By jonbean on Monday, August 11, 2003 - 08:01 pm:

My pain m.d., an orthodox pain management specialist in southern Illinois, has run out of options for my low back pain (probably SI ligament sprain) and tried high strength injections of dextrose. The first round seemed to help although he only injected me six times, not 50-100 like many professional prolotherapists (he's cautious). The good doctor did it gratis as part of my monthly office visit and will continue to do so. I'll see how it goes before attempting a long trip to a professional prolotherapist (there aren't any in my area).

The closest prolo docs are 350 miles away:

Hauser in Chicago (www.caringmedical.com)

Reeves in Kansas City (www.getprolo.com/reeves_prolotherapy_kansas.htm)

I've heard bad things about Hauser on this list but nothing about Reeves. He seems lower key than Hauser, more science-oriented. I'm a bit turned off by the other things Hauser is hawking (the whole range of alternative medicine stuff -- I've tried a lot of natural medicines and alternatives, from magnets to acupuncture, and none of it ever did any good).

Any opinions on Reeves? Hauser? They both charge about the same? Reeves has scientific articles that suggest he practices both Midwest (first) and Western (later, if MW doesn't work) prolo.

It's a big decision at $450/session every 6 weeks and a long drive or flight. Thanks in advance. This is the first, and only, prolo site I've found on line!!

By jonbean on Monday, August 11, 2003 - 08:07 pm:

P.S.: Reeves also states that if the treatments aren't working after 2-3 sessions it's wise to rethink the diagnosis. Many other doctors seem to want to milk the patients for as many sessions as possible.

P.P.S.: For those who have had prolotherapy failures, is there a surgical option for torn ligaments? There is for knee ligaments? Why not back ligaments??? I'm convinced that as an active athlete I sprained my ligaments ("popped" -- tore) and kept on "working through it" which did more harm than good. Is surgical reconstruction an option for SI iliolumbar ligaments?

By margret on Wednesday, August 13, 2003 - 07:57 am:

Jon,
I do not know about the 2-3 sessions to be long enough. One guy said it took 20 sessions for his pain to go away. All I know if something is not working after about 5 times than change something.

I definitely would not recommend Dr. Hauser.

By margret on Thursday, August 14, 2003 - 09:03 am:

Jon,
Unfortuanately, surgical procedures likely involve fusion. This may or may not help the pain. It is a crap shoot like prolo.

By jonbean on Monday, August 18, 2003 - 02:36 pm:

Why fusion? They don't fuse knee ligaments. I think surgeons have always thought "disks!" and never thought about ligaments.

By Myke on Tuesday, August 19, 2003 - 09:57 pm:

Yeah... I always thought the old skool ACL reconstruction with rubber-bands would work for us hypermobile types... no?

By nana on Tuesday, August 24, 2004 - 08:19 am:

I was in an auto accident 4 years ago. my Pain DOC. sent me to Dr. Larry Bader in columbia MO. He has been doing prolotherapy for 13 years and is an instructor. He has been wonderful and has really helped me. If I was thinking of trying prolotherapy I would not go to anyone but him and he is honest about what can be helped and what can not be helped. His phone phone # 573-875-4877 Don't delay call he can help. Tell him Nancy from springfield gave you his # . He is a very special DR. and knows his business don't suffer any longer. Best of luck