Deborah Westergaard, MD Board-Certified in Pain Medicine and Anesthesiology Regenexx-Affiliate Pain Experts Dallas–Plano Why High Performers Rush to the OR When pain strikes suddenly and severely, something primal happens—even to the most composed and capable among us Your nervous system goes on high alert. Your heart races. Your thoughts narrow. The brain’s survival systems take over. You’re not being irrational; you’re being human. This acute response is driven by the sympa

A year ago this July, I joined a club I never wanted to be part of the Hip Replacement Club. And while I would’ve traded nearly anything—to avoid it, the experience handed me something valuable: a stronger connection to my patients and a deeper understanding of their choices. It also gave me lemons. Which I’ve since turned into lemonade. Because nothing sharpens your insight into joint dysfunction quite like living it. And nothing motivates a physician quite like thinking, “T

You Might Avoid Shoulder Rotator Cuff Surgery with PRP The Problem: Surgery Isn’t Always the Best First Step For many patients with shoulder pain, the journey often begins with a visit to their primary care doctor. From there, they’re referred to an orthopedic surgeon who, upon finding complete or partial but significant tears in the rotator cuff tendons, sends them to physical therapy. If therapy doesn’t resolve the pain, surgery often becomes the next step. Orthopedic surge