Find out if you're a candidate before you commit to anything.

A PeakMD evaluation is designed for active adults who want a clear, surgeon-led answer about persistent joint or tendon pain. It's usually a good use of your time if one or more of these apply:

• Your knee, tendon, or joint pain has lasted months despite rest, physical therapy, or injections.
• You've been told you need surgery, or that you'll "need it eventually," and you want a second opinion first.
• You've had cortisone or PRP elsewhere that didn't produce a lasting result.
• Pain is limiting your training, your sport, or activities you care about.
• You want to understand your options before making a major decision.

The consultation is a focused 30-minute evaluation with an orthopedic surgeon. It's an evaluation, not a commitment to a procedure. You'll leave with a clear answer: whether you're a candidate, which treatment Dr. Matthewson recommends, and exactly what the program involves. If regenerative care isn't right for your case, he'll tell you that too.

Included:

• Review of all available imaging (X-ray, MRI, ultrasound)
• Physical examination and functional assessment
• A candidacy decision for each available treatment
• A discussion of alternatives, including surgery and conservative care
• Program pricing, if a program is recommended
• A written plan, emailed after your visit

What the evaluation considers: your condition and symptoms, how pain affects what you can do, your imaging, your medical history and recovery capacity, what you've already tried, and your goals.

The consultation is Dr. Matthewson's time and clinical judgment: 30 minutes with an orthopedic surgeon who reviews your imaging and examines you. It isn't a free sales call with a coordinator.

The fee also keeps the visit independent. Dr. Matthewson's recommendation doesn't depend on whether you enroll. Some patients learn they're strong candidates. Others learn that surgery, more conservative care, or a different specialist is the better path. Either way, you leave with a written plan you can act on.

The $350 is credited in full toward your program if you enroll, including BMAC programs. It isn't credited toward a single PRP injection, and it isn't refundable if you decide not to proceed.

The more Dr. Matthewson can review, the more specific your plan will be. Missing records shouldn't stop you from booking.

The right program depends on your situation. The treatment (PRP, BMAC, microfat, or adipose cell therapy) varies from patient to patient, and so does the program structure. A published price list would either be too vague to be useful or would push patients toward a treatment before anyone has looked at their case.

So we discuss pricing openly at your consultation, after Dr. Matthewson has reviewed your imaging and decided on the right approach. You'll know the full cost of the recommended program, and what it includes, before you decide anything.

The consultation is the only way to know for certain. These criteria give you a reasonable indication before you book. If you're not a fit, Dr. Matthewson will tell you directly and point you to a better path.

Generally a good fit:

• Knee arthritis at any stage, wanting to understand options before surgery
• Hip arthritis
• Advanced knee arthritis with bone damage beneath the cartilage (intra-osseous injection may be available)
• Chronic tendon pain that hasn't responded to physical therapy or cortisone
• Active adults who want to continue their sport or physical activity
• Patients told surgery is an option who want to explore alternatives first
• Post-surgical patients with ongoing pain or incomplete recovery
• Willing to commit to a structured program, with realistic expectations

Not a fit (we'll recommend another path):

• End-stage arthritis with significant joint deformity that needs surgical correction
• Active joint infection or an uncontrolled medical condition
• A complete tendon rupture that needs surgical repair
• Looking for a single injection to undo years of damage

This table shows how Dr. Matthewson typically matches programs and treatments to common situations. Your recommendation will be based on your own evaluation.

PRP, BMAC, microfat, and adipose-derived cell therapy for orthopedic conditions aren't covered by U.S. commercial insurers or Medicare. This isn't a billing or coding problem. It's a coverage decision made by insurers.

We provide a detailed receipt for all services. You can submit it to your insurer for possible out-of-network reimbursement, though reimbursement isn't guaranteed.

Program costs and payment options are reviewed with you before treatment is scheduled. Whether you qualify for financing never affects what Dr. Matthewson recommends.