Practicing Prolotherapy and PRP in Portland Oregon and Lake Oswego for over 30 years, I’ve treated more degenerative cervical, thoracic and lumbar arthritis of the spine than any other condition. No wonder, as nearly everyone over 40 years of age is affected to some degree. Yet, despite spine pain frequency, there is almost complete silence on the remarkable benefits of Prolotherapy and PRP on neck and spine arthritis. Patients are told that their arthritis of the spine cannot be helped, and certainly not healed. They are prescribed ever-increasing doses and strengths of pain and anti-inflammatory medications. And just as they were told, the condition gets progressively worse. Most resort to palliative care with drugs, chiropractic, PT, acupuncture, or even surgery.
“Arthritis of the neck is treatable. Prolotherapy and PRP for neck arthritis provides relief to over 85% of the people willing to try it.”
Patients are plagued by neck and back pain due to more than just the pathology of the vertebrae. Not only do they have arthritis in the vertebrae, but also compensatory spasms, fibrosis, and tears in the supporting cast of muscles, tendons and ligaments striving to splint the unstable spine. Their necks and backs are stiff and refuse to move in their fully intended range. They often have received temporary benefit from massage, chiropractic or acupuncture, but even these lose their effectiveness over time. Many of our patients have developed referred pain or numbness in their shoulders, arms, hands and legs, and some have had surgery to remove the spurs or bone in attempts to open the foramen where the nerves course. Others had laminectomies to remove the weakened and bulging disks. Unfortunately, most continue to be in chronic pain.
“Prolotherapy and PRP can and does strengthen lax ligaments, restoring and stimulating capillary blood flow to the connective tissues.”
When I look at these X-rays and examine the patient, what I find is a spine that is no longer supported by its essential web of ligaments and connective tissue. As the ligaments weakened, calcification invaded the tissues, and the joint began to lose its range of motion. Next, muscles began to spasm in an attempt to stabilize the joint. As movement was restricted, blood supply waned, and hypoxic tissue responses led to further desiccation and brittleness. As the connective tissue weakened, it became over stretched, inflamed and lax. The body attempted to solve this inflammatory process with calcified deposits, and spurs were formed.
“I often find that andropause, low testosterone, and back and neck pain go together.”
When I think of the mechanism of the disease, I also think of the natural treatments that can stop or in some cases reverse this process. We are fortunate because, in Oregon, Prolotherapy and PRP at Oregon Regenerative Medicine are cost-effective treatments. After Prolotherapy, the neck and back move more freely without pain. Neck stiffness, arm pain, and weakness begin to clear up. Trigger point therapy relaxes the muscle bundles and takes much of the pressure off the nerves as they course through the neck and shoulders, usually relieving the pain and numbness in the muscles of the arms and hands. Nutritional support provides the raw materials for healing, and since PRP Prolotherapy and trigger point injections enhance circulation, these nutrients can be delivered to the cells in need.
For men, I often find that andropause, low testosterone, and back and neck pain go together. For these men, bio-identical testosterone and testosterone pellet implants can make a difference in pain and muscle strength, and improve well-being in a welcome manner.
Arthritis of the neck and spine is treatable. Prolotherapy and PRP for arthritis of the cervical, thoracic and lumbar spine provides relief to over 85% of the people willing to try it. What are you waiting for?
Dr. Noel Peterson has practiced regenerative and orthopedic medicine in Lake Oswego, Oregon, since 1978. He is a Diplomate of The American Academy of Pain Management.
