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Physician-Authored Resources

Orthopedic & Spine Patient Education Center | Oklahoma City

Dr. Joseph Blythe, DO

Clinically accurate, plain-language guides to spine and orthopedic conditions — reviewed and authored by Dr. Blythe

36 articlesLumbar Spine · SI Joint · Knee · OrthobiologicsUpdated regularly by Dr. Blythe

Lumbar Spine

Herniated discs, sciatica, spinal stenosis, and lower back conditions

10 articles
Can a Herniated Disc Heal Without Surgery?

Herniated Disc

Can a Herniated Disc Heal Without Surgery?

Many herniated discs improve without surgery. Understanding the natural history of disc herniation helps patients know what to expect during recovery.

3 min read
Cervical Herniated Disc: Why Neck Problems Cause Arm Pain

Herniated Disc

Cervical Herniated Disc: Why Neck Problems Cause Arm Pain

A herniated disc in the neck can cause pain, numbness, or weakness that travels into the shoulder, arm, or hand. Here is why that happens and what it means for diagnosis and treatment.

4 min read
Epidural Steroid Injections for Herniated Disc Pain

Herniated Disc

Epidural Steroid Injections for Herniated Disc Pain

An epidural steroid injection can reduce nerve inflammation and provide meaningful pain relief. Here is what patients should understand before considering one.

3 min read
Herniated Disc Treatment: Where Care Usually Starts

Herniated Disc

Herniated Disc Treatment: Where Care Usually Starts

Most lumbar disc herniations respond to nonsurgical care. Here is what the treatment sequence typically looks like and when surgery becomes a consideration.

3 min read
Treatment: Lumbar Disc Herniation & Sciatica
Herniated Disc vs. Lumbar Spinal Stenosis: How Are They Different?

Herniated Disc

Herniated Disc vs. Lumbar Spinal Stenosis: How Are They Different?

Both conditions compress lumbar nerve roots, but they present differently and require different treatment approaches. Understanding the distinction matters for accurate diagnosis.

4 min read
Herniated Disc Warning Signs That Require Urgent Attention

Herniated Disc

Herniated Disc Warning Signs That Require Urgent Attention

Most herniated disc symptoms are not emergencies. But certain findings require immediate evaluation — not a scheduled office visit. Know the difference.

3 min read
Microdiscectomy vs. Endoscopic Discectomy: What Is the Difference?

Herniated Disc

Microdiscectomy vs. Endoscopic Discectomy: What Is the Difference?

Both procedures remove herniated disc material pressing on a nerve root. The differences lie in surgical access, incision size, and recovery. Here is what patients should know.

4 min read
Treatment: Endoscopic Lumbar Decompression
When Is an MRI Appropriate for Suspected Disc Herniation?

Herniated Disc

When Is an MRI Appropriate for Suspected Disc Herniation?

MRI is a powerful tool for evaluating disc herniation, but the clinical examination comes first. Here is how imaging fits into the diagnostic process.

3 min read
Sciatica and a Herniated Disc Are Not the Same Thing

Herniated Disc

Sciatica and a Herniated Disc Are Not the Same Thing

Sciatica describes a pattern of nerve pain. A herniated disc is one possible cause. Understanding the difference leads to more accurate diagnosis and better treatment.

3 min read
When Is Surgery Considered for a Herniated Disc?

Herniated Disc

When Is Surgery Considered for a Herniated Disc?

Surgery is not required for most patients with a herniated disc. Here is what actually drives the decision when nonsurgical care is no longer sufficient.

4 min read
Related:Lumbar Disc Herniation & SciaticaLumbar Spinal StenosisCervical RadiculopathyCervical Spinal Stenosis

SI Joint Pain

Sacroiliac joint diagnosis, injections, and treatment options

6 articles
How Doctors Confirm That Pain Is Coming From the SI Joint

SI Joint Pain

How Doctors Confirm That Pain Is Coming From the SI Joint

Diagnosing SI joint pain requires more than a description of symptoms. Here is how the history, examination, imaging, and diagnostic injection work together to confirm the source.

4 min read
Radiofrequency Ablation for SI Joint Pain

SI Joint Pain

Radiofrequency Ablation for SI Joint Pain

Radiofrequency ablation targets the sensory nerves that transmit SI joint pain. It is an option for carefully selected patients, but the evidence supporting it is limited and patient selection matters.

4 min read
Diagnostic vs. Therapeutic SI Joint Injections: What Is the Difference?

SI Joint Pain

Diagnostic vs. Therapeutic SI Joint Injections: What Is the Difference?

An SI joint injection can serve two purposes: confirming the diagnosis or providing pain relief. Understanding the difference helps patients know what to expect from each type.

3 min read
SI Joint Pain or Something Else? A Guide to Differential Diagnosis

SI Joint Pain

SI Joint Pain or Something Else? A Guide to Differential Diagnosis

Lower back and buttock pain has many possible sources. Before treating the SI joint, it is important to confirm that the joint is actually the problem. Here is how to think through the differential.

4 min read
Do Steroid Injections Help SI Joint Pain?

SI Joint Pain

Do Steroid Injections Help SI Joint Pain?

Steroid injections may reduce SI joint pain in some patients, but they are not effective for everyone and the benefit is often temporary. Here is what the evidence actually shows.

4 min read
Where Is SI Joint Pain Usually Felt?

SI Joint Pain

Where Is SI Joint Pain Usually Felt?

SI joint pain typically presents in the lower back, buttock, and sometimes the leg — but location alone cannot confirm the diagnosis. Here is what the symptom pattern can and cannot tell you.

3 min read
Related:SI Joint FusionAll Services

Knee

Knee replacement, injections, and arthritis management

6 articles
Partial Knee Replacement and Cost-Effectiveness: What a Model Can Tell Us

Knee

Partial Knee Replacement and Cost-Effectiveness: What a Model Can Tell Us

A cost-effectiveness model favored surgery over long-term nonsurgical care in many age groups and favored partial over total knee replacement. The conclusions depend on assumptions and do not decide an individual patient's operation.

6 min read
Why Clinical Guidelines Do Not Change Medical Practice Overnight

Knee

Why Clinical Guidelines Do Not Change Medical Practice Overnight

Publishing a clinical guideline does not instantly change established medical practice. A large claims study found measurable but modest changes in knee injection use after historical AAOS guidelines.

6 min read
Extended-Release Steroid Injections for Knee Arthritis: What the Trial Found

Knee

Extended-Release Steroid Injections for Knee Arthritis: What the Trial Found

An extended-release steroid injection improved knee osteoarthritis pain compared with saline at 12 weeks. The same trial did not show clear superiority over standard triamcinolone on its prespecified daily-pain comparisons.

6 min read
Before Knee Replacement, More Information Is Not Always Better

Knee

Before Knee Replacement, More Information Is Not Always Better

Good patient education is not measured by page count. In a randomized study, a short, focused decision aid produced better knowledge scores than a much longer program.

6 min read
Partial or Total Knee Replacement? What Patients Value Most

Knee

Partial or Total Knee Replacement? What Patients Value Most

Partial and total knee replacement involve different tradeoffs. A patient-preference study found that complication risk and the chance of another operation mattered more than any single promised benefit.

6 min read
Knee Injections Before Replacement: Timing Matters

Knee

Knee Injections Before Replacement: Timing Matters

A large JBJS study linked steroid and gel injections within three months of knee replacement to higher infection risk. Here is what patients should know.

7 min read
Related:Total Knee ReplacementPRP Injections for Knee

Orthobiologics

PRP, bone marrow aspirate, amniotic products, and peptide therapies — evidence, preparation, and what patients should know

14 articles
Amniotic and Umbilical Products: Evidence and Regulatory Questions

Orthobiologics

Amniotic and Umbilical Products: Evidence and Regulatory Questions

Amniotic, umbilical-cord, and Wharton's jelly products are marketed for orthopedic use, but they are not FDA-approved for these conditions. This article reviews the evidence and the regulatory landscape patients should understand.

5 min read
Bone Marrow Aspirate Procedures: What Patients Should Know

Orthobiologics

Bone Marrow Aspirate Procedures: What Patients Should Know

Bone marrow aspirate procedures are performed in an operating-room setting for carefully selected patients. This article explains what the procedure involves, what the evidence shows, and what patients should realistically expect.

5 min read
BPC-157 and Musculoskeletal Healing: Animal Research Versus Human Evidence

Orthobiologics

BPC-157 and Musculoskeletal Healing: Animal Research Versus Human Evidence

BPC-157 has shown effects in animal studies, but human clinical trial data is limited. This article reviews what the preclinical evidence shows, what is missing, and what the FDA has said about this compound.

4 min read
How Compounded Peptides Differ From FDA-Approved Medications

Orthobiologics

How Compounded Peptides Differ From FDA-Approved Medications

Compounded peptides are not FDA-approved medications. This article explains the regulatory differences, what compounding means, and what patients should understand about quality, safety, and oversight before receiving a compounded peptide.

5 min read
How SELPHYL PRP Is Prepared

Orthobiologics

How SELPHYL PRP Is Prepared

The SELPHYL system uses a closed, standardized process to produce leukocyte-poor PRFM from a relatively small blood draw. This article explains the preparation steps, what makes the system distinctive, and what patients can expect.

4 min read
Is One PRP Injection Enough?

Orthobiologics

Is One PRP Injection Enough?

Many patients are treated with a single PRP procedure. This article explains how the number of treatments is determined and what the evidence shows about single versus repeat injections for knee osteoarthritis and tendon disorders.

4 min read
PRP for Hip Pain: Diagnosis and Injection Accuracy Matter

Orthobiologics

PRP for Hip Pain: Diagnosis and Injection Accuracy Matter

Hip pain has multiple causes, and accurate diagnosis is essential before PRP is considered. This article explains why diagnosis and injection technique are particularly important for hip-region PRP, and what the evidence shows.

4 min read
PRP for Knee Osteoarthritis: What the Evidence Shows

Orthobiologics

PRP for Knee Osteoarthritis: What the Evidence Shows

PRP has been studied more extensively for knee osteoarthritis than for most other orthopedic conditions. This article reviews the current evidence, including what it supports, where it falls short, and what professional societies recommend.

4 min read
PRP for Rotator Cuff and Shoulder Conditions

Orthobiologics

PRP for Rotator Cuff and Shoulder Conditions

PRP has been studied for rotator cuff tears, tendinopathy, and shoulder osteoarthritis. This article reviews the evidence and explains which patients may be appropriate candidates for evaluation.

4 min read
PRP for Tendon Injuries: Where the Evidence Is Strongest

Orthobiologics

PRP for Tendon Injuries: Where the Evidence Is Strongest

Tendon disorders represent one of the more studied applications for PRP. This article reviews the evidence for lateral epicondylitis, patellar tendinopathy, Achilles tendinopathy, and plantar fasciitis — including where results are inconsistent.

4 min read
PRP Risks, Recovery, and Activity Restrictions

Orthobiologics

PRP Risks, Recovery, and Activity Restrictions

PRP is generally well tolerated, but patients should understand the expected post-injection response, potential risks, and typical activity restrictions before proceeding. This article explains what to expect.

5 min read
TB-500 and Thymosin Peptides: Claims, Evidence, and Safety

Orthobiologics

TB-500 and Thymosin Peptides: Claims, Evidence, and Safety

TB-500 is a synthetic peptide derived from thymosin beta-4. This article reviews the claims made about TB-500, what the evidence actually shows, the FDA\'s concerns, and what patients should understand before considering this compound.

4 min read
What Are Peptide Therapies?

Orthobiologics

What Are Peptide Therapies?

Peptide therapies are a broad category of compounds being studied and used in various medical contexts. This article explains what peptides are, how they differ from FDA-approved medications, and what patients should understand about the current evidence and regulatory landscape.

4 min read
Treatment: Peptide Services
What Is Leukocyte-Poor PRP?

Orthobiologics

What Is Leukocyte-Poor PRP?

Leukocyte-poor PRP minimizes white blood cell content in the preparation. This article explains what that means, why it matters, and how it compares to leukocyte-rich PRP in the clinical literature.

4 min read
Related:PRP Injections (SELPHYL PRFM)Bone Marrow Aspirate (BMAC)Amniotic & Umbilical ProductsPeptide Services

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