned but did not design.

That’s not the case when you are treated at the Regenerative Medicine Clinic. The procedure was researched and designed by the doctor who is performing it because he’s a specialized orthopedic surgeon who is able to not only create an innovative procedure but he chooses to perform it. That is why patients who come to Dr. Yeargan boast of his knowledge of the procedure and the amount of time he spends ensuring their results. The research and the results are not separated based on financial gains. The goal has and always will be a successful procedure that eliminates your pain.