Prolotherapy #2

I had my second prolotherapy treatment this past week. With this series of injections I can now begin to look for signs of improvement in my back problems. A full assessment is still three or more months away. For those who have asked for information, here is a well researched article from the New York Times (2007). The physician quoted in the piece is my doctor. 

This is not a new or alternative therapy at all. But 'tis not well known or widely practiced because, unfortunately, there's no money in it for Big Pharma, so the long-term clinical studies are not being done. If you have lower back, shoulder, neck or knee pain you might want to do some research on prolotherapy. My reports will continue here with any and all results. Just as with my series of articles on medical marijuana for back pain, if it works I'll tell you, if it doesn't that too. Negative data is still data.

While I am experiencing some side effects, they are not unanticipated and if I get relief I'll take the increased libido and hair growth on my feet. I'll just be a big, horny hobbit.

Prolotherapy

I've had a pain in my lower back for fifty-two years. Tried many therapeutic approaches to deal with the pain and chased dozens of potential cures. Belts, needles, pills, ointments, manipulations, machinery, prayer, anger and offerings to both light and dark deities. Then back in September I went to see a new cannabis doctor to renew my medical card. He gave me a diagnosis I had never heard before and referred to a therapy also new to me. Because I was days away from hitting the road for 3+ months, I didn't pursue this avenue until I returned last month. On December 29th, I had my first in a series of Prolotherapy treatments.

Prolotherapy involves the injection of a irritant solution into either joint space, or into a weakened ligament or tendon. Dextrose is the most common solution used with some local anesthetic and other additives. The injection is administered at joints or tendons where there is connection to bone, in my case vertebrae. In addition, I also had platelets injected into the tears and holes in the lower back/spine structures. The process involves taking blood I donate and then spin it down in a centrifuge to extract only the platelets.

Because I am having both forms of therapy my interval between treatments is eight weeks. I am not due for a second treatment until late next month. The anticipated course of treatment is based on decades of evidence. I am not and should not expect any changes that rise to the level of 'healing' until after the second treatment. So as of now I am where I have been for five decades. But with a degree of cautious hope.

I will say that extensive research prior to going under the needles leads me to believe I am in the prime category for having prolotherapy be effective. More reports will follow. My fingers, toes and vertebrae are crossed and I am doing the other work (physical therapy, aqua-aerobics and extensive walking) to compliment the treatments. Please remember me and my sacroiliac in your offerings and supplications to deities of all persuasions.