Quinton

I have an office job in IT and am a keen sportsman, having competed in amateur triathlons and regular swimming with our local Surf Live Saving Masters team. The combination of sitting in a chair during the day for my job in IT and being sporty played havoc with my back and I slipped a disc. The problem cascaded and I ended up with three slipped discs.

I had physio and went to see a chiropractor, but it never got better and just kept me mobile, although the pain was mostly always there. I saw a consultant when I was 30 and was given the option of an operation but they said the chances of success were low, so I didn’t go ahead.

I was looking for non-surgical treatments online when I came across The Regenerative Clinic. I went to their Exeter clinic, had an MRI, and the consultant confirmed that my back was inoperable. He recommended platelet rich plasma (PRP) with a new activator – calcium chloride, which was described as ‘exciting’ the PRP on injection.
I felt I had nothing to lose. My GP knew about the treatment and although it was new, there was strong evidence in its success for treating joints.

I had two PRP injections, 3 weeks apart. Be prepared that the treatment itself is painful. But recovery was from the first one particularly was so quick. Within 3 days, which were quite tough in themselves, there was a massive improvement – I had reduced pain and a huge increase in mobility. After the second one it took a few more weeks to see the improvement as I was essentially recovering from 2 operations. I could sit in a chair with no pain, bend down, put on socks without having to be a contortionist! All this was previously very difficult or extremely painful.

One big thing was that I had forgotten what it was like to get out of bed in the morning normally, which I can now do without thinking. The amount of movement I’ve got back is incredible.
I’d absolutely recommend this treatment to other people. The only thing I can’t do is lift heavy items after which I’m reminded that I have a bad back, but otherwise I can do everything I want, conscious that I still have to protect my back – don’t overdo it.

I’m back to open water swimming and regularly in the pool, although still finding my limit. I’m back to swimming a regular three miles a week and working up to six miles. I live on the coast and my personal goal is to start surfing again in the summer which I haven’t been able to do since I slipped my first disc.

In summary, The Regenerative Clinic PRP treatment has changed my life. After 15 years of regular disability and pain from 3 severely damaged lower lumber discs I am now relatively pain free and able to get back to my sporting activities without issue. If I’m honest, the operation was tough, but the results have been incredible, and the initial recovery was only around 3 days – I would say a 90% improvement on my overall health and well-being. I can’t recommend the treatment enough.

November 2019