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Injecting Relief Prolotherapy Can Effectively Reduce Chronic Pain
ADVANCE MAGAZINE
By Marc Darrow, MD, JD, QME

The idea of introducing an irritant to an injured joint certainly isn't new. In ancient Greece, Hippocrates used heated metal probes to treat dislocated and painful shoulders of javelin throwers. He believed this technique created tough scar tissue that tightened the shoulder capsule and kept the joint in place.

George S. Hackett, MD, continued to build on Hippocrates' theories in 1939. While working with car accident survivors, he realized that patients experienced pain when ligaments and tendons were injured. He believed that repairing connective tissues could resolve most of the pain. Dr. Hackett introduced an irritating compound to activate the body's natural mechanisms and prompt production of new
collagen tissues—a proliferation process that became known as Prolotherapy.

Also known as proliferation therapy, prolotherapy is a pain management technique that can treat degenerative or chronic injury to ligaments, tendons, muscle fascia and joint capsular tissue. It also can be effective for areas that are painful, but not tender to the touch, such as the inside of a joint.

Through
injections
, prolotherapy allows rapid production of collagen and cartilage.1 Collagen, a naturally occurring protein in the body, is a crucial element to the formation of new connective tissue. And healthy connective tissue creates a solid foundation to hold the skeletal infrastructure together.

Healing Mechanisms
Prolotherapy helps produce collagen by injecting mild chemical or natural irritants, such as dextrose—sugar. The injections stimulate the immune system's healing mechanism to create collagen naturally. This strengthens and restores joints, which provides permanent pain relief.

Consider a condition such as chronic pain, in which injured, loose or stretched out ligaments often cause ligament laxity. Laxity produces pain and discomfort, especially during movements. This occurs because the connection of ligaments and tendons to bone may be inflamed, and a joint may be moving beyond its normal range of motion.

The body, therefore, must create collagen to heal injured tendons and ligaments. But it doesn't provide ligaments and tendons with a proper blood supply, which means lower collagen production and a poor chance for complete healing.

The same holds true in cases of degenerative disease and aging. In particular, collagen may dry out and lose its stretching ability. This process is more severe in some people, and researchers don't know why. Theories behind this deficiency include poor genetic makeup, blood type with specific dietary requirements, viral or bacterial load, pathological conditions, body acidity or food allergies.

In healthy ligaments or tendons, collagen fibers are flexible and elastic. But injuries can stretch fibers beyond their designed lengths, and repetitive motion frays or tears them. When tissues are stretched beyond their normal limits, inflammation occurs. A patient experiences inflammation, the immune system's response to injury, when the body tries to heal damage. However, a weakened immune system or severe injury also can restrict the ability of ligaments and tendons to heal correctly. Since connective tissue around joints and cartilage has such poor blood circulation, injuries to connective tissue are often irreparable.

The key to prolotherapy is stimulating collagen development and growing new ligament and tendon tissue. By growing stronger ligaments and tendons, you can repair the injury, and reverse the degenerative cycle of arthritis and wear-and-tear disorders.



Article Segments 1 2 3

 

Back Pain
Elbow Pain
Golf Injuries
Headaches
Hip Pelvic Pain
Knee Pain
Neck Pain
Shoulder Pain
Whiplash
Wrist Pain
Side Effects of
   Prolotherapy


 A Multi-Disciplinary Clinic For Professional and Amateur Athletes and Chronic Pain Sufferers
11645 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 120 Los Angeles, CA (310) 231-7000

Patient's stories herein, and the language used, is intended to inform and educate. HOWEVER, it does not imply that you or anyone else will receive the same outcome.

Prolotherapy and other modalities mentioned are medical techniques that may not be considered mainstream. As with any medical procedure, results will vary among individuals, and there could be pain or substantial risks involved. These concerns should be discussed with your health care provider prior to any treatment so that you have proper informed consent and understand that there are no guarantees to healing.


Neither
Dr. Darrow, nor any associate of Joint Rehab offer medical advice on this website. This information is offered for educational purposes only. Do not act or rely upon our information without seeking independent professional medical advice. The transmission of this information does not create a physician-patient relationship between you and Dr. Darrow or any associate of Joint Rehab. Neither Dr. Darrow, nor any associate of Joint Rehab guarantees the accuracy, completeness, usefulness, or adequacy of any resources, information, apparatus, product, or process available at or from this transmission. The photos in this Web site feature models for illustrative purposes and do not depict real patients.

JOINT REHABILITATION & SPORTS MEDICAL CENTER, INC  IS HIPAA COMPLIANT. HIPPA IS SHORT FOR THE HEALTH INSURANCE PORTABILITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY ACT. HIPAA PROTECTS PATIENTS' PRIVACY & PERSONAL HEALTHCARE INFORMATION.