LOWER BACK PAIN
Unfortunately, the rate of success for second surgical operations in the case of "failed back syndrome" is no greater than it was for the initial operation, and declines with further attempts. In the words of a surgeon involved in such procedures, "In our extensive experience, satisfactory outcome is achieved about 60% of the time. Evidence indicates that many patients suffering from residual pain after multiple operations can benefit from an intensive rehabilitation program.

Chiropractic care, although dreaded by the medical community, is desired more than any other therapy by the public. An excellent chiropractic methodology is called Applied Kinesiology (AK). The reason that it is often the best form of care post-surgically is that it does not involve "cracking" the vertebrae (although I must admit, I love to have my neck and back adjusted. Jason Kelberman, D.C., is the director of chiropractic at our clinic and practices many forms of chiropractic, with a specialty on AK.

A synergistic form of back strengthening for the muscles of the back and neck is MedX computerized exercise equipment. It was developed by Arthur Jones who also developed Nautilus.

With a combination of chiropractic care, Prolotherapy, MedX, and an intensive rehabilitation program that focuses on stretching, elimination of local inflammatory changes, spinal muscle strengthening, and general reconditioning, most patients improve by increasing function and mobility, and decreasing pain.

Prolotherapy to the Rescue

A study published in 1987—by which time the procedures of Prolotherapy were fairly well established—offered dramatic support to proponents of the still basically unknown technique. In the first double-blind study on the effects of the treatment, two groups of carefully screened patients—with at least a one year history of back problems that hadn't responded to other non-surgical treatments—were injected with either a true prolotherapy proliferant (a dextrose-glycerine-phenol solution originally developed to treat varicose veins), or with a saline-based placebo.

The test subjects had been thoroughly pre-screened, with full clinical evaluations, x-rays and lab tests, and the 82 patients accepted had arrived with painful conditions. 60% were currently using non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. A half-dozen were experiencing such intense pain that they were taking narcotics for relief. A whopping 91% had difficulty sitting still for any length of time, and 65% had difficulty sleeping due to their pain. 17% had difficulty walking, sexual activity was down in 21%, and 4% were completely bed-ridden.

Six months after the treatment, 35 of the 40 people who'd received the actual Prolotherapy treatment had experienced at least a 50% reduction in pain—a success rate of 88%. And 15 of them were completely pain free--compared to only 4 in the control group.

Other "pain score" indicators backed up the results of this data, confirming the success of the therapy. One thing was eminently clear:

Prolotherapy worked for the treatment of chronic low back pain.