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REMARKABLE
RECOVERIES
Prolotherapy
Gets College
Basketball Player
Back on the Court
Mark T. Wheaton, MD & John
Manley
Prolotherapy is the definitive treatment choice when it
comes to connective tissue injuries (ligaments, muscles,
tendons, joints) from any cause, such as a sports
injury, as is illustrated in the following case report.
Usual conservative care options (rest, medications,
ice, heat, epidural steroid injections, physical therapy,
strengthening and stretching exercises, and massage)
were tried without success and lumbar spine surgery
(laminectomy, diskectomy) was performed after multiple
imaging studies without notable benefit.
After a thorough history, physical examination, and
record review were completed, it was determined that
this Division I college basketball player had unrecognized
and untreated connective tissue injuries. Because the
Prolotherapy treatment method is the only medical
intervention that is known to stimulate natural healing,
produce collagen, strengthen damaged and weakened
ligaments and tendons, stabilize joints, and subsequently
eliminate pain and increase function, the patient/athlete
and I decided on pursuing this course of treatment.
Despite the length of time since the injury (over two
years), the lack of improvement with both conservative
and surgical care, and the extreme demands of an elite
college athlete, there was a great deal of optimism about
the outcome, provided a consistent, complete, and
aggressive plan using Prolotherapy was followed.
The final results exceeded expectations. The patient/
athlete followed the recommended course of treatment
and after six Prolotherapy treatments using either a
12.5% dextrose solution or a 0.5% sodium morrhuate
solution, he has returned to full-time, unrestricted
participation with his college basketball team and
reports none of the pain which he previously experienced.
This case highlights the need for greater access and early
utilization of this effective treatment approach for
athletes, workers, and others with injuries and chronic
pain. Further study and education would also facilitate
the acceptance of Prolotherapy as a cost-effective
solution.
Journal
of Prolotherapy. 2009;1:32-35.
KEYWORDS: back pain, bulging discs, college basketball, connective
tissue injury,
degenerative disc disease, musculoligamentous sprain, Prolotherapy,
sacroiliac
instability, sciatica, spinal stenosis, sports injury. |
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