When Dana White was a 21 year old, living in Boston, he got jumped by guys from Charlestown, and got the shit beat out of him. In particular, his left ear sustained massive amounts of damage via punches, which led to permanent hearing loss in that ear.
Later in life, that ear damage turned into Meniere’s disease. If a bout of Meniere’s hit, Dana could find himself out of action for an entire day; dealing with dizziness and nausea. Hear the full story of how he got the problem here.
Dana had to put up with the symptoms of Menieres for many years before he was able to get treatment.
He even had an unsuccessful ear surgery in 2013 (link), where an LA clinic cut the nerve in his ear.
Dana White recovering after his unsuccessful surgery in 2013
Eventually he heard about an experimental treatment in Germany called Orthokine (often called Regenokine in the USA – the two names refer to the same treatment).
Two sports stars, A-Rod of the Yankees, and Kobe Bryant both used it successfully to overcome chronic injuries. A-Rod actually called Dana up and encouraged him to try it.
Amazingly, the orthokine treatment worked, and Dana’s Meniere’s no longer bothers him.
Orthokine works by treating the inflammation in an injured area. It’s similar to a treatment called platelet-rich plasma (PRP).
Image via the Regenexx blog – showing differences between orthokine and PRP treatment.
Key differences between the two treatments are:
- Orthokine uses serum, whereas PRP uses the platelets
- Orthokine heats the blood to increase the amount of anti-inflammatory proteins.
Where to get Regenokine?
The brains behind regenokine is Dr Peter Wehling, who treats out of his clinic in Dusseldorf, Germany. I’ve linked to the English version of their website.
Dr Wehling has also licensed the treatment out to a clinic in New York called Schottenstein Pain & Neuro.
In addition, there is a Dr Chris Renna of Lifespan Medicine who also offers Regenokine. With premises in Santa Monica, California and Dallas Texas.
Dr Wehling in his office – image curtousy of New York Times article.
Orthokine costs around €6,000 ($7,400) as of 2012 – which puts it out of financial reach for many people. However for something as debilitating as Meniere’s; its likely a price worth paying.
Regenokine did help my Meniere’s for about a year then the symptoms returned worse than before. Regenokine is a treatment not a cure.
The team in Dusseldorf are wonderful especially Dr. Hartmann.
Hi Judith, thanks for your message, and for helping to provide clarity to readers.
What has been your approach since the Meniere’s returned; do you plan to do a second treatment of regenokine?
Hi, they don’t offer this treatment for menieres to the general public. Dana got it because he is a celebrity. I’ve call both dr wehler and dr renna’s office and been rejected. If something to that effect has changed please let me know.
Hi, thanks for the feedback on that. I actually heard from a friend whose mother got this treatment done in New York, to help with meniere’s disease. So it sounds like it’s at least possible there.
Is this available in Australia?
Certainly there are some potential options when you plug in “regenokine australia” or “orthokine australia” into Google. But you’ll need to dig a bit further to figure out if they’re legitimate or not. You could also try contacting CeMOR Clinic in Dusseldorf (Dr Wheling’s clinic) to see if they have any contacts in Australia who can help.
Hi is there any treatment like his in the u.s? Im 32 and just got diagnosed with this awful condition.. I don’t think i can fly to Germany…
Hi, sorry to hear that. There’s mention of a few US options in the blog post already.
I have had tinnitus in both ears for close to 20 years now and simply block it out but about 15 years ago I developed Meuniers Disease in my right ear, nausea, throwing up, the whole bit. I was given all kinds of meds but nothing really helped. I could not drive thru tunnels, period! Then, one day two years later I lost all hearing in the right ear but all symptoms of Meuniers disappeared. I use a hearing aid in the good ear occasionally and if only my wife spoke more clearly, I would be ok, ha, ha.
Hey Claus, thanks for your message. That’s pretty interesting, and suggests to me that this idea of Menieres being an issue of “damage” to the ear carries some logic. For example with you, it appears the damage started with the menieres, and then progressed to hearing loss. Of course this is anecdotal.
Have you looked into orthokine/regenokine in case it would help?
Have had Ménière’s for about 4 years now.lost hearing in my right ear and had a cochlear implant and now can hear from the implant.but I have bouts with vertigo and the rest of the discomforts of this disease including tinnitis 24/7 in the ear with the implant but is barely noticeable since the operation but the other ear is come and go,also use a hearing aid in that ear as I have lost about 60% .would like info on your operation.
Hi Louie, for more information you’ll need to contact the clinics directly.
hi ,how can i book the regenokine treatment for my mineires in Dusseldorf,? im from Australia but willing to travel to Germany to get the treatment, how did you contact the clinic? and did they agree to do the treatment for mineires? as i heard they dont like to do it for minieres,and how much did it cost?
Hi. The clinic’s website has both a contact number and a email address, that should be your first port of call.
Hi Lina, did you have any success in either finding a provider or with the treatment?
I’m desperate to send my dad to this clinic in Germany his Meniere disease is really bad and his virtigo is at its worst. We live in England and would travel to Germany tomorrow if we could get an appointment.
The website is in German with no English option any ideas how I could get him booked in?
Hi Teneill. Sorry to hear about your father, I hope he’s able to get some good help with this. See http://cemor.clinic/peter-wehling/ for their website details in English. I’m sure if you give them a call they will be able to provide all the info you need. Of course, no guarantee it will work, but absolutely worth exploring.
I had the Regenokine treatment for my Meniere’s in Dusseldorf with Dr. Jens Hartmann a wonderful doctor however my remission only lasted 14 months before my vertigo returned full force. We really haven’t heard any recent statements from Dana White about his remmision.
Hi, thanks for your comment, and sharing your experience with Regenokine. That’s interesting that you achieved remission, but then the symptoms came back. Did you get a chance to discuss this with Jens or the clinic? Did they have any recommendations for you about where to go from here? Can imagine that’s very frustrating.
Hi , I have had MD for 3 years straight. I have been through all meds and nothing works. I see you have tried the Regenkine treatment but it only lasted 14 months? what have you done since it came back? I am in terrible condition, I am losing my business and ruining my family . I am need help.
Hi Andy. Have you tried contacting the clinic where you had regenokine previously. If it worked for 14 months, it sounds like it may be worth repeating. Essentially the therapy helps your body heal the ear, and it’s certainly imaginable that further healing may be needed. Beyond that, I don’t have further suggestions. I wish you the best and hope that you’re able to find a solution.