Sugar Water for Joint Pain
People suffering from acute or chronic joint pain often try many therapies to reduce the pain. For some, the path to obtaining relief is filled with years of struggle that impact every aspect of their lives. Sometimes continual joint pain can lead to a dependency on pain medication and a diminished quality of life.
Many people that have not found relief for joint injuries, arthritis or back pain seek out alternative treatments. Sugar water therapy or more specifically Prolotherapy is an unconventional process that may be beneficial for joint pain sufferers.
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Procedure
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Prolotherapy, also called ligament reconstruction consists of injecting dextrose, another term for sugar water, into ligaments or tendons.
The principal of the procedure is that the dextrose stimulates the growth of connective tissue by increasing inflammation to force more blood to the area. The increased blood supply triggers the tendons and ligaments to repair themselves.
New collagen is deposited and as the collagen shrinks, it pulls the ligament or tendon tighter. The joint is thereby stronger.
The person who performs the procedure is called a Prolotherapist. The procedure itself can be up to 50 shots during one appointment. Typically 4 to 6 appointments are required.
Causes
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The treatment is used for injury to ligaments and tendons because they are made of collagen. A tendon is tissue that attaches muscle to bone. It allows the joint to move. Ligaments connect one bone to another. It creates structural stability.
When a person strains a tendon or sprains a ligament, healing is difficult due to an inadequate blood supply. The tendons and ligaments remain stretched, weakening the joint and healing can be slowed or halted.
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Benefits
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The inflammation created by the injection ignites healing. The new collagen growth is stronger and thicker than regular tissue. The new growth can be upward of 40% stronger.
As the tendons and ligaments regrow, pain is eliminated. Pain is caused by the periosteum, a tissue that covers the bones and ligaments, the tendons and ligaments as well as the fascia.
Healing
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Prolotherapy itself does not heal the joint. Its intent is to stimulate regrowth. For effective treatment to allow the body to heal itself, the person receiving Prolotherpy should have a strong immune system to generate collagen growth.
Other factors that may impact strong collagen regeneration are hormonal issues or nutritional inadequacy.
Conclusions
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Although Prolotherapy is a non-conventional treatment, there is some evidence that it is beneficial. According to the Prolotherapy website, there are case studies of effective treatment for mobility and pain on spinal cord injuries, knee injuries, hip pain, TMJ and even migraines.
If you prefer holistic medicine or non-traditional, less invasive therapies or have already tried traditional approaches to joint pain relief without success, Prolotherapy might be a sound alternative.
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