Real Results: Chronic Joint Pain Relief with Stem Cell Therapy

RG Case Study

Living with chronic joint pain can feel like an uphill battle, especially when it prevents you from enjoying the activities you love. At Regenexx Cayman, we’ve seen firsthand how personalized regenerative treatments can transform lives. In this case study, we follow RG, a 46-year-old former athlete, as he navigates persistent shoulder, elbow, and ankle pain that disrupted his active lifestyle. Through a tailored, multi-joint regenerative plan, RG achieved remarkable improvements in pain, function, and overall quality of life – showcasing the real-world impact of advanced regenerative medicine for chronic joint pain.

1. Case Overview

• Name: RG
• Age: 46
• Sex: Male
• Ethnicity: White

Summary: A physically active middle-aged man and former athlete presented to our clinic with shoulder, elbow, and bilateral ankle pain, each affecting his ability to remain active and participate in preferred sports like soccer.

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2. Presenting Problem

The patient expressed frustration over his inability to maintain his active lifestyle, noting that even a short flight or light kayaking worsened his symptoms. More recently, he shared that throwing motions and sleep are disrupted by shoulder pain, while simple tasks like gripping or standing for long periods are impacted by his elbow and ankle issues.

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3. Medical Background / Prior Interventions

RG’s orthopedic history includes:

• Lumbar spine injury in 2007 (soccer/deadlift-related)
• Left ACL reconstruction (2011)
• Left calf tear (2013)
• Prior regenerative treatments to the lumbar spine in 2017 with significant relief for several months
• No formal interventions for shoulder prior to presentation
• History of multiple shoulder dislocations (right), and longstanding mechanical crepitus
• Recently sustained an inversion injury to the right ankle; left ankle pain is chronic

Conservative interventions included chiropractic care, acupuncture, oral muscle relaxants, and analgesics.

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4. Evaluation & Diagnosis at Our Clinic

Comprehensive orthopedic examination and advanced imaging revealed:

• Right shoulder: Moderate to severe osteoarthritis, supraspinatus tendinosis with partial tear, labral degeneration, and glenohumeral instability with a large subchondral cyst
• Left elbow: Chronic medial epicondylitis with partial UCL injury
• Left ankle: Peroneal tendinopathy and lateral ligament laxity
• Right ankle: Acute lateral ankle sprain with ATFL, CFL, PCFL disruption and subcutaneous edema

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5. Treatment Plan

A tailored, regenerative medicine plan was initiated, including:

• Right Shoulder: Culture-expanded MSC re-injection, bone augmentation to humeral head, and capsular distension to address joint degeneration and instability
• Left Elbow & Bilateral Ankles: SCP injections planned to target chronic tendinopathy and ligament damage, particularly in the medial elbow and both lateral ankles

This multi-joint staged regenerative approach focuses on functional restoration and long-term joint preservation for a high-functioning patient seeking to return to sport and active living.

6. Progress & Outcome

The following patient outcome data has been taken from the Regenexx Registry – an active database to track how patients are doing after their procedures, including their progress and any reported side effects.

• SANE (Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation):
  A quick one-question score where the person rates how normal or “back to usual” their function feels (0–100%). Higher means better.
• NPS (Numeric Pain Score – min/avg/max):
  A pain rating from 0 to 10, where 0 means no pain and 10 means the worst pain possible. Min/avg/max just show the lowest, average, and highest pain levels reported.
• LEFS (Lower Extremity Functional Scale – 0 to 80):
  A questionnaire about how well someone can do everyday leg activities. A higher score means they’re functioning better.
• DASH (Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand):
  A form that looks at how much arm, shoulder, or hand problems affect daily activities. Lower scores mean less difficulty.

Left Ankle

Right Ankle

Right Shoulder

Left Elbow

Over a five-year span, the patient demonstrated substantial and sustained recovery across multiple joints, supported by measurable improvements in pain, function, and quality of life:

• Left Ankle: LEFS improved from 64 to 80. Minor discomfort was noted at 24 months but fully resolved, with SANE rising to 95, reflecting complete and stable recovery.
• Right Ankle: Significant early gains. By 12 months, the patient achieved excellent function (LEFS 80). However, there were some fluctuations at 24 months and a mild decline in year five requiring reassessment.
• Right Shoulder: DASH scores improved from 53.33 to 6.67, indicating a return to near full function. Setbacks at 12 and 24 months were overcome, culminating in the best functional outcome by year five.
• Left Elbow: Rapid early progress with full recovery at 12 months (DASH 0), followed by a temporary relapse. Recovery resumed with sustained high function through five years.

Overall, these metrics illustrate long-term effectiveness of integrative therapies, with pain well-controlled and functional goals met or exceeded.

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7. Reflection

“I feel like I have my life back – walking, playing, and working without thinking about pain every minute. It’s been a journey, but I’m finally in control again.”
— Patient reflection, paraphrased from follow-up interview

Nurse’s Note: Watching this patient regain confidence and mobility across multiple joint recoveries has been rewarding. Despite occasional relapses, their consistent engagement and strong outcomes speak volumes about the power of personalized regenerative care.

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8. Educational Insight

Chronic musculoskeletal conditions often require layered, time-sensitive interventions. Tracking long-term outcomes with tools like SANE, LEFS, and DASH helps fine-tune treatments and catch regressions early.

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RG’s journey demonstrates that even complex, multi-joint issues don’t have to limit your life. With a customized regenerative approach, long-term recovery and restored function are possible. If chronic joint pain is keeping you from the activities you love, we’re here to help. Schedule your consultation with Regenexx Cayman today and discover how regenerative medicine can get you back to moving, playing, and living life on your terms.