Please note Dr. Chris is no longer practicing as Dr. Darcie does not currently offer this service
Prolotherapy is a medical procedure that strengthens the supportive structures around your areas of joint discomfort and instability. Prolotherapy is derived from the word ‘proliferation’ which means rapid reproduction of a cell, part, or organism as it stimulates the growth of ligaments and tendons to stabilize joints. It is also called tendon and ligament reconstruction therapy. By strengthening these areas, degenerative processes can be slowed and the main contributing factor of joint pain (relaxed or damaged ligaments and tendons) can be corrected. Once the joint is stabilized, pain often diminishes or subsides entirely. The goal of this therapy is to produce normal dense fibrous tissues which strengthen the attachment of ligaments, tendons, joint capsules, and fascial structures at their fibro-osseous junctions. These sites are injected with solutions known to have the capacity to produce new fibrous tissue. As the new tissue is formed, the hypermobile joint will stabilize and pain will subside.
Who could benefit from prolotherapy? Anyone suffering from joint pain subsequent to injury, nutritional insufficiency, metabolic disorders, or arthritis, may be a candidate. Loose ligaments and tendons result in hypermobile joints which are moderately to extremely painful and stiff.
What areas may be treated by prolotherapy? Prolotherapy is effective in the treatment of whiplash injuries, neck and back pain, dislocated shoulder joints, knee and elbow joints, disk lesion, and ankle sprains and multiple other joints. However, at the present time Dr. Ford is only certified in the treatment of axial (knee, ankle, shoulder, elbow and wrist) joints.
How long does it take for prolotherapy to work? The length of treatment varies from a period of a few days to a number of months, depending on the patient. Patients are often treated on a monthly basis for a series of 4-6 injections. The injections have been shown to have a beneficial healing action for 12-18 months after the injections have been completed.
Symptoms that may benefit from proliferative therapy? -Shoulder or hip pain causing trouble sleeping. -Joint dislocation. -Joint pain worse with activity and better with rest. -Adjustments help but don't last. -Grinding, popping or clicking in a joint. -If muscle relaxants, arthritis medication, cortisone shots or nerve blocks fail to resolve the problem within 6 to 8 weeks. -When surgery has failed. -Joint pain helped by a sling, brace or splint. -Diagnosed with ligament or tendon sprains or tears. -Deep aching or pulling pain in the joint. Shooting pains, tingling or numbness. Pain after or near the end of activity