posted by GKatz_ATC 8d ago

How do I bring up peptide therapy with my surgeon?

Had a few guys on the team asking about running BPC-157 or TB-500 during post-op recovery and I want to help them loop their surgeons in the right way instead of just going around them. Curious how this conversation has actually gone for people here. What's worked when bringing it up to a surgical team versus what just gets brushed off? Has anyone dealt with a surgeon who engaged once shown research versus one who shut it down cold? Trying to build a better script for my guys before their follow ups.

Twenty plus years keeping athletes on the ice.

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ELee_DPTMaryland, Washington D.C. metro area10 points7d ago

Most orthopedic surgeons I know will engage if you bring actual literature and don't act shady about it. The ones who shut it down cold usually don't even ask what the protocol is, they just hear the word peptide and check out.

Lost my career to a knee. Now I fix them.

LBenz_PTLouisville, Kentucky9 points7d ago

Framing matters more than the compound itself.

Humanize the rehab process.

MDrake_DPTBaltimore, Maryland5 points7d ago

There's a 2025 systematic review on BPC-157 in the Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine that's a good anchor point for these talks. It's mainstream, peer reviewed, and summarizes the preclinical mechanism work without reading like a forum post. Surgeons respect seeing something from their own literature base.

Neuro rehab nerd, clinical educator.

GKatz_ATCMid-Atlantic region8 points7d ago

That's helpful, is that review specific to tendon and ligament healing or more general soft tissue stuff?

Twenty plus years keeping athletes on the ice.

NOuta_ResearchKenya2 points7d ago

Mostly preclinical and animal data from what I recall, worth being upfront about that when presenting it. A surgeon asking for human trial data isn't being difficult, that's a fair question.

Science is only useful if people can use it.

BCole_FSTHouston, Texas5 points7d ago

Patients who feel like partners stick with plans better.

Move well first. Everything else follows.

ELee_DPTMaryland, Washington D.C. metro area2 points7d ago

Human data or not, I've had surgeons dismiss it without reading the abstract. That's not the same thing as a surgeon with a real specific concern.

Lost my career to a knee. Now I fix them.

DrSempeposBerkeley Heights, NJ1 points7d ago

A lot of the anxiety people carry into that appointment isn't really about the compound, it's about feeling judged. Framing it as curiosity instead of confession changes the whole tone of the conversation.

Mind and body, same system.

CKmiec_LALos Angeles, California2 points7d ago

This. Nobody needs to apologize for asking questions.

Technique first, load second.

GKatz_ATCMid-Atlantic region2 points7d ago

Good point. How do you tell the difference in the moment between a surgeon who's just unfamiliar versus one who's actually against it for a real reason?

Twenty plus years keeping athletes on the ice.

LBenz_PTLouisville, Kentucky4 points7d ago

Watch whether they ask you anything back. 'I haven't used that, let me look into it' is a completely different energy than a flat no with zero follow up questions. First one is engagement, second one is just a wall.

Humanize the rehab process.

MDrake_DPTBaltimore, Maryland4 points7d ago

If your surgeon says no, push for why. Bleeding risk, cancer history, or interactions with post-op meds are legit reasons to hold off.

Neuro rehab nerd, clinical educator.

NOuta_ResearchKenya2 points7d ago

Ask for the reasoning every time, vague answers aren't good enough.

Science is only useful if people can use it.

ELee_DPTMaryland, Washington D.C. metro area4 points7d ago

Second opinion exists for a reason.

Lost my career to a knee. Now I fix them.

BCole_FSTHouston, Texas1 points7d ago

Don't go behind their back though, breaks trust fast.

Move well first. Everything else follows.

DrSempeposBerkeley Heights, NJ1 points7d ago

Also worth naming, if a surgeon dismisses you outright it can feel like a bigger rejection than it is, especially post op when people already feel fragile about their own body. Doesn't mean the peptide conversation failed, just means that particular door is closed for now.

Mind and body, same system.

GKatz_ATCMid-Atlantic region6 points7d ago

Talked to one of my guys' surgeon today, she hadn't heard of TB-500 but said she'd read up before the next visit. Better than I expected honestly.

Twenty plus years keeping athletes on the ice.

CKmiec_LALos Angeles, California6 points7d ago

That's a good sign, better than a flat no.

Technique first, load second.

LBenz_PTLouisville, Kentucky6 points7d ago

That's the realistic best case outcome. Most surgeons walking in aren't going to be experts on this, but a willingness to look into it says a lot about how they'll handle the rest of your recovery too.

Humanize the rehab process.

GKatz_ATCMid-Atlantic region1 points7d ago

Appreciate the input everyone, gives me a better script for these conversations going forward.

Twenty plus years keeping athletes on the ice.