By sam on Wednesday, February 27, 2002 - 06:33 am:

I just finished my last prolo treatment on Friday (my 6th) and still havn't seen much difference. Dr. Faber dosn't seem concerned and is suggesting I have my whole back treated since he believes the upper back can influence the lower back.I am getting frustrated since most sites on the web suggest 4-6 treatments are all that are needed to see significant results. I am trying to keep as active as I have always been, and have read that being active even helps the area become stronger. Should I be seeing results by now? Should I have the entire back done? are the sites on the web accurate?

Thanks for your input.
Sam

By Karin on Wednesday, February 27, 2002 - 12:43 pm:

Sam, everyone is different.I had 9 treatments
since June of last year. I didn't see much of
a result till October and then with full force.
My last injections were in November. I had a lot
of muscle spasm and still do. So I'll give it a
rest. My doctor thinks I should have more inj.
but I'm having a problem with one side of the
thoracic spine. So far had an MRI, CT Scan done
and in a few days a bone scan.

I've been struggling with my back problems for
20 years (lots of changes ocurred through the years)
Will I ever get some kind of a relief? I don't
know.Listen to your body and Dr. Faber seems to
be a qualified doctor.

I have to add, that I feel the strenghtening
ocurred more on one side, so you see the key for
me is, to figure out which joint needs to be
treated next.

I'm sure everyone here is having a different
story, so hopefully some of them will help you.

Karin

By Park Griffin on Wednesday, February 27, 2002 - 02:40 pm:

Sam, It took my wife about 8 sessions (months) before she sensed significant changes. Dr. Faber is a good doctor. If he feels that further treatments are justified, I'd lean his way.

In reality the 4-6 session issue is mistated many times. In reality, the 4-6 session point is a crossroads at any given point on the body. Your low back has been injected 6 times with limited results. It may not be the primary pain/dysfunction generator or their is an equal culprit in you pain patterns. I would say that if you received 6 more injection sessions in other areas with poor results, Dr. Faber would probably tell you himself that enough is enough. Prolotherapy is an art as much as it is a science.

The moving around issue after prolo is important. In a nutshell, if a ligament that is abnormally tight is prolo'd the tissue matrix that is formed is weak. (Prolo works best if the ligament is in it's neutral state). If you don't or can't move around after prolo the tissue matrix that is formed, forms at the bone ligament interface only. Moving around helps irritate the length of the ligament causing a more uniform tissue matrix to be formed along the length of the ligament. As you probably know, pain patterns can be tricky. My wife had SIJD which has been corrected by prolo and PT. She then had cervical neck disc derrangement corrected by prolo and PT. She still has pain patterns that she had before, but her new pain patterns match up perfectly with thoracolumbar junction syndrome.

Good Luck!!! Park

By Sam on Thursday, February 28, 2002 - 12:55 pm:

Thanks Park and Karin. I will continue with the treatments. I was going twice a month but I think I will cut down to once a month to let things heal before the next treatment, do you think that is a good idea? I also think I will follow the doctors advice and do the entire spine.

I'll let you know how it goes.
Sam