IROSM Offers Patient Guide on the Arthritis Treatment Gap Ahead of World Arthritis Day

The Fort Lauderdale practice is making its patient guide, The Healing Code, and a physician video available ahead of World Arthritis Day on October 12, for arthritis patients who fall between standard treatment and joint replacement surgery.

Fort Lauderdale, FL, September 19, 2026 -- The Institute of Regenerative Orthopedics & Sports Medicine (IROSM) is offering its patient guide, "The Healing Code: Your Guide to Regenerative Orthopedics," from its website ahead of World Arthritis Day on October 12, together with a video in which Dr. Jorge Gonzalez explains the "treatment gap" facing arthritis patients. The gap refers to patients who have exhausted conservative non-surgical treatments for osteoarthritis, such as physical therapy, medications, weight management, and corticosteroid injections, but are not yet suitable candidates for joint replacement surgery due to age, lifestyle, or occupational demands.

Arthritis affects an estimated 53.2 million adults in the United States, including an estimated 5.17 million adults in Florida, according to the Arthritis Foundation. Osteoarthritis, the most common form, develops gradually, causing joint pain, stiffness, swelling, and progressive loss of mobility.

Dr. Jorge Gonzalez, a triple board-certified physician at IROSM in Fort Lauderdale, notes that this gap is widely recognized among orthopedic specialists. In his clinical practice, Dr. Gonzalez sees a treatment gap daily among patients with moderate disease progression.

Standard conservative care manages symptoms effectively for many patients. However, when these options lose effectiveness, joint replacement surgery is typically recommended next. While joint replacements are highly successful, artificial joints generally last 10 to 15 years. For middle-aged patients, active professionals, or individuals unable to take extended time off work, undergoing joint replacement too early presents a major dilemma, as it significantly increases the likelihood of complex revision surgeries later in life.

"These are active individuals who have completed every standard non-surgical option, medications, physical therapy, weight loss, and injections, yet continue to live with pain and limited function," said Dr. Gonzalez. "Because of their age or active lifestyle, joint replacement isn't an ideal immediate answer. Without an intermediate step, these patients are often left relying on stronger pain medications, restricting their daily activities, or simply enduring chronic pain."

Dr. Gonzalez explains that orthobiologic treatments, including platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and autologous stem cell therapies prepared in IROSM's on-site laboratory, are increasingly utilized to bridge this gap. Under U.S. regulatory guidelines, these treatments strictly utilize the patient's own biological material rather than donor tissues.

"It is vital for patients to understand that orthobiologic injections do not cure or reverse arthritis," said Dr. Gonzalez. "However, for appropriately selected candidates, these therapies can meaningfully reduce pain and restore joint function for extended periods with a favorable safety profile, since they use the patient's own cells. It creates a viable bridge to maintain quality of life until they're ready for a joint replacement."

Dr. Gonzalez discusses the treatment gap and patient selection criteria in detail in a video available on IROSM's website.

Arthritis-related pain isn't limited to the knees and hips. At IROSM, neck and lower back pain associated with arthritis is addressed separately by Dr. Michael Erdman, a fellowship-trained interventional pain and spine specialist who treats patients using minimally invasive, image-guided procedures, including epidural injections and radiofrequency ablation.

The orthopedic treatment gap refers to the clinical period when a patient no longer responds to conservative treatments, such as physical therapy, medications, and standard injections, but is not yet a candidate for joint replacement surgery, and while PRP and autologous stem cell therapy do not cure osteoarthritis or rebuild lost cartilage, they can significantly reduce pain and improve mobility for qualifying patients. Candidacy for orthobiologic care is determined through a comprehensive diagnostic evaluation of the patient's joint structure, medical history, and functional goals.

IROSM, with locations in Fort Lauderdale and Hialeah, serves patients across South Florida with advanced, image-guided, non-surgical treatment options.

This release is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Individual results vary. Patients should consult a physician to evaluate appropriate treatment options.

About IROSM

The Institute of Regenerative Orthopedics & Sports Medicine (IROSM) is a South Florida practice led by triple board-certified physician Dr. Jorge Gonzalez and fellowship-trained interventional pain and spine specialist Dr. Michael Erdman. IROSM specializes in non-surgical and regenerative treatment options for complex musculoskeletal conditions, including joint, spine, and sports-related pain.

Contact Info:
Name: Dr. Jorge Gonzalez
Email: Send Email
Organization: Institute of Regenerative Orthopedics & Sports Medicine
Website: https://irosm.com

Release ID: 89203744

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