Just putting in my 2 cents here: I think with most procedures, it's important to have the right doctor AND the right patient. My sinus doc swears by prolotherapy, and sent me to an osteopath who does this in the hopes I could avoid surgery. I went for the surgery. But I'd reconsider it under the right conditions.

I think the idea is that it's good if you HAVE not had inflammation in your life, but have taken a lot of anti-inflammatories for your pain. It could be that if you have a tendency towards inflammation already, it's not a good choice and you're not the right patient. Your body has already had a chance to tighten up with scarring. So maybe you were the wrong patient for this.

On the other hand, he may not have had expertise, may have been cavaliere, and not been careful enough. Could be that it was the wrong doctor.

But I'm not sure the therapy itself is bad. I know two people now who avoided back surgery using prolotherapy.

So maybe it's skill, conscientiousness, and the right patient that counts.

I just happened across your statement about prolotherapy. Although you have some idea about the process, there is more to it than meets the eye.

If you are not a smoker, or a heavy drinker, or consume a lot of caffiene in your diet, then the chances are you will have good success with the process.
You are correct that NSAIDs or any anti-inflammatory agent is to be avoided, as well. Of course, having a physician who is very knowledgeable on how to inject the sites, as well as, knows the "connections" of the body better than most doctors, is a plus.

Not to make this too long, I just want to note that I am a much more active individual having been injected in numerous areas, some more than others, since having been rear-ended by a 60mph vehicle, 7 yrs. ago. I am free of NSAIDs & muscle relaxers, nor do I need OTC tylenol.

No animosity, here...just want you to know that there is success out here...

i totally agree mountain mama.

welcome to nt.

Thanks for the welcome...I don't know that I'll be a regular...I was just browsing, & couldn't resist!

I personally a few people with terrific responses to prolo.

My sinus doc had it for his back, and it didn't do much; he had it for his neck, and he is finally pain free in that area.

A second had it for a painful knee that surgery was recommended on--he's diabetic and overweight--and he is pain-free. The third I can think of, offhand, had it after spinal fusion was recommended for disabling back pain due to herniated discs, and she is totally pain-free.

I do think that this, like other procedures, needs to be done on the right patient by the right doctor.