In This Issue
Feeling Fit with New Hip
Seminar Online
New Treatment for Knees
Meet Michelle
Staying Informed
Quick Links
 Twitter logoFacebook logo YouTube logo

Betty's feeling fit and fabulous with her new hip
Betty Plum

"I'm the lucky one, first because the arthritis in my hip progressed quickly. Within five months of the time that my hip began to be uncomfortable, I was limping and in much pain when I walked. I was fortunate to be able to schedule replacement surgery very quickly, so my body did not have to compensate for the weakness in my hip.

 

"I feel lucky to have found Dr. Zehr, with his anterior approach, allowing me to return to the fitness classes I love and to other activities, without restrictions.

 

"Dr. Zehr's office staff paved the way to surgery, arranging pre-op procedures and providing a manual that answered every question I had.  

 

"Following surgery, I began therapy immediately and after a couple of weeks, I added classes at the health club to complement my outpatient therapy.

 

"Three weeks to the day of my surgery, I returned to the botanical garden as a horticulture volunteer, balancing and reaching to pull weeds between the spiny plants in the arid garden. Soon, I was taking all the fitness classes I had taken before my operation - spinning, circuit training, yoga, strength and flexibility, plus walking without pain.

 

"Live with pain? Not me! Replacement is too easy!"


- Betty Plum


Our website is full of testimonies like Mary's - patients who are living pain-free lives. You can read them here. Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to send us photos and stories for our office "Wall of Fame." We invite you to share your success story too, just hit "Reply!" 
 

Seminar Online

Video link
   

There are no live seminars scheduled, but we want to remind you that the entire educational seminar "Joint Arthritis - What's New, What Works" is available for viewing online, either in its entirety or in segments.

 

Join Our List
Join Our Mailing List
Issue: #31
September 29, 2014

 

Season is almost upon us! We welcome back our winter residents, even as we mumble and grumble about crowded roads and long lines.

 

Did you know that at the Zehr Center we can save you precious time with our online patient services? You can schedule an appointment, request your records and x-rays, and even request a prescription refill.

If you are preparing for your first visit to ZCO, we have our office forms online - you can print them and fill them out in the comfort and convenience of your home, saving you valuable time during your office visit.

My staff works diligently to keep the ZCO running efficiently, to ensure you are seen on time and that all of your questions and concerns are answered before you leave our office. So before our busy season begins, I'd like to take a moment to thank them for doing such a great job!

Gratefully, 
Robert J. Zehr, M.D.

New treatment for knee arthritis available at ZCO 
Older man playing baseball

If you have ever attended one of my educational seminars or have been to my office to discuss your knee pain, you know that the natural progression of treatment for knee arthritis that I recommend includes therapy, medication and injections, along with adopting healthy lifestyles such as weight control and exercise. It is only when the pain of your arthritis begins to interfere with your daily life that we begin talking about knee replacement surgery. Even if your x-rays show your condition to be "bone-on-bone" surgery is not automatically recommended. I have always said that my goal is to actually keep you off of my operating table! 

 

crystal structure of Alpha-2-macroglobulin
Crystal structure  of
alpha-2-macroglobulin 
Courtesy of Mattyjenjen,
Wikimedia Commons 
For some patients with knee arthritis, there is a new step available in the treatment plan - injections of alpha-2-macroglobulin.

An arthritic knee (and all arthritic joints) makes several chemicals that destroy the articular cartilage, which is the essence of osteoarthritis. However, our bodies make a protein, alpha-2-macroglobulin (A2M), in a relatively large quantity and it circulates in our blood. A2M binds (captures) these "bad" chemicals produced in the knee and neutralizes their degenerative effect. The problem is that the naturally occurring A2M cannot cross into the arthritic joint in any quantity sufficient to achieve a positive effect.

 

This problem is resolved by injecting concentrated A2M, derived from the patient's own blood, into the knee joint. The product has been in research and development for approximately 10 years by Cytonics Corporation, a Jupiter, Florida-based private orthopedics research and development company. It is just now coming to market and clinical trials are underway. I have used this treatment on my own knee, and several ZCO patients have experienced successful results with it. A2M therapy represents the first true biologic treatment of osteoarthritis by addressing the actual destructive proteins that attack the articular cartilage and support collagen in our joints.

 

However, this therapy is not for everyone. It is not covered by insurance or Medicare. Nor is it inexpensive. Until now, I have confined my conversation about A2M to those of you who have tried more conventional treatments but are still reluctant to pursue surgery. I was recently quoted in an article chronicling the discovery and development of this therapy and you are sure to hear more about it in the coming months.

At ZCO we strive to stay "ahead of the curve," offering the newest, yet most trusted treatments and procedures for your joint health. At this time, we are the only office on the west coast of Florida offering A2M therapy.

If you have questions about A2M therapy, please give us a call at (239) 596-0100 or submit your questions online via our contact form.

 

Meet Office Coordinator Michelle Maldonado 

   

Michelle is the Zehr Center's office coordinator and billing specialist, working primarily with insurance, medical claims and payments. She has been working in the medical profession for over 25 years.

 

When she is not at work, Michelle enjoys cooking, gardening and travel. She prefers warm weather climates, which is why she chose to relocate to Florida from Michigan 12 years ago.  

 

"At this point in my life, I prefer visiting snow rather than living in it," she says. "Vacationing with my family up north during the Christmas holidays affords me the perfect opportunity to do just that!"

 

Meet the rest of the ZCO staff.

Stay Informed

In our August newsletter we gave you tips on how to avoid dislocating your hip. Be sure to add [email protected] to your address book so you don't miss future issues. You can read past issues  in our archive.

Our website is chock-full of educational information too, and we are constantly adding short articles to our blog, where you can choose to read about hips, knees, general orthopaedics and health or catch up on our latest news.