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Introduction
to Prolotherapy Articles
Prolotherapy is an injection technique that has been shown to cause proliferation (growth) of cells and tissue to stabilize and strengthen weakened joints,
cartilage,
ligaments
and tendons. The injected solution intentionally causes controlled irritation in the injected tissue. This irritation is an
inflammatory response, which increases the blood supply and thereby stimulates the tissue to heal and regrow new tissue.
What
is Prolotherapy-Indications and Contraindications
K.
Dean Reeves, M.D.
Prolotherapy is injection of any substance that acts as a ‘growth
factor,’ that is, which promotes growth of normal cells, tissues, or
organs. Injection of the hormone, erythropoietin, to produce red blood
cells is widely used, and a number of other substances have been used
for treatment of patients with various medical disorders. This
discussion focuses on prolotherapy for musculoskeletal disorders,
including arthritis and back pain.
Why Get Prolotherapy?
Donna Alderman, D.O.
When you become a physician, you take the Hippocratic Oath. The first
rule of the Hippocratic Oath is "First of all, do no harm." This is why
Prolotherapy appealed to me as a physician. I was a doctor at a famous
HMO. After learning Prolotherapy, however, I went into private practice.
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.
10 Tips to Determine if
You Are A Good Prolotherapy Candidate
Ross Hauser, M.D.
Pain simply put is just the body’s
response telling you that you have some tissue that is breaking down.
The same thing happens to an athlete who is in the heat of competition.
When the muscles start hurting, it is just a sign that you are working
really hard. It also reveals that tissue is breaking down, which is
especially important to those who are athletes. The goal of Prolotherapy
is to build the tissue back up.
Non-Surgical
Tendon, Ligament and Joint Reconstruction
William J. Faber, D.O.
In acute injuries, the ligaments and tendons become torn. Ligaments
function to limit the range of motion that bones can move between each
other, and function to stabilize joints and hold the joint together.
Tendons function to attach a muscle to bone in order to provide motion.
Discs and cartilage serve to absorb shock and keep the bones from
rubbing against one another. If the ligaments become torn or
over-stretched the joint becomes unstable and resultant friction causes
the discs or cartilage to become worn down causing a loss of height.
How Does Prolotherapy Work?
Marc Darrow,
M.D.
The term "Prolotherapy" is short for "proliferation therapy."
Proliferation, of course, means "rapid production." What Prolotherapy
rapidly produces is collagen and cartilage. Collagen is a naturally
occurring protein in the body that is a necessary element for the
formation of new
connective tissue—the tissues
that holds our skeletal infrastructure together. These tissues include,
tendons, ligaments, muscle fascia and joint capsular tissue.
Introduction to Prolotherapy
Ross Hauser, M.D.
Prolotherapy is a simple, natural technique that stimulates the body to
repair the painful area when the natural healing process needs a little
assistance. Ross Hauser, M.D.
How Safe Is Prolotherapy?
Ross Hauser, M.D.
In now over four decades, no serious side effects from Prolotherapy have
been reported in the medical literature despite millions of Prolotherapy
treatments given.
Prolotherapy is not dangerous,
Prolotherapy cures
chronic pain.
The Importance of an Experienced Prolotherapy doctor
Ross Hauser, M.D.
Because of the numerous calls we receive, we have a good idea, (the
good, the bad, and the ugly) about what is happening with Prolotherapy
around the country. Remember that not all Prolotherapy doctors are created
equal and the proof is some of the things our patients have told us and
what we have heard from other physicians.
When Prolotherapy May Not
Work
David Harris, M.D.
Prolotherapy is effective in markedly reducing or curing musculoskeletal
pain 80-90% of the time. Many end-stage medical problems are worth a
trial of prolotherapy, especially if the only alternative is a
destructive or permanent alteration of a joint, such as a surgical
fusion or the destruction of a nerve. The greater the anatomical injury,
the more difficult it is resolving the problem.
Twenty Common
Questions About Prolotherapy
David Harris, M.D.
The History of Prolotherapy
Ross Hauser, M.D.
The concept of Prolotherapy originated in the
non-surgical treatment of hernias, varicose veins, and hemorrhoids, all
conditions which are due to connective tissue weakness. If the
connective tissue in the veins becomes weakened, hemorrhoids and
varicose veins form. Weakness in the collagen, of course, causes
ligament laxity and tendon degeneration with resultant chronic pain.
Curing Chronic Pain with Prolotherapy
Scott Greenberg, M.D.
Have you ever suffered from chronic musculoskeletal pain? If you
have, you are not alone. Statistically speaking, 75% of Americans will
experience chronic back pain in their lifetime. Unfortunately, a
stressful and active lifestyle may not give our body the chance it
deserves to heal.
Why So Many Turn To
Prolotherapy
David Harris,
M.D.
The conventional model of pain management relies on medications,
such as anti-inflammatory drugs, antidepressants, anti-seizure
medications, opiates such as Vicodin and Codiene, “muscle-relaxant”
medications related to Valium (which actually act as “brain-relaxants”),
and other potentially addictive and risky medications.
Prolotherapy and Chronic
Pain
Ross Hauser, M.D.
It is not a secret that chronic musculoskeletal pain is the number
one cause of chronic disability in North America. Nor is it a secret
that chronic back pain is the leading cause of disability in Americans
under the age of 45. What is a secret is that this rampaging epidemic of
pain can conceivably be eliminated in 80-90% of sufferers.
Peripheral Joints & Prolotherapy
Jay W. Nielsen, 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.
Our bones and muscles are held together by the aptly named connective
tissue. Connective tissues are
ligaments,
which connect bone to bone, and tendons, which connect the bones to
muscles. It is also the fascia covering muscles and the joint capsule
tissue.
Growth Factor Basis of
Prolotherapy
David Harris,
M.D.
For many years, the positive effects of Prolotherapy were thought to be
mainly based on the concept of inflammation and minor damage induced by
the injection of irritating
solutions,
with subsequent healing of the injured areas. The benefit of solutions
containing strong alcohol solutions, ground-up pumice stone, and other
such recipes suggest that this is indeed one of the mechanisms of the
strengthening and healing response seen with Prolotherapy.
What Does
It Take To Heal Connective Tissue?
David Harris,
M.D.
Healing is a complex process. Many chemical reactions occur after an
injury which together fight infection, clear away debris, and rebuild
the damaged structure. Complex interplay occurs between nutrition,
hormones, underlying disease, circulation, neurological connections, and
many other factors. Many patients who do not heal their original
injuries have deficiencies of some of these factors, or may have had
such extensive injury that the result of healing was insufficient.
What Do You Mean The Prolotherapy
Worked, I Still Have Pain!
Ross Hauser, M.D.
A patient came in for
his sixth Prolotherapy visit. The nurse told me the patient didn't feel
much improvement in his
knee pain,
though he had already received five Prolotherapy treatments.
Can Any Research Prove
That Prolotherapy Works?
Ross Hauser, M.D.
Before double-blinded
studies, doctors would ask patients if they felt better. If patient
after patient told the physician they felt better, than it was presumed
and accepted that the therapy was effective. If it was a new therapy,
then it was taught doctor to doctor and eventually it was taught
in medical schools. If this was still the standard upon which medical
therapies were judged, then clearly
Prolotherapy would be
taught in all the medical schools, but it is not. Why not?
What is
the Proof Prolotherapy is Working?
Ross Hauser, M.D.
This is a common question asked by people just about to receive
Prolotherapy for the first time. Typically there are several variables
that are looked at to make sure the
Prolotherapy
is achieving the results the person desires.
The Healing Powers of Prolotherapy
Vladimir Djuric, M.D.
How
Chronic Non-Joint Pain is Helped by Prolotherapy
K. Dean Reeves, M.D.
How
Does Prolotherapy Work?
Mark Wheaton, M.D.
Prolotherapy works on a very simple principle: injecting the
prolotherapy solution at the sites of pain and weakness stimulates the
body's own healing mechanism to repair and rebuild injured tissue into a
stronger, more supportive, less painful tissue than it was before.
How
Prolotherapy Helps
Allen Thomashefsky, MD, PC
Every joint in the body is held together by a ligament. When ligaments
tear (we call this a "sprain") the joint can become unstable, like in a
sprained ankle. When ligaments tear around a vertebrae (i.e.
"whiplash"), the spine becomes unstable. You experience muscle spasm
because the muscles are trying to make up for the weakness in the
spine.
Prolotherapy
Stephen Blievernicht, MD FACS
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