{"id":7782,"date":"2019-07-04T05:41:10","date_gmt":"2019-07-04T05:41:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.today\/?p=7782"},"modified":"2021-04-19T19:55:42","modified_gmt":"2021-04-19T19:55:42","slug":"14-useful-tips-to-know-before-getting-prolotherapy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.today\/14-useful-tips-to-know-before-getting-prolotherapy\/","title":{"rendered":"14 Useful Tips to Know Before Getting Prolotherapy"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Prolotherapy is an up and coming alternative or complementary therapy for weak or problem joints, musculoskeletal conditions or disorders, and torn ligaments and tendons.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The studies online show almost zero side effects reported.  Many people have walked away from this therapy with up to fifty percent reduction in pain.  One problem with this therapy is that it is not currently widely accepted by insurance companies as a mode of therapy that they will cover.  This leads me to believe that in the next fifty years, it will become accepted, due to the overwhelmingly positive results shown by the few studies so far have been conducted and published online.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The fact that this is a pretty simple out-patient procedure also lends itself to a promising future insight.  It is pretty minimal in regards to pain, however, the results appear to be long-lasting (over a year\u2019s time).   <\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Expect Subtle Improvement:  <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

It is important to remember that this therapy is meant to give about 30% relief in most cases\/ conditions.  Also, it is important to remember that it takes about 3-6 sessions to see that improvement or relief in the site of injury or pain.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Try to stick with the full course of treatment, unless you are having any adverse reactions.\u00a0 This reminder is important.\u00a0 It is similar to when a doctor prescribes a week\u2019s worth of antibiotics<\/a>\u2026 a patient should not stop taking them simply because they start feeling better.\u00a0 They must finish the full course of treatment in order to sustain lasting results.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the end, you may need to pair this with one or two other therapeutic options to get closer to a higher percentage of relief, more like 75-90%, if that is an attainable goal for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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2. No Anti-Inflammatory Medications:  <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If you find a doctor post-graduate trained in prolotherapy, they will let you know to stop taking any anti-inflammatory medications 2-3 days before.\u00a0 You will also have to remain off of these types of medications <\/a>(over the counter included) for a long while (about three weeks) after your procedure.\u00a0 These medications curb the body\u2019s natural healing response process.\u00a0 These are contraindicated for this procedure because the inflammation response is why the procedure works.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the case of this procedure, the body\u2019s inflammation response to treatment spurs on the body\u2019s natural healing response, as mentioned earlier.  New normal ligament or tendon growth occurs due to mild inflammation.  This encourages stronger adhesion at the point of weakness in the body.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

With enough points of new growth, the joint or area of weakness that is causing pain theoretically will become fully supported with the new growth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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3. Eat Well:  <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Your prescribing physician will remind you of this.\u00a0 On the day of your procedure, make sure you eat well.\u00a0 Lots of protein <\/a>is a good idea, according to medical professionals.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The portion will supply the body with lots of amino acid building blocks for the body to work with when re-building tissues at the site of injection.  These new materials will aid the point of weakness and stabilize that area of the body, reducing ricochet that is likely causing increased pain in the area.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Protein is important for building tissue.  It is a good idea, really, to eat protein-rich meals for six weeks before and about six weeks after the procedure.  This way, your body has time to store enough for bigger jobs, such as large repair sites in the body. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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4. Optional Sedation:  <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When you go in for the procedure, the skin at the area of focus will be cleaned with a sterilizing solution such as alcohol<\/a>\u2026 potentially iodine may be used, as well, as an alternative.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In most cases, the doctor may opt to next apply a topical antiseptic or numbing topical to reduce discomfort for the patient.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If the person undergoing treatment has a fear of needles or experiences considerable pain\u2026 the doctor may opt to sedate the patient.  Know that this is an option.  Some people may have a fear of needles and so may instantly want to write prolotherapy off.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now you know there is a way around that\u2026 and it\u2019s called sedation.  The needle is long.  I say this, not to scare you, but to psychologically\/ mentally prepare you, so you don\u2019t get in there and change your mind.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Again, there are a lot of ways to get around having to experience an uncomfortable visit.  With the sedation, or topical numbing, or while looking away, for instance.  But\u2026 it\u2019s better to be in the know ahead of time than to feel caught off guard later on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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5. Rheumatoid & Hemophilia No-No:  <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

While this therapy works great on joint conditions, and osteoarthritis (OA)\u2026 it is currently contraindicated for the specific rheumatoid type arthritis as well as hemophilia<\/a>.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rheumatoid Arthritis is an autoimmune disorder\/ disease where the body\u2019s immune system, instead of supporting the body when points of a foreign substance enter (as occasionally happens), it attacks the body, instead of the substance.  It attacks most at the joints.  This causes a chronic inflammation condition.  For this reason\u2026 currently, the inflammation caused by prolotherapy has to lead this to be avoided in these patients.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hemophilia is a disorder where the blood doesn\u2019t clot\u2026 as there is a very low number of platelets in the blood to allow for it.  For this reason\u2026 any additional needle piercings into the body, as conducted in prolotherapy, are contraindicated.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Potentially one day in the future, more studies will be done on these conditions to allow for it, but currently, a prolotherapy physician will not likely perform this on anyone with these conditions, rightly so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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6. The Worst Side-Effect Reported:  <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Infection at the site of injection<\/a>.\u00a0 Potential infection is evidenced by pain paired with fever.\u00a0 This state is usually easily cleared up with a short antibiotic regimen.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another side effect sometimes reported is temporary pain or swelling at the place of treatment.  This is normal.  People typically will feel worse in their place of concern before the joint or area is strengthened by the body\u2019s natural healing response.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

While there is more research still to be done on this therapy that has been around for so many hundreds of years\u2026 we do have a pretty good clear path thus far to walk upon, thanks to the brilliant minds in the physical sciences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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7. Success Rates:  <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

You may have doubts as you go along your journey toward this procedure, and even after having it done.  Just know this\u2026 high success rates have been recorded with this therapy.  Eighty-five to ninety-five percent success rates are recorded in some trials.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are sure to be times where you feel scared\u2026 and I encourage you to do your own research if you would like to if you are feeling unsure or unclear in your mind about this.  That is always my favorite way of moving forward.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pull up three studies\u2026 for instance, Dr. David Rabago of Wisconsin\u2019s study, showing 30% recovery at a one-year check-in post-initiation of the procedure.  Or Prolotherapy College\u2019s success rates of 85-95%, or wellnesspharmacy.com<\/a>\u2019s greater than 50% improvement in pain level recorded on their website.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

These appear to be very good results.\u00a0 But because studies have only somewhat recently (in the last 80 years or so) been conducted, there is not a ton of them out there, as compared to some of the other forms of therapy<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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8. Cost:  <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Currently, Prolotherapy is not covered by many insurance companies.  There are some cases in which people may get their insurance company to pay for it, but it takes a little bit of negotiating and is not currently a wide-spread practice done. Therefore, you can expect to spend about $150-$1,000 per treatment.  Payment is typically expected at the time of appointment.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If research and studies continue to show support, I can strongly imagine that within the next five to ten years, this becoming accepted by insurance companies for coverage… similarly to how acupuncture <\/a>(another complementary, alternative medicine practice) was accepted to be covered by insurance companies within the last about five years when it wasn\u2019t before.\u00a0 The cost is going to be a deterrent for some people out there; especially with the disappointment of potentially having their insurance deny the claim.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Make sure you negotiate with your insurance company\u2026 showing them research trials with 85%-95% success rates, and the like.  Ultimately, it is up to you to determine if it is worth the cost to you.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\r\n

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