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Before You Have Joint Replacement Surgery, Read This...

by Dr. Julian Whitaker

Published 02/03/09

Chronic pain in the neck, back, hip joints, knees, shoulders, or elbows is a major problem for many people. As we age, the joints and cartilage between the joints begin to wear out, leading to debilitating, painful arthritis. In addition, injuries to these same areas, either from trauma or repetitive use, are very common.

Fore chronic joint and back pain, I always recommend drinking more water to keep the joints and discs supple, and extol the benefits of supervised exercise, chiropractic manipulation, and massage. I have also recommended various nutritional supplements, such as barley or wheat grass juice, omega-3 fatty acids (in fish or flax oil); shark cartilage to reduce the inflammation; and glucosamine sulfate to regenerate cartilage. I've even suggested some topical preparations for pain relief, including capsaicin (hot pepper) ointments, Penetran, and DMSO. 

When All Else Fails, Surgery Is Still Not Your Only Option...

However, there are some aches and pains that just don't respond, and that's when you're shuttled to a specialist and told that your only option is surgery. Well, it isn't, and I want to tell you about a nonsurgical treatment for the permanent relief of joint and disc problems. Prolotherapy—which is the Latin word for “growth therapy”—involves injecting a solution into weakened ligaments, tendons, discs, and the fibrous capsules of joints. It's also known as reconstructive therapy.

...Try This Therapy First

The injected solution is a mild irritant—it's a combination of dextrose, glycerin, glucose, saline, phenol, and lidocaine or xylocaine that causes an inflammatory reaction. This stimulates your body to produce new collagen, the fibrous protein in connective tissue, thus strengthening the injured area. As collagen heals, it contracts, pulling the ligaments tighter, making them stronger and more stable. The result is improved function, increased range of motion, and pain relief.

Prolotherapy is helpful for many conditions—arthritis, rotator cuff problems, knee instability, wrist injuries, and sciatica. Doctors who use this therapy report an 80 percent to 90 percent success rate, and repair is often permanent, although some patients require periodic “booster shots.”

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