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May 27, 2008
Back Pain
Highlights from our radio show

Caller: I have been suffering with lower back pain from compressed discs for a long time. The pain runs from my lower back down the right side of my leg. Chiropractors worked on me for years but they say that basically there is nothing they can do for me with the discs as compressed as they are.
 
Dr. Darrow: There are two things that run through my mind immediately when someone has leg pain, either it is a radiculopathy which means that there is bone overgrowth in the vertebrae that closes off the holes where the nerves come out, or, a piece of the disc has broken loose or has become a herniated disc. If that is the case, then Prolotherapy can help because it stabilizes the vertebrae so there is not much shifting of the bones so it is not irritating the nerve.

Its important to differentiate between a referral pain pattern from a ligament in the low back or a radiculopathy which is an inflammation or a pinching around the nerve that comes out of the spinal cord that comes out of the vertebrae and goes down the leg. Unless we are able to physically examine you and use our hands and thumbs to examine your back, we would not know for sure what is going on. There is hope, even when people do have these flares of leg pain like you do, most of them go away on their own.
 
Back exercises can help. MedX is a machine that can strengthen the muscles in the low back, which can be a good idea with someone with this type of problem. There is a lot of hope that you can deal with this without surgery. But if you have progressive neurological deficits like you can't go to the bathroom, you can't lift your leg, your leg is shrinking in size, things like that you need a surgical consult.
 

Read More About Prolotherapy
How Does Prolotherapy Work?
Prolotherapy stimulates the growth of collagen, the material that ligaments, tendons and other connective tissues are made of.

What are in the Prolotherapy Injections?
There are a number of different types of injections which have proven to be successful in Prolotherapy. Although they work in different ways, motivating the body to heal itself through a variety of natural responses, the end result is the same: to cure pain by building new tissue and stabilizing the joints.
 

The Doctor's Visit
A Prolotherapy physician will physically examine the patient, being careful to gently press on the suspect area causing pain. When the physician's touch elicits an intense pain spot, known as a trigger points or tender point, this is the spot where Prolotherapy is given.

Scar Away Your Pain? Some Docs Back Prolotherapy
Read the full segment

Appointment Information
(310) 231-7000

Disclaimer : This newsletter is intended to provide information on methods of pain management. It is not intended to provide medical advice in the place of your own qualified health care professional. We shall not be held responsible for omissions or typographical errors. Patient's stories herein, and the language used, is intended to inform and educate. HOWEVER, it does not imply that you or anyone else will receive the same outcome.

Prolotherapy and other modalities mentioned are medical techniques that may not be considered mainstream. As with any medical procedure, results will vary among individuals, and there could be pain or substantial risks involved. These concerns should be discussed with your health care provider prior to any treatment so that you have proper informed consent and understand that there are no guarantees to healing.