Runners Knee treated with Prolotherapy allowing marathoner to cross the finish line!
Completing a marathon is a big goal that resulting in increased self-discipline, fitness and accomplishment. The training process can take a toll on the body and as a result sports injuries are common. When an injury sidelines a runner and takes him out of the race, feelings of frustration and disappointment result. However most sports injuries are curable with Prolotherapy and can be healed in time to continue training and complete the big race.
Marathon running injury: Carl was one of our patients who experienced an injury while training for a marathon. He had his sights set on the Chicago marathon and started the training process eight months before the race. As he increased his mileage he noticed pain in his left knee but decided to run through it. Exactly three months before the race the pain became unbearable and he was reduced to running one mile at a time at a very slow pace. His marathon dreams were looking grim. He visited a sports doctor who diagnosed him with patellar tendonitis and told him to restand do physical therapy. When these solutions did nothing to cure his pain, Carl went in search of an alternative therapy. He came across Prolotherapy and made his first appointment in August, two months before the big race.
Prolotherapy for runner’s knee: During Carl’s first visit he explained that he had a dull pain accompanied with stiffness and grinding. He was still trying to run one mile at a time but was not having any improvement in pain. Dr. Hauser examined his knee and diagnosed him with chondromalacia patella, a condition where the cartilage under the kneecap wears away due to overuse resulting in pain and grinding. The best way to heal the cartilage is throughProlotherapy, which induces natural inflammation to bring in the body’s healing factors. Dr. Hauser treated Carl’s kneewith 30 injections of a standard Prolotherapy solution and 2 units of human growth hormone. He instructed Carl to use the elliptical or cycle for the next three days. The motion would be important in increasing blood flow to the knee. He also discussed Carl’s weight. At 5’5” tall he weighed 182, putting him in the obese category. This excess weight puts pressure on the knee making him more susceptible to an overuse injury. Dr. Hauser encouraged Carl to lose some weight eventually which would really help his ability to run pain-free.
Second Prolotherapy treatment: One month later Carl returned and reported an 80% improvement in pain. He told us the grinding was gone and he was able to run without difficulty. He ran 5 miles three times a week and even completed an 18 mile training run with no pain. The only time he experienced pain was when climbing stairs. Dr. Hauser was pleased with the results but wanted Carl to be cautious with any long runs. He treated Carl with the sameProlotherapy treatment as before and instructed Carl to not do any long runs for at least two weeks. He could continue his weekly runs as he desired.
Pain free running: Carl was completely healed after two Prolotherapy treatments. He was pain free and able to complete the Chicago marathon. While he had a few bumps in his training schedule, he realized that Prolotherapy was the most effective treatment possible to allow him to complete his goal.
Sports injuries don’t have to take you out of the race. Prolotherapy is an effective and efficient way to heal and keep you in the game. Give us a call today if you are experiencing a nagging injury – we are ready to help you heal!