PROLOTHERAPY: THE “MISSING LINK” FOR TREATING PAINFUL CONDITIONS?

By Fred Arnold, DC, NMD

In the evolutionary study of human origins, a 47-million-year-old fossil was found in Germany in 2009 and suggests it as a critical missing-link species in primate evolution. According to paleontologist Philip Gingerich, “the fossil bridges the evolutionary split between higher primates such as monkeys, apes, and humans and their more distant relatives such as lemurs”. In orthopedics and pain management and rehabilitation, prolotherapy is the “missing link” when it comes to the treatment of musculoskeletal painful conditions and bridges the gap between the patients painful symptoms and the cause of their condition. Although it is not intentional, prolotherapy is also one of the best kept secrets in the treatment of musculoskeletal conditions. Very few people, including doctors, know about the healing properties of prolotherapy treatment and the numerous benefits it offers to patients in pain. For over 50 years, prolotherapy has been a proven treatment alternative for painful conditions. There are numerous scientific studies and articles that demonstrate of effectives of prolotherapy.

So, what is prolotherapy?
Prolotherapy (aka Regenerative Injection Therapy – RIT), also known as ligament reconstructive therapy or sclerotherapy, is a recognized orthopedic procedure that stimulates the body's natural healing processes to strengthen joints weakened by trauma or arthritis. Joints weakened when ligaments and tendons are stretched, torn, or fragmented, become hypermobile and painful. Traditional approaches with anti-inflammatory drugs and surgery often fail to stabilize the joint and relieve pain permanently. Prolotherapy has the unique ability to directly address the cause of instability and repair the weakened sites, resulting in permanent stabilization of the joint. When specialized substances are precisely injected into the site of pain or injury, prolotherapy creates a mild, controlled inflammation which stimulates the body to lay down new tendon or ligament fibers, resulting in a strengthening of the weakened structure. When the joint becomes strong, pain will be relieved.

Conditions responsive to prolotherapy include

Prolotherapy is an extremely safe procedure that has been practiced for over 50 years. The number of treatments required depends upon the severity of the condition and the area treated. The average person usually requires 4-6 treatments given at 2 week intervals. More than one painful area can be treated during an office visit and many patients report partial or complete relief of their pain after one or two treatments.

Prolotherapy can provide the relief that is not found with other forms of pain management such as acupuncture, chiropractic, physical therapy and pharmaceutical (drugs) for it treats the cause of many painful conditions (weakened ligaments and tendon attachments). Prolotherapy should always be considered with chronic pain conditions that involves tendons, cartilage, and ligaments. Prolotherapy should always be considered when surgery is recommended. An excellent source of reference materials for the public is www.getprolo.com.

Reference: Hauser, Ross A., M.D. and Hauser, Marion A., M.S., R.D., Prolo Your PAIN AWAY, Beulah Land Press, Ill, 2004

With over 20 years of clinical experience, Dr. Fred G. Arnold D.C., N.M.D specializes in Prolotherapy/Pain Rehabilitation services. He is a Diplomate of the American Academy Health Care Providers, member of American Academy of Pain Management and he is one of the few physicians in the nation with both a naturopathic medical degree and chiropractic degree. www.prolotherapyphoenix.com. 602-292-2978.