Eddie George was in Vero Beach, Florida, on September 19, 2020, for a medical procedure and discussed the return of Big 10 football. Gannett Staff

VERO BEACH Stem cell and plasma therapy brought a former NFL player to Vero Beach to soothe his ailing knees a few years ago.

Now, he's just looking for a good night's sleep, all because of a nagging shoulder injury. And the same specialists in Vero said they could help him with that, too.

On Saturday, Eddie George, who was a Heisman Trophy winner at Ohio State University and one of the initial stars of the Tennessee Titans, made another trip to Regenerative Biologistics Institute in Vero Beach for treatment. The first time, in July 2018, was to help his knees.

"Walking was a chore,let alone trying to jog," said George, 47, who still lives in the Nashville area.

But now he's walking, swimming and doing enough exercise that he returned to the institute Saturday lighter than he was previously. George said he lost 20 pounds this year.

"My joints have been great," said the now 244-pound, 6-feet-3 former athlete. "I feel a lot better."

Former professional football player Eddie George shares a laugh with regenerative medicine specialists Jason Griffeth (left) and Brett Haake on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2020, as he prepares to receive stem cell and growth factor injections in both knees and right shoulder at Regenerative Biologics Institute in Vero Beach. "What the injections will do is decrease inflammation, decrease pain and increase functionality," said Haake, medical director for the institute. "We're focusing on longevity. We're focusing on optimizing someone's functionality and minimizing their morbidity. We focus on prevention and intervening disease states earlier rather than later." George suffered several injuries during his time playing football.(Photo: PATRICK DOVE/TCPALM)

What doesn't feel better is a shoulder injury he has had since his freshman year with the Ohio State Buckeyes. George chose to have a stem cell injection inhis shoulder Saturday.

"There's a piece missing from my right shoulder socket," George said. "The integrity of the joint there has been compromised. I don't have a lot of flexibility there. When I sleep at night, it gets aggravated and I have to constantly move to get adjusted."

RBI Medical Director Dr. Brett Haake also gave George more injections to his knees Saturday. George had surgery on one of them in March to remove bone spurs.

The institute isat 3755 Seventh Terrace, just north of the Cleveland Clinic Indian River Hospitalin Vero Beach. Clinical director Jason Griffeth said his office uses Regenmax Injection Therapy, which transfers stem cells from a person's abdomen to parts of the body where the patient is feeling pain.

The regenerative abilities of the stem cells repair the injured tissue in areas lacking those cells, said Griffeth, whose office opened in 2016.

"The stem cells areanti-inflammatory and very regenerative," Haake said.

More: SWV star Taj George gets stem cell treatment for knees in Vero Beach

George's R&B star wife, Tamara "Taj" George of the group SWV, also had the procedure done on her knees last year. She said years on stage have damaged her knees, but the stem cell therapy allows her to run now.

"I gained a little bit of weight during this quarantine, but I'm still able to run," she said in a phone call Saturday.

Eddie George is recommending the procedure to other athletes, active or retired.

"This can prolong their careers and their lifestyle after they're done playing," he said.

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In retirement, George runs a wealth management company and will be commenting on college football on ESPN's XM Satellite Radio station a few days a week, he said.

The institute recommends its therapy for arthritis, torn rotator cuffs, meniscus injuries and bursitis.

On the web: rbistemcell.com

More: Miami Dolphins to allow 13,000 fans to home opener vs. Bills at Hard Rock Stadium

LamaurStancilis the Treasure Coast regional economy reporter covering businessand industries, including retail, tourism and hospitality.Contact him at 321-987-7179 orlamaur.stancil@tcpalm.com and follow him at Lamaur Stancil on Facebook and @TCPalmLStancil on Twitter.

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Former NFL star Eddie George returns to Vero Beach for therapy, this time on shoulder - TCPalm