What is Prolozone Therapy?
Prolozone Therapy is a form of non-surgical ligament and joint reconstruction pioneered by Frank Shallenberger, MD. It is a permanent treatment for many kinds of chronic pain. Prolozone Therapy is derived from the Latin word “prolix” which means to proliferate, regenerate, and rebuild. Prolozone Therapy is so named because the treatment uses ozone to cause the proliferation, regeneration, and rebuilding of new ligament and cartilage tissue in areas where they have become weak.
Injured Ligaments Cause Pain
Ligaments are the structural “rubber bands” that hold the bones, joints, and intervertebral discs together. Ligaments become weakened, torn, or strained from injury, excessive use, or surgery. Often they do not heal back to their original strength and tightness. When this happens, this puts a severe strain on the areas that the ligaments are supposed to be holding together, resulting in pain and arthritis in the bones, discs, and joints which are affected. Ligaments themselves have many nerve endings which can present an additional source of pain.
How does Prolozone Therapy work?
Prolozone Therapy involves the injection of ozone in and around ligaments where they attach to the bone. The injected ozone increases the blood supply and flow of healing nutrients to the area. More importantly, it also stimulates the deposition and activity of fibroblasts and chondroblasts.
These cells synthesize the collagen and cartilage that the body uses to repair damaged ligaments and joints. This increase in cellular repair activity strengthens and tightens the injured tissues, thereby stabilizing the area, and removing the cause of the pain.
What can I expect?
The response to treatment varies from individual to individual and depends upon one’s healing ability and level of injury. Some people may only need one to two treatments, while others may need as many as six or seven. Once you begin treatment, the doctor can analyze how you are responding, and will then be able to give you an accurate estimate of what you can expect from further treatments.
The injection process is repeated every 1-2 weeks until maximum improvement is noted. Prolozone Therapy typically results in a complete absence of symptoms, even in severe pain conditions that have been present for years. And, the most amazing thing about it is that the results usually represent a permanent fix.
What conditions are treated?
Back and neck pain with or without degenerative disk disease, shoulder pain from rotator cuff injuries, and osteoarthritis of the hips, knees, and spine are the most common ailments treated with Prolozone Therapy. Prolozone Therapy is also excellent for many other types of musculoskeletal pain, including fibromyalgia, carpal tunnel syndrome, TMJ syndrome, sciatica, plantar fasciitis, neuromas, tennis elbow, and virtually any sports injury.
It can be especially effective in treating areas that have previously been operated on because of the significant injury and trauma that occurs to ligaments during surgery.
SUMMARY
Prolozone Therapy is a safe, natural, and often permanent treatment for low back pain, degenerated or herniated discs, sciatica, neck pain, unresolved whiplash, rotator cuff tears, and osteoarthritis or degeneration of the hip or knee.
