Answers to the questions our patients ask most often. If you have additional questions, we encourage you to schedule a consultation where Dr. Crane can address your specific situation in detail.
Regenerative medicine is a field of medicine focused on repairing, replacing, or regenerating damaged tissue using the body's own biological resources. For spine conditions, this means delivering growth factors, stem cells, and other bioactive molecules directly to degenerating discs, joints, ligaments, and nerve tissue to promote repair rather than simply masking symptoms. The primary regenerative treatments we use are platelet-rich plasma (PRP), prolotherapy, and bone marrow aspirate concentrate (BMAC).
Dr. Crane is a fellowship-trained, board-certified physician with over 20 years of clinical experience in regenerative spine medicine. He teaches regenerative therapeutics to physicians nationally and internationally. He is actively involved in exosome research. Most importantly, he brings diagnostic precision to treatment-identifying the specific structure generating pain before selecting the regenerative approach that addresses it. Many practitioners offer regenerative injections; few bring this depth of diagnostic rigor and clinical experience.
Candidacy depends on your specific diagnosis, the severity and duration of your condition, your overall health, and your treatment goals. In general, patients with disc degeneration, facet arthropathy, ligamentous instability, tendinopathy, and certain types of nerve pain are good candidates. The best way to determine candidacy is a consultation where we evaluate your imaging, examine your spine, and discuss your options. Not everyone is a candidate, and we are transparent about that.
Most patients describe the procedures as tolerable. We use local anesthesia at all injection sites, and sedation options are available for more extensive procedures (such as BMAC aspiration). Post-treatment soreness lasting 2–5 days is common and reflects the therapeutic inflammatory response that drives healing. Most patients compare it to post-exercise soreness.
Regenerative treatments work through biological repair processes that take time. Most patients notice meaningful improvement within 6–12 weeks, with continued gains over 3–6 months. This differs from steroid injections (which provide rapid but temporary relief) because we are promoting actual tissue repair rather than simply suppressing inflammation.
This varies by condition and treatment type. PRP typically involves 2–3 sessions spaced 4–6 weeks apart. Prolotherapy typically involves 3–6 sessions spaced 3–4 weeks apart. BMAC is often a single treatment. Your specific protocol is developed after a thorough evaluation and adjusted based on your response.
Yes, and we encourage it. Physical therapy provides the mechanical stimulus for proper tissue remodeling, while regenerative treatment provides the biological resources. We coordinate with physical therapists to time rehabilitation with the biological phases of healing.
Coverage varies by insurer, plan, and specific treatment. Some components of the evaluation and diagnostic workup are typically covered. Regenerative injections (PRP, BMAC, prolotherapy) are often not covered by insurance as they are considered investigational by most payers. We verify your coverage before treatment and provide transparent pricing for out-of-pocket costs so you can make an informed decision.
Costs vary based on the specific treatment, the number of areas treated, and the complexity of your condition. We provide detailed pricing during your consultation after evaluating your specific situation. We believe in transparency-you will know exactly what treatment costs before making any commitment.
Yes. We offer flexible payment options to make regenerative treatment accessible. Our team can discuss these options during your consultation.
No. As of 2026, no exosome product has received FDA approval for therapeutic use. Exosome therapy is investigational. We are transparent about this because patients deserve accurate information. We remain engaged with the evolving science and believe our patients benefit from a physician actively involved in this frontier.
All medical procedures carry some risk. For regenerative injections, the primary risks include: temporary pain and soreness at the injection site (expected and common), infection (rare, minimized by sterile technique), inadequate response requiring alternative treatment, and allergic reaction to ancillary materials (extremely rare). Serious complications are very rare. We discuss all risks as part of informed consent before treatment.
Initial consultations typically take 45–60 minutes. We take time to review your imaging, perform a physical examination, discuss your history and goals, and explain your treatment options. This is not a five-minute visit-precision in diagnosis requires thorough evaluation.
Please bring your insurance card, a valid photo ID, any recent imaging (MRI, CT scan, X-rays), medical records related to your spine condition, and a list of current medications. If you have prior MRI or CT images on disc or CD, please bring those as well.
We offer telemedicine for follow-up visits and preliminary consultations for patients who are traveling from a distance. Initial evaluations for treatment typically require an in-person visit for proper physical examination and imaging review.
Schedule a consultation and get personalized answers from Dr. Crane about your specific spine condition.