Various patients and colleagues have shared their experiences with Dr. Regan, highlighting the care Dr. John Regan provides to patients throughout the country.
John - Retired auction house exec back in action after surgery for spine tumors
Click here to read about John's successful recovery from complex spine surgery to remove spinal tumors performed by Dr. John Regan.
Alex - Miami doctor back to active lifestyle after unique minimally invasive spine surgery
Click here to read about Alex's successful recovery from complex spine surgery performed by Dr. John Regan.
Carylyn - Denver executive back to yoga after complex spine surgery
Click here to read about Carylyn's successful recovery from complex spine surgery performed by Dr. John Regan.
Karl Nusch’s Story
LOS ANGELES (Ivanhoe Newswire) —
Degenerative disc disease is a painful and debilitating condition. The discs in the spinal column begin to erode. Fusion is one option but that leaves patients with less mobility. Now, a new procedure offers a better way, and it is entirely artificial.
Karl Nusch's life as triathlete came to an abrupt halt two years ago. It happened during training for a triathlon. He says, "I started feeling the pain in my lower back going down into my buttocks and into my left leg." Nusch had degenerative disc disease. The lower part of his spinal cord was decaying. Spinal fusion was an option, but...
Russ Rice's back pain was so intense he could hardly walk. Two surgeries had failed to offer lasting help for his damaged spinal disc, and only large doses of painkillers got him through each day.
Then, as part of a study, doctors implanted an artificial disc in Rice's back. Just four days later, the California man returned to work, pain-free for the first time in over a year.
More about Rice's story is available to view online at the CBS News website. Click here to view the article in its entirety.
Dr. Mitchell Brooks
Dr. Mitchell Brooks, orthopedic surgeon in Plano, Texas talks about his experience with Dr. John Regan.
News Feature Story
LOS ANGELES (Ivanhoe Newswire) —
Degenerative disc disease is a painful and debilitating condition. The discs in the spinal column begin to erode. Fusion is one option but that leaves patients with less mobility. Now, a new procedure offers a better way, and it is entirely artificial.
Karl Nusch's life as triathlete came to an abrupt halt two years ago. It happened during training for a triathlon. He says, "I started feeling the pain in my lower back going down into my buttocks and into my left leg."
Nusch had degenerative disc disease. The lower part of his spinal cord was decaying. Spinal fusion was an option, but that would leave his back immobilized and in a brace for months.
Orthopedic surgeon John Regan, M.D., of Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, says, "Fusion is actually a very good operation for an older patient who's not going to be as active, but especially in the young individual, it's just not a very good option. It's not the best option we have."
Dr. Regan treated Nusch with what he considers a better option, an artificial disc. The tiny metal sandwich with a plastic insert makes flexibility easy.
"I think this has the potential for being a quantum leap in the treatment of spine problems," said Dr. Regan.
Nusch isn't doing any leaping of his own yet, but a little more than year after his surgery, he is trying to return to a normal routine. "I can swim with no discomfort. I can ride pretty much with no discomfort," said Nusch. "The running part is the part I'm taking really slowly."
While he may not be able to return to triathlons, Nusch hopes the new disc will at least help him get back in the race.
At present, the artificial disc is being used in clinical trials only, but if the results continue to be promising, Dr. Regan says the procedure should be widely available in the next two years.
If you would like more information, please contact:
John J. Regan, M.D.
8750 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 350
Beverly Hills, CA 90211
(310) 385-8888
Click here for narrated videos of spine surgeries, procedures and what causes various symptoms. Click here to see medical illustrations that help you understand back and neck problems. Click here to see an exercise library that has special stretches that can relieve pain symptoms.
John J. Regan, MD is now affiliated with D.I.S.C. - Sport and Spine Center:
D.I.S.C., one of the country’s leading spine and sports centers, is redefining patient care. Cited by many as the gold standard in medicine, our world-class facility offers a fully integrated approach to the treatment of skeletal disorders. Click here to learn more.
Our spine Internet site acts as on-line spine encyclopedia. In addition, as a free community service, John Regan MD mails out Home Remedy Books on a limited basis to residents in Southern California. Click here to learn more.
We understand that traveling with a back problem can be difficult and unsettling. That’s why we enable you to set up a telephone consultation with Dr. Regan in advance, to determine if a trip would be worthwhile. Because this involves significant time for our practice to receive your information and diagnostics, and for Dr. Regan to review your case in advance of your call, there is a fee for this consultation. Click here to learn more.
The vast majority of back problems improve on their own or with nonsurgical treatment. There are a few warning signs, however, that may indicate serious spinal problems. If you experience any of these symptoms, seek medical attention immediately. Click here to learn more.
About 80% of back and neck pain symptoms can go away on their own with non-surgical treatment options. That’s the good news. Click here to learn more. The bad news is that if you are in the other 20%, you need to recognize which symptoms need a spine specialist fast. Symptoms like loss of control of bowel or bladder, or weakness and numbness into an arm or leg, are all emergency symptoms and you need to see a spine surgeon within 48 hours. Otherwise these symptoms can become permanent.
Welcome to John J. Regan, MD Click here to listen to a message from Dr.
John Regan about finding freedom from back pain.
Recognize emergency symptoms
for back and neck pain Do you have weakness or numbness in a hand or foot?
Are you unable to raise your toe as you walk?
Do you have any loss of bowel or bladder control?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, click here.
