Prolotherapy is a treatment for chronic pain arising from ligamentous and tendinous attachments anywhere in the body. Any area of the body where these attachments have become weak, loose and strained, can develop chronic pain and dysfunction. Prolotherapy uses injections to stimulate healing and strengthening of these attachments and the resolution of pain. With proper healing, the effect is usually permanent. In principle, Prolotherapy (also known as sclerotherapy or regenerative injections treatment) has been around since the 1800's when irritant solutions or heat cautherization was used to treat lax shoulders and hernias. In the United States, Dr. George Hackett began using Prolotherapy in the 1940's and published his experience for treating a variety of conditions. Dr. Gastav Hemwal, considered the father of modern Prolotherapy, continued in Dr. Hackett's treatment methods and practiced until his passing in 1998. Today, the Hemwall and Hacket foundation continues the tradition of training physicians in this form of treatment, and offering charitable care with Prolotherapy thoughout the world. Our practice has experienced many excellent outcomes with Prolotherapy treatment. We have succuessfully treated knee , back, elbow, neck, hip, shoulder and ankle pain with Prolotherapy in our practice. Typically, most patients will respond with one to four treatments. We must emphasize, however, that a thorough medical evaluation by a competently trained physician is necessary to decide if Prolotherapy is appropriate for your condition. Low back pain, for example can have many causes and Prolotherapy will not help with certain conditions. Prolotherapy is not typically covered by medical insurance. In the medical establishment, there is a lack of consensus whether Prolotherapy has been proven effective. Nevertheless, many prominent physicians and institutions have adopted Prolotherapy as a valid treatment option in appropriately selected patients. Our clinic has experienced consistently positive results in the ideal patients. Although generally considered safe and low risk, Prolotherapy injections can be potentially dangerous. This is particularly true regarding spinal injections in the neck and back. Our practice offers Prolotherapy treatment using fluoroscopic guidance. The injection solution used is also an important issue. Our practice only uses dextrose/lidocaine solution and does not inject any substance which could potentially cause nerve damage. Finally, consider the experience of the providers when you choose where to have Prolotherapy. Drs. Ken Pitman and Andrew Wesely have had intense, specialized training in the tradition of Dr. Gustav Hemwall, in a university-bsed curriculum approved by the American Medical Association (AMA) for continuing medical education. Our physicians have been performing Prolotherapy since 2000. Dr. Wesely obtained further training in a two week fellowship experience treating the under served in Honduras, working with the Hemwall Hackett Foundation, under the leadership of Dr. Jeff Patterson. Experience matters. The following links are offered for further information and study: http://www.prolotherapy.com/ http://www.prolotherapy.org/ http:www.mayoclinic.com/health/prolotherapy/ANO1330 http://abcnews.go.com/Health/PainManagement/Story?id=4230591&page=1 http://www.hacketthemwall.org/HHF/WELCOME.html
