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PROLOTHERAPY
AS AN ALTERNATIVE
TO SURGERY IN THESE TEN CONDITIONS
Ross Hauser, M.D.
KNEE DEGENERATION
If you have reasonable range of motion (at least 50% of normal), then
you have a great chance of responding to Prolotherapy. Typically three
to ten sessions are needed. The amount of sessions depends a lot on the
extent of the
arthritis. In many cases Prolotherapy is a great
alternative, however in knee degeneration sometimes surgery is your only
option.
MENISCAL TEAR
Menisci are tissues that help cushion the knee. When damaged, they do
not repair well so surgeons will often tell patients that surgery is the
only option. For the vast majority of
Meniscal
tears, Prolotherapy works great. Also
the person can train while getting Prolotherapy. This is another
advantage especially for the athlete.
MORTON’S NEUROMA
I have treated a lot of ‘morton neuroma’
patients and had great success with eliminating the pain with
Prolotherapy. Typically these patients have a ‘dropped metatarsal head’
from a
ligament injury. Prolotherapy
to the ligament helps strengthen the area and the pain diminishes. While
the person is getting Prolotherapy I have them wear Yogi Toes
This is a device that spreads their toes, so the nerve has more room.
Eventually the nerve feels fine and so does their foot!
ROTATOR CUFF TEAR
If a person has a
Rotator
Cuff
tear as the primary pathology in their shoulder, Prolotherapy
generally works great. If the tear occurred because of a big bone spur
in the
acromioclavicular
joint then shaving the bone spur with arthroscopy may be needed. Rotator
cuff problems are one of the most common conditions treated successfully
with Prolotherapy.
LUMBAR DEGENERATIVE DISC DISEASE
Lumbago or
low back pain
is still the most common pain experienced by people. Modern orthopedics
is still trying to find an operation that works. The latest and greatest
is disc replacement. Prolotherapy to the lower back is the most common
procedure I have done the last 14 years. Most low back pain is from the
sacroiliac
joint and not the lumbar degenerative discs. Most people have
degenerated discs
and have no back pain. That is why it is a second
opinion should be sought.
‘CERVICAL RADICULOPATHY’
Prolotherapy is great at curing ‘cervical radiculopathy’. I put in the
quotes because most people who have been told they cervical radiculopathy
have no pinched nerves in their neck. Not every pain radiating down the
arm means a pinched nerve in the neck. It can be a ligament
referral
pain
from the elbow, shoulder,
neck,
or
thoracic
area. If it is from a ligament problem, then Prolotherapy works great. A
sign that it is a ligament problem is when the person has a ‘numb’
feeling in the arm, hand, or fingers but sensation sense is fine. This
is called numbiness and characteristic of a ligament problem.
‘CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME’
There are many cases of people diagnosed with
carpal tunnel syndrome who
responded great with Prolotherapy to the elbow. The ligaments around the
elbows refer pain into the fingers. The person can also have a numb
sensation in the fingers also with ligament problems. I talk about this
in the books my wife and I have written on Prolotherapy (Prolo
Your Pain Away! And
Prolo Your Sports Injuries Away!
So if the surgeon wants to ‘unpinch’ the nerve
in your wrist, consider getting a second opinion from a
Prolotherapist.
OSTEOARTHRITIS OF THE ANKLE
Ankle Fusion is no fun. Prolotherapy isn’t that much fun. Getting
better with Prolotherapy and exercise for extensive arthritis in the
ankle is a long process but the patients I have seen prefer that to
having the ankle fused
ULNAR COLLATERAL LIGAMENT INJURY IN THE ELBOW
Surgery to the elbow is basically the norm for pitchers. A better
alternative with a way less down time is Prolotherapy. Prolotherapy
works great for pitcher’s elbow. This is injury to the
ulnar collateral ligament.
The athlete loves Prolotherapy versus surgery because one can workout
while getting Prolotherapy
DEGENERATIVE HIP ARTHRITIS
People often wait too long to see a Prolotherapist with this condition.
It is important if the doctor says you have the beginnings of hip
arthritis, seek out the attention of a Prolotherapist. If you wait too
long to see one you will end up getting a
hip replacement. What would
you rather have? Some Prolotherapy now with some exercises and
supplements to help your hip get stronger or slow degeneration of your
hip until you are disabled and need a hip replacement? Are you really so
sure you will recover 100% with surgery?
Yes Prolotherapy does give the surgical candidate options. Prolotherapy
is not always the best option but then again neither is surgery. Each
has its role. For most folks getting an evaluation by a Prolotherapist
before undergoing the knife treatment makes a lot of sense. It could
save them the operation all together!
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