Why I Transitioned from Traditional Pain Management to Precision Orthobiologics
- cassis101
- 2 minutes ago
- 3 min read
By Deborah Westergaard, MD | Pain Experts | Dallas–Plano
When Traditional Pain Management Tools No Longer Match the Demands of Modern Life
When I transitioned from the intellectually rewarding field of anesthesiology into pain management more than two decades ago, my goal was not simply to join a specialty.
I wanted to operate at the highest level of it. That search led me to Texas Tech and the legendary Dr. Gabor Racz, whose fellowship was regarded internationally as the pinnacle of interventional pain training.
I spent the year before that fellowship traveling across the country to learn from the pioneers of the field, the individuals who were redefining what modern pain care could be. At that time, diagnostic blocks and radiofrequency procedures offered the closest thing we had to transformative relief. These approaches helped countless patients, and the skills I developed were invaluable.
But medicine evolves. And over time, we learned the limitations of those methods, particularly for individuals whose personal and professional lives demand sustained mobility, physical confidence, and the ability to perform at a high level.
Repeated steroids can have cumulative downsides. Ablation may reduce pain, but it also weakens structures essential for long-term stability. Implants and cement augmentation have meaningful roles but also meaningful risks.
For many people, these tools are still appropriate. But for individuals who want to preserve joint integrity and maintain long-term performance, the old toolbox is no longer enough.
A Modern Regenerative Strategy for Those Who Want to Stay in Motion
The technical foundation I gained under Dr. Racz:, precise needle placement, advanced catheter techniques, and respect for anatomical detail now forms the core of how I deliver regenerative orthobiologic care today. Those early skills evolved into a new purpose: supporting tissue, not destroying it; preserving structure, not compromising it.
Modern orthobiologics offer something fundamentally different from traditional pain management:
Preservation rather than reduction
Longevity rather than short-term suppression• Strategic joint support rather than structural sacrifice
This is not a dismissal of traditional pain techniques as they remain vital in certain situations. But for individuals who value mobility and want to protect the activities that define their lives, regenerative strategies offer a path that aligns with how they live, work, and lead.
Many of my patients are deeply invested in their physical performance whether on the golf course, tennis court, ski slopes, or in the boardroom. They want to stay strong, capable, and unrestricted. They want clarity, precision, and a plan that respects both their goals and their time.
For this group, regenerative orthobiologics are not simply treatments. They are a strategy a way to stay active without surrendering their joints to procedures that diminish long-term structural health.
Why This Matters for High-Functioning Adults Who Refuse to Slow Down
Some people want to return to baseline . Others want to maintain the baseline they’ve earned year after year.
Regenerative care aligns with those who:
1. Value excellence and demand high-quality inputs into their health
2. Want to preserve function, not trade it for temporary relief
3. Seek medical guidance that reflects intelligence, precision, and long-range thinking
4. Want to avoid procedures that remove, destroy, or permanently alter tissue
5. Prefer a physician who understands the discipline required to sustain performance
This is the mindset of individuals whose lives are built around leadership, activity, and vitality. They do not want to be sidelined. They want solutions that allow them to stay in motion strategically and safely.
Traditional methods can help. Regenerative methods protect.
That distinction matters.
Pain Experts offers a comprehensive, image-guided evaluation and treatment process.
If your goal is to maintain long-term mobility, protect your joint integrity, and explore non-surgical regenerative strategies tailored to active, high-performing adults, Pain Experts offers a comprehensive, image-guided evaluation and treatment process.
During a consultation, we determine whether orthobiologic treatment is appropriate for your condition and whether it may help you avoid or delay more invasive interventions.
Your joint health is one of your most valuable assets. Protect it strategically.
To schedule a consultation, please contact Pain Experts.