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WHAT
IS PROLOTHERAPY?
ALVIN
STEIN, M.D.
Prolotherapy is also
known as non-surgical ligament reconstruction, and is a permanent treatment
for chronic pain. Prolotherapy is derived from the Latin word "proli"
which means to regenerate or rebuild.
It is important to
understand what the word PROLOTHERAPY itself means. "Prolo" is short
for proliferation, because the treatment causes the proliferation (growth,
formation) of new ligament tissue in areas where it has become weak.
Ligaments are the
structural "rubber bands" that hold bones to bones in joints -
acting like the body's shock absorbers. Ligaments can become weak or injured
and may not heal back to their original strength or endurance. Ligaments also
will not tighten on their own to their original length once injured. This is
largely because the blood supply to ligaments is limited, and therefore
healing is slow and not always complete. To further complicate this, ligaments
also have many nerve endings and therefore the person will feel pain at the
areas where the ligaments are damaged or loose.
Prolotherapy uses a
sugar-based solution that is injected into the ligament or tendon where it
attaches to the bone. This causes a localized inflammation in these weak
areas, which then increases the blood supply and flow of nutrients and
stimulates the tissue to repair itself, strengthening and tightening and
thereby stabilizing the area.
The response to
treatment varies from individual to individual, and depends upon one's healing
ability. Some people may only need a few treatments while others may need 30
or more. The best thing to do is get an evaluation by a trained physician in
your area. Once you begin treatment, your doctor can tell better how you are
responding and give you an accurate estimate.
List of Conditions
that can be treated using Prolotherapy
Chronic Pain
resulting from injuries to the ligaments and tendons of the appendicular
skeleton has been well recognized. However, soft-tissue injuries to the
ligaments, tendons and fascia of the lower back have been largely ignored as a
potential source of chronic back pain. Prolotherapy, is a
collagen-strengthening injection technique that targets the soft tissues of
the lower back.
The treatment is
excellent for many different types of musculoskeletal pain, including:
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Arthritis
Back pain
Neck pain
Fibromyalgia
Sports injuries
Unresolved Whiplash
Carpal Tunnel syndrome
Torn Tendons, Ligaments and Cartilage
Degenerated or Herniated discs
TMJ
Sciatica
Barre-Lieou syndrome
Cluster Headache |
Deep
Aching
Degenerative Disc Disease
Disc Herniation
Heel Spurs
Knee Injuries
Migraine Headaches
Multiple Sclerosis
Muscular Dystrophy
Osteoporosis
Polio
Rotator Cuff Tears
Tennis Elbow |
How was
Prolotherapy Developed?
Historical review
shows that a version of this technique was first used by Hippocrates on
soldiers with dislocated, torn shoulder joints. He would stick a hot poker
into the front of the joint, and it would then miraculously heal normally. Of
course, we don't use hot pokers today, but the principle is essentially the
same - get the body to repair itself, an innate ability that the body has.
The injection of
sclerosing agents first began in the 1830's, when potent chemical irritants
were used to treat hernias non-surgically. Prolotherapy in its most current
form has been used for over 40 years and is currently used at 5 University
centers.
How it Works
Prolotherapy uses
sugar based solutions, which are injected into the ligament or tendon where it
attaches to the bone. This causes a localized inflammation in these weak
areas, which then increases the blood supply and flow of nutrients and
stimulates the tissue to repair itself.
The area where the
ligament attaches to the bone or other structures is injected with a
proliferant. Normally 15% Dextrose (sugar) mixed with Lidocaine, a local
anesthetic. The proliferant solution causes a local reaction or inflammation.
The body reacts by laying down collagen that in turn becomes new ligament or
tendon tissue. We apply local anesthetics to numb the area to reduce the
discomfort of the procedure. The patient may be a little sore for a day or so,
but this usually goes away. The injection process is repeated every 2-3 weeks.
Patients should not expect results for about 6 weeks. After that the patient
will notice the pain level diminishing. The good thing about prolotherapy is
that the results are more of a permanent nature. You may need a
"booster" injection every year or so after the initial series. If
prolotherapy is administered correctly by a trained medical practitioner and
the patient is chosen well, there is a 75% chance for the chronic pain
sufferer to becoming pain free and for most people to have significantly less
pain.
Introduction to Prolotherapy
Why Get Prolotherapy? Donna Alderman, D.O.
What is Prolotherapy?
Alvin
Stein, M.D.
Introduction to Prolotherapy
Ross
Hauser, M.D.
How
Safe Is Prolotherapy? Ross
Hauser, M.D.
The
Importance of an Experienced Prolotherapist Ross
Hauser, M.D.
Non-Surgical
Tendon, Ligament and Joint Reconstruction William J. Faber, D.O.
How Does Prolotherapy Work? Marc
Darrow, M.D.
When Prolotherapy May Not Work David Harris, M.D.
Twenty
Common Questions About Prolotherapy
David
Harris, M.D.
The History of Prolotherapy Ross
Hauser, M.D.
Curing Chronic Pain with Prolotherapy Scott
Greenberg, M.D.
Why So Many Turn To Prolotherapy
David Harris, M.D.
Prolotherapy
and Chronic Pain Ross Hauser, M.D.
Peripheral Joints
& Prolotherapy
Jay W. Nielsen, M.D.
Orthopedic Medicine: A
Non-Surgical Approach to Chronic Pain Lawrence
Cohen, M.D.
The Difference
Between Prolotherapy, Trigger Points, and Acupuncture Marc Darrow,
M.D.J.D.
Prolotherapy: Creating
Inflammation in an Area that is Already Inflamed Marc Darrow,
M.D.J.D.
Growth Factor Basis of
Prolotherapy
David Harris, M.D.
What
Does It Take To Heal Connective Tissue?
Dave
Harris, M.D.
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