Angela, I'm sorry you had such a terrible time with this.
It sounds to me like the practitioner didn't really know what he was doing and was certainly inconsiderate and insensitive. And what was the office girl doing giving you
advice about this? It all sounds kind of unprofessional.
Having said that, I don't think all prolo. experience
is like this - I've gone through a whole series of shots
for my lower back and pelvis and while the treatments
are painful, I've had very good results. I haven't had
spasms beside my spine or in the QL's for months now and
my pelvic spasms are not nearly as bad as they were. This
was a treatment of last resort for me and it has given
me much improvement. I think the trick is to find an expert
and someone with an excellent reputation in your city.
Not easy to do, I know. I've been fortunate to be able
to see a rehab. med. Dr. who has been doing this for a couple of decades and is really an expert, having written a book on malalignment and having now produced a video as well. I trust him completely and that is the key. Again, I'm not trying to invalidate your experience, which sounds just dreadful. It's just that sometime this treatment, in the right hands, can be very effective. I really do hope things get better for you. Elianne

I wouldn't be able to walk without Proliferative Therapy. My doctor, K. Dean Reeves, M.D., of Kansas City, is experienced and, at my request, always prays with me before sessions. I hope you pray for practitioners and patients as well.

Prolotherapy is an injection of an irritant, in Dean's practice, a concentrated solution of Glucose, a sugar. Prolotherapy injections cause irritation, and that's the point. This irritation builds up scar tissue to stabilize or strengthen tendons. I have joint laxity, and extreme, inoperable pain from a leaky, not ruptured, L-4--L-5 disk.

Reeves is very conscientious to provide pain relief after this outpatient procedure. I get injections deep into my hip joints, and along my spine and shoulders. I've had my Carpal Tunnel wiped out this way.

I can't walk well for a day or two after Prolotherapy. Initially, I had this done every six months but can now go a year or more without any further injections. I have no other option.

Let me tell you my situation right now. I was fine until about ten days ago when I had a total blow-out. It is as if every trauma to my joints surfaced all at once: falling off the horses on my left hip; the auto accident, also on the left side. I have long suspected there is some pathogen which triggers these total relapses. I had been having a gum infection just before...

I went to the chiropractor, who de-twisted the hips, back and shoulders as much as possible, but am still fragile as regards joint looseness and the disk causing a back spasm. So I called Dr. K. Dean Reeves office, and will be going in soon for more Prolotherapy.

I will have a Valium I.V. as an anesthetic as I am highly sensitive to other medications, and tolerate this one best. I will have an oxygen level monitor on my finger. I will first have an antihistamine tab to lower overall reactions and nausea. Dr. Reeves will scope out the hot spots, draw on my back, and the nurse will prep me with Iodine scrub while I am on a heap of pillows.

Dr. Reeves and I will pray. I will get injections into my hip and along my spine. Dr. Reeves will pause if there is a starburst of pain as sometimes happen. Dr. Reeves will pause if there is a twitch that develops, one of my unique symptoms. Dr. Reeves will pause if the pressure from the injection is too much. And, please God, we will get through it without my blood pressure dropping to nothing, and me having to have saline or a taste of salt, something else unique to me.

I will go home and snooze the rest of the day. I can walk with difficulty as the injected joints are all tender. But the initial swelling provides tremendous support. If there is pain after the first day, Dr. Reeves will call in a prescription, but this isn't always necessary.

I'm sore, and walk funny, but can personally tolerate it. Others have a much lower pain toleration. I have Fibromyalgia, but tolerate a fairly strong massage while others with Fibromyalgia could not. These injections will follow a cycle of artificial inflammation for a six-week period while the scar tissue is building up strength.

Prolotherapy takes a deep understanding of body mechanics and anatomy. Call Dr. Reeves office for a reference to a registered Proliferative Therapy practitioner in your area. 913.362.1600 Surgeon-General C. Everett Koop practived Proliferative Therapy. It's not quackery.

For some people like me, it's their only option. If you can't tolerate pain, have smaller areas worked on to evaluate your response. Get allergy testing if needed. Investigate the irritant used. Some are very reactive. But don't write off the whole procedure for everybody out of hand. And pray to God for His help and healing for all of us, O.K.? Thanks!

Angela, my Prolotherapy M.D., Dr. K. Dean Reeves, said that skin ennervation is a factor which can be wiped out with topical pain relief. He uses a Capsaicin-based pain channel blocker. This can even be used afterwards to stop any looping skin pain cycles. Dr. Reeves can be contacted online, and suggests getting a Prolotherapy referral at the American Association of Orthopaedic Medicine/AAOM.

http://www.aaoomed.org/

http://www.DrReevesOnline.com

Hi Angela! I was considering Prolotherapy for my knees (no cartilage left) until I read your message. I, too, live in the Twin Cities. Please tell me the name of the doctor you went to so I don't use him. I'm afraid it's the same one I just found as there are only two listed in our area.

Hope things are going a little better for you. Thanks for any information.