Prolotherapy: Non-surgical Solution to Chronic Pain and Injured Joints

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Prolotherapy: Non-surgical Solution to Chronic Pain and Injured Joints

_http://www.totalwellnessmed.com/articles/article/5084167/95195.htm_

(http://www.totalwellnessmed.com/articles/article/5084167/95195.htm)

 

27 Jan 2008

By Dr. Ayo Bankole

 

Prolotherapy is a non-surgical, medication free solution to pain. In

prolotherapy, stretched or torn tendons and ligaments are treated with

pro-inflammatory agents like dextrose and glucosamine over several weeks time,

resulting

in loss of pain and the return of normal function to the area treated.1

Pain is the single most common reason why patients visit their doctor.

Musculoskeletal pain is the most common type of pain and is conventionally

treated with pain medications and surgery; overlooking a well documented and

amazingly effective treatment called prolotherapy. Prolotherapy, also known

as

regenerative injection therapy (RIT) was first performed as early as the

1930’

s. The earliest contemporary pioneer of the art was George S. Hackett, M.D.

who developed much of its methodology through the 1950’s2. From its humble

beginnings, prolotherapy is now practiced across the nation and worldwide by

hundreds of alternative medicine minded physicians.

 

Definition of Prolotherapy

Prolotherapy is the restoration of painful, injured and arthritic joints by

injections that stimulate healing via the wound healing cascade. The

injections stimulate blood flow and cause a low grade inflammation resulting in

the

release of growth factors which activate collagen. The collagen then

deposits cells called fibroblasts, giving new strength to the area. What

results is

a stronger, thicker and tighter ligament and joint. This is the same

general healing cascade that occurs in response to any injury and is necessary

to

return any injured tissue back to function.

 

Research and Rationale

K. Dean Reeves, M.D., chief of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at

Bethany Medical Center in Kansas City is the foremost proponent of prolotherapy

and author of several contemporary clinical studies on the subject. He

concludes that the inflammatory proliferent injections for chronic low back

pain

according to research, resulted in significant improvement in pain and

decreased disability in two randomized, double-blind studies and that “direct

exposure of fibroblast to growth factors causes new cell growth and collagen

depostition.3â€

 

Why Old Injuries Still Hurt

Anatomically, the distribution of blood vessels to ligaments and tendons is

sparse. In the event of a joint injury such as chronic overuse or an acute

traumatic sprain or strain the naturally limited blood flow dampens the

healing cascade. After an injury, growth factors are present only for a few

days.

3 The healing cascade is also dampened by non-steroidal anti-inflammatory

drugs, steroids and even ice. If healing is not complete, ligaments and

tendons

will remain loose, weak, and painful. This often contributes to cartilage

degeneration or arthritis, which causes more pain. Reeves, states “without

further stimulation of growth factors, sufficient repair cannot take place.â€3

 

 

The Benefits of Prolotherapy

The treatments are helpful not only for chronic joint pain but for acute

joint pain and injuries as well. Conditions treated include sprains and

strains,

tendonitis, tendonosis, arthritis, low back pain, tennis elbow, carpal

tunnel syndrome, sciatic and others. Prolotherapy is proven to decrease or

eliminate pain and improve joint function and to allow a return to previous

activity. Prolotherapy gives individuals the opportunity to no longer rely of

pain

medications. Prolotherapy is beneficial to both young and older adults and

athletes.

 

How many treatments do I need?

The number of treatments is determined by the extent of the injury, the

complexity of the joint, the area being treated, and the age and health of the

patient. Simple joints with less injury need as few as two or three

treatments while joints more significantly affected by injury or degeneration,

or

those anatomically more complex such as the back may require six or more

treatments. Lastly, patients in a poorer state of health or those with

unhealthy

habits such as smoking require more treatments than those who are healthier.

Treatments are spaced at four to six week intervals.

 

Dr. Ayo Bankole has received advanced training in prolotherapy and is a

member of the Naturopathic Academy of Therapeutic Injection

_www.injectiontx.org_

(http://www.injectiontx.org/) and the American Association of Naturopathic

Physicians _www.naturopathic.org_ (http://www.naturopathic.org/) . He uses

prolotherapy to treat pain conditions of the back, hips, knees, feet,

shoulders, elbows, and hands. To learn if prolotherapy is right for you call

our

office at 951.801.2302 for a free consultation. Additional reading can be

found

at www.prolotherapy.org.

 

References:

1. Banks, A. A Rationale for Prolotherapy

2. Hackett G, Hemwall, Montgomery, G. Ligament and Tendon Relaxation

treated by Prolotherapy

3. Reeves, K. Prolotherapy: Basic Science, Clinical Studies, and

Technique