Healing Joints and Nerves Immune Stimulation and the New Science of Regenerative Therapies Dr. Thomas E. Buchheit

I chose to study the book Healing Joints and Nerves Immune Stimulation and the New Science of Regenerative Therapies by Dr. Thomas E. Buchheit for very personal reasons. A few years back, I experienced problems with my knee that were impossible to ignore. It would lock unexpectedly, sometimes refusing to bend the way it should, and each episode left me feeling frustrated and concerned. Because my job requires me to go up and down steps throughout the day, the pain quickly became more than an inconvenience and began to affect my ability to work and live comfortably.

Beyond work, my knee pain also interfered with something I deeply enjoy - hiking. Spending time on the trails has always been a source of peace, exercise, and connection with nature for me. As my knee issues worsened, even simple hikes became challenging, and I found myself worrying whether I would be able to continue doing something that brings me so much joy.

I first visited my family doctor, who recommended NSAIDs and referred me to an orthopedic surgeon. During my initial consultations, we tried steroid injections. Although they provided temporary relief, the effects were short-lived, making it clear that a more lasting solution was necessary. I ultimately underwent knee surgery, during which the surgeon cleaned up damaged cartilage. After a period of recovery and physical therapy, I was able to return to work, hopeful that the worst was behind me.

During one of my appointments, the conversation took a turn I wasn’t prepared for. The surgeon began discussing osteoarthritis. In this book, Dr. Buchheit clarifies that osteoarthritis pain does not come from one source alone, but from the structures in and around the joint—the bones, ligaments, and tendons—all working under stress. He reviews the immunological foundations of pain relief after injury, and explains how regenerative therapies, nutrition, and exercise can activate the body’s own repair systems to relieve arthritis and nerve pain. 

I enjoyed the discussion of older therapies, and the book includes plenty of detailed diagrams, graphs, and images that helped clarify the text. The index in the back was also a big plus, making it easy to quickly find specific information. 

I received a copy of this book from  Catherine Kennedy.

About the Author

Dr. Thomas E. Buchheit earned his undergraduate degree from Wake Forest University. He attended medical school at Emory University.  After medical school, he completed his residency in anesthesia and perioperative medicine at the University of California, San Francisco, before returning to North Carolina for a fellowship in interventional pain management at Wake Forest.

After completing his fellowship, Dr. Buchheit joined a practice in Raleigh, NC, where he focused on joint and spine interventions. In 2010, he moved his practice to Duke University, where he held several roles, including Chief of Pain Medicine within the Department of Anesthesiology.

In addition to his clinical practice and research, Dr. Buchheit teaches national courses on regenerative therapies, ultrasound diagnostics, and the treatment of musculoskeletal disorders. Dr. Buchheit is one of the few physicians in the United States offering the Regenokine® Program.