Bjorn Eek M.D.,
Senior Contributor

Dr. Bjorn Eek, M.D. is an orthopedic physician who has been in private practice since 1979. His focus has been non-surgical care of spinal, peripheral joint, and connective tissue disorders.

He graduated from the University of California, Irvine, School of Medicine (UCI) and later completed a residency in Orthopedic Surgery at UCI. He then served in the U.S. Navy as an orthopedic surgeon at Subic Naval Base in the Philippines and Long Beach, CA.

When Dr. Eek entered private practice in 1979, many patients who suffered low back pain due to a degenerative disc disease were presented to him. For most, surgical intervention was not a good option. Rather, reduction of pain and rehabilitation were recommended. Many remained in pain.

Dr. Eek was influenced by the concept of Internal Disc Disruption, which was first brought forth by Henry Crock, an orthopedic surgeon from Australia, in 1970. Dr. Crock believed discogenic pain was caused by internal disruption of the symptomatic disc's normal structural and biochemical integrity. Dr. Eek found Dr. Crock's hypothesis to be a breakthrough in understanding low back pain. Therefore, a new treatment direction for discogenic pain.

Dr. Eek has shown that pain and inflammation can be eased by injecting specific medications into injured discs. The addition of growth factors will further enhance healing.

Connective tissue and joint injuries are common and frequently occur at the fibro-periosteal junction, where connective tissue, tendon, or ligament becomes attached to the bone. When healing is incomplete, pain persists.

Various medications can be injected into the damaged tissue to promote healing. In the future, growth factors will be combined with present-day solutions to stimulate repair and healing further.

Dr. Eek has helped formulate two patents that will aid in healing intervertebral discs and injured connective tissue.

Dr. Eek has co-authored several publications regarding treating the back, joints, and connective tissues.

Dr. Eek is in private practice in association with Orange County Health Center in Lake Forest, CA.