Prolotherapy

[frec]

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Prolotherapy is little-known treatment for joint problems due to osteoarthritis or injured ligaments or tendons. The doctor uses injections to encourage an immune response from your body to rebuild the cartilage and strengthen the ligaments/tendons. It usually takes more than one treatment. The bad part is sometimes it is not covered by insurance. The good side is it does not cause long term side effects like steroid/epidural shots which can, if used repeatedly, cause the joint to further deteriorate.

I've been doing prolotherapy shots for the last year for my lower back (lax ligaments and unstable pelvis) and injured ribs. Both areas have really improved. I can sit for several hours. I can travel again. I am not taking any pain meds or using my TENS unit. So many people on this forum mention painful joints that I thought it might be useful to mention prolotherapy here. There is a website above but if you google prolotherapy there are lots of references.

I think it is better if you get shots from a doctor who uses an X ray scanner (can't remember the name of the machine) to visualize the joint as it is injected.

[Sweetfudge]

I love prolo! I work for a TMJ specialist, and I get prolotherapy whenever I have really bad migraine episodes! It works wonders!

[mushroom]

Prolotherapy gave me back my life (as I had once known it). As a result of a head-on accident where I had my right foot jammed on the brake, I stretched out or tore loose all the ligaments in my right foot and ankle, the attachments for my fibula (top and bottom), and my sacroiliac. I had many treatments, some by a doctor who was pretty much hit or miss, and many by an orthopedist (as opposed to an orthopedic surgeon),who had a better knowledge, although he did not have the scanner. This must be a new technique. Now my fibula stays in place,the bones in my foot stay in place, my sacroiliac is fine except if I try to ride a bicycle, and I no longer sprain my ankle all the time. I just wish now I could find a prolotherapist here so that I could get my thoracic facet ligaments to do their job. I, too, love prolo, although my PCP looked at it somewhat askance.

And no, even though I had good insurance, it was not covered.

[georgie]

I love Prolo! I had 8 sessions of Prolo five years ago and have hardly had any back pain since. Previously I needed two walking sticks to get around for an hour every morning. I used to cry just getting out of bed.... Not now ... no pain meds ...nothing.... A Dr did mine and he told me I was not far away from needing back surgery. I have at least one prolapsed disc and multiple vertebrae fractures and calcification.

I tripped and hurt my knee recently and am about to go back for some more...