Chronic Pain Pervasive in All Age Groups, New Study Shows

Gray Dufus has just announced a state funded plan to ease all Californian's pain.

The liberals have been a pain in my @$$ for my entire life.

* 57 percent are willing to pay one dollar more each week to increase federal funding for pain research.

Will this allow them to get about 50 cents of additional pain relief each week?

You forgot the two subheadllines:

President Bush's neglect cited.

Women and minorities to suffer most.

"This survey should serve as a wake-up call to all Americans -- including our elected leaders -- that chronic pain is a problem of epidemic proportions in our country,"

Wake up to what? That some new medical organizations want more federal funding? There are more OTC drugs available for a whole range of rheumatoid arthritic conditions than at any time. And more protocols are soon to receive FDA approval.

If they want to do a study on something, study how American's lives are being affected by "mental anguish" from listening to RAT bastards in Washington DC. IMHO.

"67 percent of those surveyed believe a cure for chronic pain is at least 10 years away."

Good news.....

A cure for cronic pain is now and has been for 50 years. Problem is there are no patents involved so no big money and it is to simple for most MDs to accept.

www.getprolo.com/

Learn More About Prolotherapy
The term Prolotherapy refers to the injection treatment that stimulates specific musculoskeletal areas to repair and thus heal. There are various other terms that physicians use to describe the same type of treatment including sclerotherapy and reconstructive therapy. The method in which these therapies all stimulate healing is via inflammation. Sclerotherapy can also be used to treat hernias and varicose veins again by stimulating inflammation.

Ankle Pain
ANKLE PAIN - PATIENT TESTIMONIALS
ANKLE PAIN - CASE HISTORIES
ANKLE PAIN - ARTICLES BY DOCTORS
Back Pain
BACK PAIN - 19 PATIENT TESTIMONIALS
BACK PAIN - CASE HSITORIES
BACK PAIN - ARTICLES BY DOCTORS

Foot Pain
FOOT PAIN - PATIENT TESTIMONIALS
FOOT PAIN - CASE HISTORIES
FOOT PAIN - ARTICLES BY DOCTORS
Headache
HEADACHE PAIN - PATIENT TESTIMONIALS
HEADACHE - ARTICLES BY DOCTORS

Hip Pain
HIP PAIN - CASE HISTORIES
HIP PAIN _ ARTICLES BY DOCTORS
Knee Pain
KNEE PAIN - 18 PATIENT TESTIMONIALS
KNEE PAIN - CASE HISTORIES
KNEE PAIN - ARTICLES BY DOCTORS

Neck Pain
NECK PAIN - PATIENT TESTIMONIALS
NECK PAIN - CASE HISTORIES
NECK PAIN - ARTICLES BY DOCTORS
Shoulder Pain
SHOULDER PAIN - PATIENT TESTIMONIALS
SHOULDER PAIN - CASE HISTORIES
SHOULDER PAIN - ARTICLES BY DOCTORS

Sports Injuries
SPORTS INJURIES - PATIENT TESTIMONIALS
SPORTS INJURIES - CASE HISTORIES
SPORTS INJURIES - ARTICLES BY DOCTORS
TMJ
TMJ - PATIENT TESTIMONIALS
TMJ - CASE HISTORIES
TMJ - ARTICLES BY DOCTORS

Whiplash
WHIPLASH CASE HISTORIES
WHIPLASH - ARTICLES BY DOCTORS
Other Articles
INTRODUCTION TO PROLOTHERAPY
GENERAL ARTICLES
ARTHRITIS
FIBROMYALGIA
PAIN KILLERS
WHOLE BODY PAIN - PATIENT TESTIMONIALS

What a nasty short and brutish article.

I wish they had included if and how weight is a factor in this study.

I got chronic pain in spades. Diabetic peripheral neuropathy. I've tried everything from acupuncture to magnets; Anodyne therapy to Yngve Bersvendsen's supplement regimen--with no relief.

What does it feel like?

- You are walking on a red-hot griddle;
- Insane gremlins are driving a red-hot spike through the balls of your feet;
- Wild animals are tearing the flesh from the bones of your feet;
- Someone has taken a belt sander and removed the first 3/8" of the soles of your feet and you are walking on the bare bloody nerve endings.

Nothing much; 24/7/365 since July 1998.

Now tell me again about this "cure"?

--Boris

I'm not a MD. Just someone who suffered for 23 years and refused surgery. I am in between my 4th and 5th treatment. I knew after the first on that this was going to work - for me. I don't know about you - however ...

I would suggest calling on of the Drs. listed near you and ask about your diagnosis and prolotherapy.

I wanted to have it done to my dog (hip displasia) found a Vet that did Prolo - he told me straight out that it would not help a congenital problem.

What is injected into the patient?

How many people are we talking about? Who and how many people were interviewed, Cuetips? The Roosevelt generation won't they ever die out, sorry Ma.

"What is injected into the patient? "

I posted the URL so inquiring minds could read and research for themselves.

In short a sugar water solution ... varying degrees of strength. It causes the tendon to become inflamed i.e., blood supply increased - then with orthomolecular supplements and heat packs the tendon increases over time (4-6 months - your mileage may vary) 20-40% in size. The bone structure returns to stability - no more muscle spasms and pinched or constricted nerves = no more pain. Like an age regression to a time of pre-injury.

It sure is working for me. And when we finish up with my low back we are going to do my left knee which has a MRI confirmed torn meniscus. It works on those as well as many atheletes swear it gave them back their careers.

Sports injuries - other injuries - check it out unless you use the pain as a crutch for sympathy and an excuse why you can't do (enter your challenge). Because what will you do with a stable skeletal structure and no more pain?

Pain is also a great excuse to be angry and testy - let it go - I stumbled across Prolotherapy on a google search about 5? months ago - found that the "Princess of Prolotherapy" a DO with a Family Practice to boot was 10 minutes from me in Berkeley. Called - took the next open slot for an evaluation - now I am worse than a reformed drunk on the subject of pain caused by injury. I have 23 years experience with excruicating low back/siatica pain - pain that brings tears - crippling at times. And it was not an "on the job" injury - I was/am self employed anyway - so work I must and did in spite of it.

Insurance duz not cover Prolotherapy. Kaiser used to have a Prolo Clinic. It became too popular and there was no big money in it so they shut it down. My Doc - Donna Alderman - bless her - ran it - and was forced into private practice - Hooray!!!

Make me wrong if that's what it takes .. ":^)

ANY More Questions??????????????? :)

I went to the site but did not find the answer to my question. Thanks for answering me.

Boris... I understand your anger and i'm sure not here to do therapy.

I have sent the following msg to a Prolo Doc. You are probably tooo burned out to.

"Will Prolo work on Diabetic peripheral neuropathy?"

If it's no - then another stone turned and the search goes on - but if it's yes - get yer @ss to the doc nearest to you and bawl like a baby the first night you are pain free - personally I would laugh and cry at the same time - relief and the comedy of crying from relief! I wish you well.

subscribe to the newsletter - it's free!

From: Date: Fri Sep 5, 2003 9:48:59 AM US/Pacific To: The hip joint joins the leg to the pelvis. Unfortunately, for most people, both legs are not exactly the same. They may look the same, but from a bio-mechanical standpoint, they are not the same. One leg may be rotated either in or out, or one leg may be shorter than the other. The latter is especially common if one leg was broken during childhood. Because the hip joint connects the leg to the pelvis, the hip joint will sustain the brunt of any bio-mechanical abnormality that may occur. If one leg is shorter than the other, the hip joints will be stressed because the leg length discrepancy causes an abnormal gait (manner of walking). With leg length discrepancy either hip joint can cause pain and usually both hip joints hurt to some degree. 'To propel the leg forward, the hip joint must be raised which strains the gluteus medius muscle and the posterior hip ligaments. Leg length problems are also associated with recurrent lower back problems because they cause the pelvis to be asymmetric. Prolotherapy to the sacroiliac and hip joints will correct the asymmetries in the majority of cases. The leg length discrepancy disappears from the leveling of the pelvis. If asymmetry remains after treatment, a shoe insert or heel lift will generally correct the problem. A problem in the hip may commonly manifest itself as groin or inguinal pain. Pain from the hip joint may also be felt locally, directly above the hip joint in the back. When the hip joint becomes lax, the muscles over the joint compensate for the laxity by tensing. As is the case with any joint of the body, lax ligaments initiate muscle tension in an attempt to stabilize the joint. This compensatory mechanism to stabilize the hip joint eventually causes the area's muscles to tighten because of chronic contraction in an attempt to compensate for a loose hip joint. The contracted muscles can eventually irritate the trochanteric bursa causing a trochanteric bursitis. A bursa is a fluid-filled sac which helps muscles glide over bony prominences. Patients with chronic hip problems often have had cortisone injected into this bursa, which generally brings temporary relief. But this treatment does not provide permanent relief because the underlying laxity is not being corrected. Prolotherapy injections to strengthen the hip ligaments will provide definitive relief in such a case. It is interesting to note that trochanteric bursitis, Pyriformi Syndrome (pain and weakness in the Pyriformi muscle of the hip), and weakness in the iliotibial band (muscles near the knee) also cause "sciatica". The sciatic nerve runs between the two heads of the pyriformi muscle. When the pyriformi muscle is spastic, the sciatic nerve may be pinched. Lumbosacral and hip joint weakness are two main causes of pyriforrni muscle spasm. Pyriformi muscle stretches and physical therapy directed at the pyriformi muscle to reduce spasm help temporarily, but do not alleviate the real problem. Prolotherapy of the hip and lower back strengthens those joints, thus eliminating the pyriformi muscle spasms. HOW PROLOTHERAPY WORKS Mark Wheaton, M.D. Prolotherapy works on a very simple principle: injecting the prolotherapy solution at the sites of pain and weakness stimulates the body's own healing mechanism to repair and rebuild injured tissue into a stronger, more supportive, less painful tissue than it was before. When injuries to the connective tissues (ligaments, tendons, and muscles) occur, the normal healing process may be incomplete, usually due to lack of proper treatment. This incomplete healing process is revealed under microscope by a deficiency of connective tissue cells called fibroblasts. The lack of fibroblasts leads to loose ligaments and weakened tissues. As a result, the normal supportive function of the ligaments which was present prior to injury is lost. Joint stability is therefore reduced. Small pain fibers in these damaged ligaments transmit pain impulses to the brain when stretched. Through a subconscious reflex, the surrounding muscles go into a tight and painful spasm in an attempt to stabilize the joint. This causes the region to feel tight, stiff, achy, burning, tingling, numb, fatigued, and painful. The individual will often notice painful knots in the affected muscles. These muscles become tight and painful as they try to compensate for the weak and damaged underlying tissue structures. The muscle spasms reduce blood flow, causing even more pain. Not only are these symptoms local, but they are often referred (transmitted) through nerve pathways into the legs and feet, arms and hands, and head (headaches). In other words, pain felt in the head, arms, or legs may be due to instability in the neck or back. For example, weakness or injury to the ligaments in the neck may interfere with the sympathetic (automatic) nervous system, causing a group of symptoms called Barré-Lieou Syndrome. This syndrome consists of one or more of the following: dizziness, visual blurring, loss of balance, ringing in the ears, runny nose, salivation, trouble swallowing, hoarse voice, nausea, vomiting, nervousness and headaches. These symptoms are caused by instability in the neck and can be eliminated by prolotherapy. Medications and other forms of passive treatment such as ultrasound, ice, heat, massage, acupuncture and manipulation may give minimal lasting benefits because the primary problem is not being addressed - the loose and injured ligaments. Stretching and strengthening exercises usually can provide some relief from chronic pain, but this is often only temporary. When these exercises have failed to increase the support sufficiently to diminish pain and improve function, the chronic pain cycle ensues. Prolotherapy should be initiated as soon as possible, before the problem becomes wide-spread. HEADACHES MARC DARROW, M.D. There are so many different types of headaches, and it is very difficult for anybody to figure out what category a headache will fit into. When we get patients in our clinic, we hear everybody say that they have migraine headaches, but they are not really migraine headaches. There are tension type headaches, inflammatory headaches, people get headaches from sinus infections, they get headaches from neck problems, from TMJ. There is also something called a "rebound headache". When people take a lot of anti-inflammatory medications to help them with their headaches, guess what happens to them when they stop taking the medications? They get terrible headaches! We treat headaches with Prolotherapy (but not while they are flared up) and Trigger Points--while the headaches are flared up. Trigger Points are also injections, like Prolotherapy. We use very small, fine needles so the injections don't hurt. We put these injections into the back and neck at spots that are triggering the headaches. For instance: I had a patient come in with his wife and he had what I would consider a "cluster headache," --a series of headaches. His complaint was that it felt like he had a hot poker in his eye. I said to him, "Do you mind if I feel your back and neck?" And he said, "Why do you want to do that? I have a headache!" And I said, "If I could find the cause of your headache, I can get rid of it." So I found the spot (in the upper back muscle) right next to his neck. That was the trigger for his headache pain. When I pressed it...the pain in his eye got worse. My red flag went up and I said to him, "I think I can help you." I took some local anesthetic, like the novacaine used in dental work. I injected that spot and he looked at his wife and I thought something terrible had happened, his jaw dropped open, he looked at me and said, "The pain in my eye is gone." I am always looking for the underlying causes that are causing the headaches. Most headaches no matter what the cause, no matter what you call them, migraine, cluster, etc., many times they come from the musculoskeletal imbalance in the back or the neck and if we can treat these areas of instability, with trigger points, with Prolotherapy. Then we can beat these headaches. We want to get people off the medications. Although the common headache usually responds quite well to aspirin or other over-the-counter medications, those who've experienced the torment of migraines or cluster headaches are often frustrated by the lack of any effective cure. Drugs developed specifically for such headaches are effective, but the relief they provide is temporary. Until the root of the problem is unearthed and corrected, the headaches will persist, and prolonged drug therapy to relieve them will be necessary, along with the possibility of addiction. FAQ ABOUT PROLOTHERAPY Understanding Prolotherapy Alvin Stein, M.D. "Prolo" is short for proliferation, because the treatment causes the proliferation (growth, formation) of new ligament tissue in areas where it has become weak. Ligaments are the structural "rubber bands" that hold bones to bones in joints - acting like the body's shock absorbers. Ligaments can become weak or injured and may not heal back to their original strength or endurance. Ligaments also will not tighten on their own to their original length once injured. This is largely because the blood supply to ligaments is limited, and therefore healing is slow and not always complete. To further complicate this, ligaments also have many nerve endings and therefore the person will feel pain at the areas where the ligaments are damaged or loose. Prolotherapy uses a sugar-based solution that is injected into the ligament or tendon where it attaches to the bone. This causes a localized inflammation in these weak areas, which then increases the blood supply and flow of nutrients and stimulates the tissue to repair itself, strengthening and tightening and thereby stabilizing the area. The response to treatment varies from individual to individual, and depends upon one's healing ability. Some people may only need a few treatments while others may need 30 or more. The best thing to do is get an evaluation by a trained physician in your area. Once you begin treatment, your doctor can tell better how you are responding and give you an accurate estimate. WHEN PROLOTHERAPY MAY NOT WORK Dave Harris, M.D. Prolotherapy is effective in markedly reducing or curing musculoskeletal pain 80-90% of the time. Many end-stage medical problems are worth a trial of prolotherapy, especially if the only alternative is a destructive or permanent alteration of a joint, such as a surgical fusion or the destruction of a nerve. The greater the anatomical injury, the more difficult it is resolving the problem. There are several reasons why Prolotherapy may not resolve a problem: 1) Not enough treatments were attempted. Usually a positive response is seen in 2-3 treatments, but may take 4-6 or more. 2) The solution used was not strong enough. Typically, a mild solution is used first, and if the response is insufficient, a stronger solution is used after 2-3 treatments. 3) The points treated were not the source of the pain. Usually, it is fairly clear on examination from where the pain originates, but some structures are not easily provoked with a finger or thumb because of the depth. In such a case, the referral pattern helps to locate the injured structure, but the patterns often overlap. A thorough reassessment every visit or two is needed to ensure that the correct points are being treated. 4) The patient is taking anti-inflammatory medication. Such medicine inhibits a complete response. The only such medicine which we accept is a low-dose Aspirin to prevent cardiac (heart attack, angina) or neurological (stroke) problems. Progress may be made despite these medicines but is likely to be delayed and reduced. 5) The patient has an underlying healing deficiency. This may be from an immune system dysfunction, rheumatoid illness, chronic infection, nutritional deficit, or hormonal deficiency. The common issues are hypothyroid, testosterone deficiency, estrogen or progesterone deficiency, adrenal insufficiency, bowel infection with yeast, among others. These same conditions appear to underlie Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Further investigation is warranted after 4-6 treatments if the response is poor. Medical Research Papers At Dr. Reeves Website Reeves KD Hassanein K Randomized prospective double-blind placebo-controlled study of dextrose prolotherapy for knee osteoarthritis with or without ACL laxity. Alt Ther Hlth Med 2000;6(2):37-46 Reeves KD Hassanein K Randomized prospective placebo controlled double blind study of dextrose prolotherapy for osteoarthritic thumbs and finger (DIP, PIP and Trapeziometacarpal) joints: Evidence of Clinical Efficacy. Jnl Alt Compl Med 2000;6(4):311-320 At www.getprolo.com Reeves KD, Treatment of Consecutive Severe Fibromyalgia Patients with Prolotherapy. The Journal of Orthopaedic Medicine Vol 16 1994 No 3 Robert G. Schwartz, M.D. and Noreen Sagedy, M.D. Prolotherapy: A Literature Review and Retrospective Study The Journal of Neurological and Orthopedic Medicine and Surgery, Vol. 12. No. 3. 1991. Lectures, Announcements and Listings RADIO You can now hear Lawrence Cohen, M.D., Marc Darrow, M.D.,J.D. and Ross Hauser, M.D., anytime you like discussing Prolotherapy on various radio shows, simply go to http://getprolo.com/prolotherapy_radio_shows.htm You can also view a 12 minute video from Scott Greenberg, M.D. at www.prolotherapy-md.com . Listen to Dr. Marc Darrow every Saturday morning on KRLA-AM Radio in the Los Angeles Area. Not in the listening area? Listen on-line at http://www.krla870.com --- Saturday mornings 7:30 AM PACIFIC TIME, 8:30 AM MOUNTAIN, 9:30 AM CENTRAL, 10:30 AM EASTERN. IN THE LOS ANGELES AREA - TUNE TO KRLA 870AM Getprolo.com Physicians Updated Physician List: ARIZONA Phoenix Area - Kent L. Pomeroy, M.D. Phoenix Area/Scottsdale - Scott A. Wasserman, M.D. Yuma Area - Ellis V. Browning, M.D. CALIFORNIA Anaheim Area - Hanson Wong, M.D. Irvine - Marc Adam Lazzara, D.O. Los Angeles Area - Donna Alderman, D.O. Los Angeles Area - Marc Darrow, M.D. Los Angeles Area - G. Megan Shields, M.D. Los Angeles Area - Hanson Wong, M.D. Newport Beach - Mark D. Filidei, D.O. Sacramento - Rodney Van Pelt, M.D. San Diego Area - Andrew Kulik, M.D. San Diego Area - Gary Matson, D.O. San Diego Area - Edward A. Venn-Watson, M.D. San Francisco Area - Donna Alderman, D.O. San Francisco Area - Gene Pudberry, D.O. San Francisco Area - Rodney Van Pelt, M.D. Santa Barbara Area - Allen Thomashefsky, M.D. Santa Rosa Area - Terri Su, M.D. Santa Rosa Area - Robert J. Rowan, M.D. Santa Rosa Area - Rodney Van Pelt, M.D. CONNECTICUT Lawrence D. Cohen, M.D. FLORIDA Ft. Lauderdale - Bach McComb, D.O. Orlando Area - Nelson Kraucak, M.D. Miami Area - Bernard Miot, M.D. Miami Area - Alvin Stein, M.D. Tampa Bay Area - H.G. Robinson, M.D. Tampa Bay Area - S. Todd Robinson, M.D. GEORGIA Atlanta Area - M. Truett Bridges, Jr., M.D. Atlanta Area - Mark C. Merlin, D.O Oglethorpe - E. Glynn Taunton, D.O. ILLINOIS Chicago Area - Ross Hauser, M.D. Chicago Area - Bob Filice, M.D. KANSAS Kansas City Area - K. Dean Reeves, M.D. LOUISIANA New Orleans Area - Robert Fortier-Bensen, M.D. MARYLAND Ingrid Gheen, M.D. MASSACHUSETTS Worcester Area - Jon Trister, M.D. MINNESOTA Bloomington - George Kramer, M.D. Excelsior Area - Mark T. Wheaton, M.D. Minnetonka - George Kramer, M.D. MISSISSIPPI Robert Fortier-Bensen, M.D. NORTH CAROLINA Stephen Blievernicht, M.D. Mitchell Bloom, M.D. NEW JERSEY Northern New Jersey - Anwer Rasheed, M.D. Central New Jersey - Ed Magaziner, M.D. Southern New Jersey - Scott Greenberg, M.D. NEW YORK Buffalo Area - Timothy L. Speciale, D.O. New York City Metro - Lawrence D. Cohen, M.D. New York City - Manhattan - John Juhl, D.O. OHIO Toledo Area - Jay W. Nielsen, M.D. OREGON Ashland Area - Carl Osborn, D.O. Ashland Area - Allen Thomashefsky, M.D. PENNSYLVANIA Philadelphia Metro - Scott Greenberg, M.D. Philadelphia Metro - Kab S. Hong, M.D. RHODE ISLAND Lawrence Cohen, M.D. SOUTH CAROLINA Greenville Area - Robert Schwartz, M.D. TEXAS Austin Area - David K. Harris, M.D. Dallas Area - Jim Holleman, D.O. Houston Area - Joseph G. Valdez, M.D. Ft. Worth Area - David Teitelbaum, DO UTAH Payson - David Taylor Roberts, M.D. VIRGINIA Alexandria Area - Robert H. Wagner, M.D. Fairfax Area - Mayo Friedlis, M.D. Virginia Beach - Lisa Barr, M.D. WASHINGTON STATE Olympia - Richard S. Koch, D.O. Seattle Area - Richard A. Sandler, M.D. WISCONSIN Milwaukee Area - William J. Faber, D.O. Comments? Respond to this newsletter. Please pass this newsletter to others who may been interested. This newsletter is provided for information content only. The information presented here does not constitute a physician-patient consultation. It is always in your own best interest to seek a medical opinion from a licensed health care provider. We are not responsible for omissions or typographical errors or the use of any material in a self-help manner. The opinions and statements in this newsletter DO NOT necessarily reflect the opinions of the physician members of the getprolo.com referral network and are those of the article author. PRIVACY NOTICE: We do not sell or provide any information about our subscribers to anybody, period, your privacy is 100% guaranteed. For quick and accurate removal from this list please use the unsubscribe link below. PLEASE NOTE: Allow 2 weeks for manual removal requests AND PLEASE, request that the email address to be removed is the one that is subscribed to the newsletter. c 2003 Getprolo.com All Rights Reserved Unsubscribe Link: http://listserve.caringmedical.com/listprocess.asp?email_id=9465

Sorry for the unformatted data - read it at your own peril. :)

Boris - I just returned from my 5th treatment - had a talk with my Doc about your symptoms.

The short answer is that prolo will not help you.

Neuropathy is a catch all term MDs use for "unexplained" pain in 3 or 4 or more sites in the body... (I'm winging it here so anyone with specific data feel free to correct me.) With Diabetes your body/immune system is past a stage where prolo could help.

For injuries and "some" other conditions prolo is a simple effective answer. Even for bone cancer pain. Won't help the cancer but the pain can be ended or at least ameliorated.

I wish you well in you search.