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The Response of Modern Medicine
Since cartilage typically heals very slowly and poorly, traditional modern treatment
often involves shaving or removing the torn portion of the tear using arthroscopic
surgery, or even sewing the tear together. The problem with this approach is
that it does nothing to repair the deteriorated cartilage in the meniscus and,
thus, does not alleviate the chronic pain that people with this condition experience.
In fact, with this approach the demise of the cartilage is inevitable because
the meniscus provides nutrition to the articular cartilage, and if the cartilage
is damaged, pressure on the bone will be too great and arthritis will follow (see
figure). Although the individual may feel better for a while after surgery,
the fact is that the injured tissue remains injured. If the torn meniscus is
completely removed, too much pressure will be put on the articular cartilage,
which will lessen the shock absorption.
Another standard practice of modern medicine is to inject steroids or to prescribe anti-inflammatory medications. This is particularly the case if the patient is an athlete, in which case RICE (rest, ice, compression, elevation) treatment is also a standard procedure. However, in the long run, these treatments do more damage than good. The RICE treatment actually hinders healing rather than promoting it by further decreasing the circulation to the damaged meniscus dramatically. Similarly, although cortisone shots and anti-inflammatory drugs have been shown to produce short-term pain benefit, both result in long-term loss of function and even more chronic pain by actually inhibiting the healing process of soft tissues and accelerating cartilage degeneration. Plus, long-term use of these drugs can lead to other sources of chronic pain, allergies and leaky gut syndrome.
And when all else fails, patients who experience chronic pain as a result of a torn meniscus may be referred to a surgeon for a possible knee replacement. Unfortunately, surgery often makes the problem worse. Surgeons will use x-ray technology as a diagnostic tool, which does not always properly diagnose the pain source. In addition, decisions to remove cartilage tissue will most commonly result in arthritis.
The Natural Medicine Approach to a Torn Meniscus
A better approach is to stimulate meniscus repair with Prolotherapy. Unlike the traditional modern medicine approach, Prolotherapy heals the meniscus because it stimulates fibroblastic growth of new, stronger meniscal tissue, thereby repairing the area. Chronic pain is most commonly due to tendon and ligament weakness or cartilage deterioration. The safest and most effective natural medicine treatment for repairing tendon, ligament and cartilage damage is Prolotherapy. In simple terms, Prolotherapy stimulates the body to repair painful areas. It does so by inducing a mild inflammatory reaction in the weakened ligaments and cartilage. Since the body heals by inflammation, Prolotherapy stimulates healing.
Prolotherapy offers the most curative results in treating chronic pain. It effectively eliminates pain because it attacks the source: the fibro-osseous junction, an area rich in sensory nerves. What’s more, the tissue strengthening and pain relief stimulated by Prolotherapy is permanent!
Nearly all pain conditions can be successfully treated with Prolotherapy, including:
Osteoarthritis
Tendonitis
Migraines
Sports Injuries
Loose Joints (Hypermobility)
Fibromyalgia
RSD Pain
Temporomandibular Joint Syndrome (TMJ)
Sciatica
Herniated Discs
Degenerated Discs
Degenerated Joints
Chondromalacia Patellae
Osgood-Schlatter Disease
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Ligament Sprains
Plantar Fasciitis
...and Back, Hip, Neck, Shoulder, Knee, Elbow, Foot, Ankle, Hand, Wrist, Finger and Toe Pain
To learn more about the Prolotherapy procedure, click here. To read about a patient whose meniscal damage was repaired by Prolotherapy, click here. Or to read about how cartilage regeneration relieved chronic knee pain, click here.
If you are interested in more information about Prolotherapy or to schedule an appointment with one of our natural medicine specialists, please contact Caring Medical at 708-848-7789 or online using our contact form.
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