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It is not a secret that chronic musculoskeletal pain is the number one cause of chronic disability in North America. Nor is it a secret that chronic back pain is the leading cause of disability in Americans under the age of 45. What is a secret is that this rampaging epidemic of pain can conceivably be eliminated in 80-90% of sufferers. Prolotherapy, a treatment that relies on the body's own healing process to eliminate pain, is not among the traditionally accepted modes of pain therapy. The conventional and prevailing model of pain management relies on anti-inflammatory drugs and cortisone injections, a course of therapies that has provided little in the way of comfort for chronic pain sufferers and whose long term use has been warned against by many medical organizations. In fact, many traditional pain specialists are discouraging the chronic use of drugs, as they may be detrimental to the patient by adding to depression, increasing pain, and producing other side effects such as gastrointestinal bleeding and ulcers. The current vogue among traditional pain therapists is to recommend a combination of aspirin or ibuprofen, bed rest, and small amounts of muscle relaxants over a short time. To that, some clinicians add massage, manipulative or physical therapy. These treatments provide some relief, but do not cure the underlying problem. If these therapies prove ineffective and pain persists, a full neurological examination may be necessary, including an x-ray of the spinal cord called a myelogram, to check for ruptured discs or other sources of pressure on the spinal cord or nerves. If damage is found, surgery may be recommended, although surgery is not a guarantee of pain alleviation. Even with such poor results, modern medicine continues to search for drugs, devices and surgical procedures to eliminate chronic pain. Why Does Prolotherapy Work? Back pain results when weak ligaments and tendons cause the spine to become "unstable." Vertebrae begin to slip, move and rotate from their proper position, causing pressure on the nerves. Limited results in pain alleviation may be achieved with cortisone and other anti-inflammatory agents but these do not address the cause of the pain. Temporary pain suppression is not a cure for the underlying problem: ligament and tendon weakness. Advocates of the technique say Prolotherapy is the long-term solution to chronic pain because it strengthens the ligaments and tendons so they can move the vertebrae back into their proper places. Prolotherapy involves the injection of an "irritant" solution (something as simple as a sugar or salt solution, cod liver oil or corn extract) into the area where the ligaments have either been weakened or damaged through injury. The injection is given at the point where the ligament connects to the bone. With this injection, the prolotherapist causes the body to heal itself through the process of inflammation. When an irritant is introduced, at the site of injury, the immune system is summoned to the area. The body begins a healing process exactly where the painful area is located. New fibrous tissue is laid, repairing and strengthening the ligaments so that they can pull the vertebrae back where they belong and alleviate pain. Prolotherapy treatment sessions are generally given every four to six weeks to allow time for the growth of the new connective tissue. Patients usually require four to six treatment sessions for complete recovery, some experience more immediate results. Harold Wilkinson, M.D. professor and former chairman of the Division of Neurosurgery at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center, performed a 16 year Prolotherapy study culminating in 1995. In his report, Dr. Wilkinson states that it was noteworthy that "a sizeable portion of people with unresolved chronic pain had more than a years pain relief with only one Prolotherapy injection." While these results were obtained with a single injection, most Prolotherapy sessions involve multiple injections given in each session. Standard medical and surgical procedures cannot match Prolotherapys 80-90% effectiveness in eliminating chronic pain, nor can standard medicine match the relative low cost of treatment. Prolotherapy treatments can cost a fraction of the cost of a surgical procedure. Why is Prolotherapy unknown? Prolotherapy has been shown to be equally effective at eliminating the pain of such conditions as arthritis, migraines, tension headaches, sports injuries, fibromyalgia, loose joints, TMJ Syndrome, tendinitis, sciatica, herniated discs and degenerated joints. There are currently only about 300 physicians who practice Prolotherapy in the United States. With the recent rise in popularity, however, this number is expected to multiply greatly within the next few years. Another Prolotherapy Endorsement Prolotherapy is the only methodology I have ever utilized with limited risk yet potential for significant benefit. As a practitioner of Prolotherapy I encourage athletes and chronic pain patients with chronic soft tissue injuries to consider Prolotherapy. Prolotherapy is a secret that needs to be discovered."
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