Twenty-year-old Marius Tesch is a classical pianist who studies in the prestigious studio of Laurent Boukobza, professor and chair of piano studies at the University of Central Florida (UCF). Tesch has been playing piano since age five with a rigorous practice schedule of four to eight hours daily. His longtime dream has always been to become a concert pianist and to teach music to college students.
In February 2010, Tesch fell and landed on his hands while walking to class, which could have been a devastating roadblock in his quest to his reaching his dream. Unfortunately, he suffered severe pain in both wrists, was unable to play the piano or open a jar and had difficulty turning the key to start his car. In addition, he was unable to use a computer or mouse, and had to depend on his computer’s speech recognition program.
“I was depressed and devastated that my dreams of becoming a concert pianist were over,” said Tesch. “I had to change my major from music to history, believing that I would never play concert piano again.”
Tesch consulted with several physicians to try to obtain a prognosis, but none of the doctors could properly diagnose the injury to his wrists. He was told by an orthopedist that he had an overuse injury and was given cortisone injections. Another doctor advised him to rest, use ice, and take anti-inflammatory medications to alleviate the pain. When the pain did not subside, Tesch went to a chiropractor who used therapeutic techniques such as ultrasound stimulation to help reduce the inflammation. He received some relief, but was still unable to play the piano at a performance level.
In September 2010, eight months after his injury, Tesch found Alan Lazar, MD, FACS (www.dralanlazar.com) on the Internet. Dr. Lazar is an orthopedic surgeon in Plantation, Fla., who specializes in a breakthrough non-surgical treatment called Regenerative Injection Therapy with platelet rich plasma (PRP). Regenerative Injection Therapy is a treatment option for orthopedic injuries and conditions that have traditionally required surgery or other extensive treatments.
Regenerative Injection Therapy involves extracting a minimal amount of a patient’s own blood and placing it in a centrifuge, which spins the blood at a high speed to separate it into components. Dr. Lazar then injects the fluid into an injured area or an arthritic joint, which releases bioactive tissue growth factors. These growth factors lead to improved natural tissue healing. For example, when platelets are injected into an arthritic joint with cartilage damage, the new collagen stimulates the growth of cartilage.
Depending on the condition or treatment plan, Dr. Lazar may also recommend using a patient’s stem cells that are extracted from the patient’s own bone marrow or abdominal fat. The stem cells are filtered, cleansed, and then injected into an arthritic joint. PRP stimulates the body’s own stem cells to go to the injured area and make new cartilage to create a natural healing process. Because Tesch is young, and his body manufactures many natural stem cells, he did not need the additional stem cell treatment.
Tesch drove to Plantation from Orlando to visit Dr. Lazar, who examined his wrists and performed an ultrasound. He determined that there were tears in some of the tendons in each wrist.
Tesch was thrilled that he finally had a diagnosis. Dr. Lazar was the only doctor he had seen who could actually identify the tendon tears by using more sophisticated ultrasound imaging.
“I’ve had success treating many injuries similar to Tesch’s, and I felt that he was a good candidate for the PRP treatment,” said Dr. Lazar.
Dr. Lazar placed three injections into the affected tendons in the right wrist and three injections into the left wrist. Within one week, Tesch felt a major improvement in his left wrist. He had no pain and could more easily move his hand and fingers. Four weeks after the treatment, Tesch’s right wrist began to feel remarkably better.
Tesch’s condition has improved so much that he has been able to resume his rigorous practice schedule and will soon be performing with ensembles performing contemporary compositions at UCF.
“I am thrilled because I can now pursue my dreams as a concert pianist and music professor,” said Tesch. “I’m doing so well that I re-registered to resume my music major at UCF.”
This is truly a miracle, according to Tesch. He has the highest regard for Dr. Lazar who has helped him to regain the use of his hands and return to his love of the piano.
