Emerging Medical Therapy for
Arthritis and Joint Pain
by Dr. Mohammad Khalid
Mohammad
Khalid received his Ph.D. in chemistry from
Loyola University of Chicago. His research
has included the design and synthesis of
peptides, which have far-reaching
implications for maintaining health. In his
position as Director of Research and
Development at Gero Vita International, he
is au courant on scientific advances around
the globe.
Marc Darrow, a Los Angeles
physician, is one
of many doctors
in the U.S. who
offer an amazing
new treatment called
Prolotherapy.
Its name is derived
from the word “proliferation,”
and its goal is
to stimulate the
growth of new tissue,
repairing damage
to worn-out joints
and relieving pain
and discomfort.
First,
the exact location
of the pain is found
using an
acupuncture
needle. Then an
injection
of diluted dextrose
and an anesthetic
is given. The anesthetic
relieves the pain,
while the dextrose
stimulates the body’s
healing response.
It does this by
acting as a “shock
agent,” drawing
water from superficial
cells and drying
out the site. It
induces slight,
but controlled
inflammation,
and the healing
process is set in
motion.
Dr. Darrow
emphasizes that inflammation “means the body is
responding to an injury or stress to the joint
by sending cellular compounds to the damaged
area. It’s your body’s way of getting the
healing process started.” Once these cellular
compounds have done their job, they are replaced
by fibroblasts, which begin repairing the damage
and forming granular tissue that will become new
collagen. Collagen is a major component of the
connective tissue found between tendons and
ligaments.
A
few clinical studies
have already confirmed
the benefits of
Prolotherapy.
Researchers at the
Bethany Medical
Center in Kansas
City observed a
decrease in pain
and swelling in
the arthritic knees
and fingers of subjects.
And this year, Australian
researchers at the
University of Queensland
saw “significant
and sustained reductions
in pain and disability”
after Prolotherapy
had been administered
to 110 patients
with lower-back pain.
Dr.
Darrow discovered Prolotherapy
after having undergone
it himself. During
his fourth year
of residency at
UCLA, while suffering
pain from an injured
wrist, he met Dr.
Andrew Kochan, who
used Prolotherapy.
After a few weeks
of
injections, Dr. Darrow was healed.
He now gets great
satisfaction from
helping other people
live active lives
free of pain, without
the need for
anti-inflammatory
painkillers.
The
list of notables
who have successfully
found relief after
using Prolotherapy
include former Surgeon
General C. Everett
Koop and baseball
legend Ernie Banks.
This simple
therapy has the potential to help many older
adults walk and move as they did when they were
younger, playing tennis again, traveling and
shopping without having to rest, and frolicking
effortlessly and joyfully with their
grandchildren. |
