Prolotherapy

       For some odd reason I was a bona fide Parkinson's sufferer today. I could not hide it. I stumbled everywhere I walked and had to hold on to everything.  I stopped in another store and took my walker out of the trunk when I went into the store.  I thought I would be OK.  After about 10 minutes I felt so tired and so weak all over.  I had to leave the store and I was really in the mood to shop! Life can really suck having Parkinson's. I was exhausted driving home. There is no rhyme or reason to this dreaded disease.   

           Olya's boss scheduled her to work tomorrow.  We have two cars and two girls who need to get to work tomorrow!  Today I was chatting with my other friend named Deb!  She is a physical fitness buff!  She was saying to me that weight is a choice.  She does NOT have one ounce of fat on her body!!  I think that some people are predisposed to being thin.  I think Olivia and Olya are predisposed to being thin. However, I am NOT!! I am predisposed to loving food!!        

        I found this information online.  I will ask my pain management doctor about it next time that I see her. I never heard of this therapy before!  Olya is home!! I am so happy.  She planted my flowers outside in pots for me without me even asking her to do it. She is so sweet and helpful. I had moderate pain today and it increased when I did my PT exercises, It is sort of like I want to run away from the exercises but I know that I have to do them.  I spent part of the day returning shirts to Boscovs, I had to sit down in the shoe department because my sciatica was so bad!  I found sneakers while sitting there but the line was so long that I couldn't stand in it ! I'll go back tomorrow and get them!  

         In one of the online Parkinson's groups that I belong to, someone wrote about how Parkinson's disease is the worst thing that can happen to anyone. It is awful but certainly NOT the worst thing in life. I responded that it is NOT the worst thing, that I buried my 18 yr old daughter and that was definitely the WORST thing that can happen to any parent.  The only thing worse would be to bury more than one child.  Sadly, I know two moms that lost two children.  The woman responded back to me that I shouldn't be judging what is the worst thing.  I am not judging anyone, but losing a child trumps any other sadness in life. It is sad to lose parents, relatives and friends.  And it is awful to have sick children, but where there is life, there is hope. I hope no one ever has to suffer the loss of a child.  My friend Deb asked me how I was doing about my friend Roe's death.  I miss Roe everyday.  We use to go to the gym and walk on the treadmills and chat. It was a nice way to start the day.  Roe was so sweet, I  ever heard her say a bad word about anyone, ever.  Her death was so sudden that it is hard to accept.  I hope she is with her son Steven and I hope she has met with Amy!  Below is some information I found online about prolotherapy.

   

The disruption to the lives of those who experience joint and back pain can be serious. From missed work to decreased mobility, the impact of back and joint pain can affect nearly every aspect of someone's life.

In this article, we examine what prolotherapy consists of, what someone should expect from this procedure, and how effective it is in reducing pain.

What is Prolotherapy?

Prolotherapy is a procedure where a natural irritant is injected into the soft tissue of an injured joint. The irritant kick-starts the body's healing response.

Prolotherapy is not a surgical treatment. Because of this, it is also known as a regenerative joint injection or non-surgical ligament and tendon reconstruction.

Doctors mainly use prolotherapy to treat injured joints and ligaments. While it is most commonly used for the back, doctors may also use prolotherapy in the following areas of the body:

• knees
• hips
• shoulders
• other joints and ligaments

In some cases, people with chronic conditions, such as degenerative disc disease or arthritis, may wish to use prolotherapy to help ease their pain.

How does it work?

Prolotherapy is an injection that contains a potential irritant, such as a dextrose solution. The irritant is thought to trigger the body's healing response.

Once activated, the body will start to strengthen and repair damaged ligaments in the joint. The strengthening of the ligaments, over time, helps to stabilize the joint. Once the joint is better supported, the pain can disappear.

Prolotherapy usually requires several shots at the site of the injury or weakened area to be effective. An individual can expect anywhere from 4 to 15 shots per session, and for several sessions to occur over the course of 3 to 6 months.

The injection must be precise so that the irritant is placed at the area or areas requiring ligament repair.

Once prepared, the doctor will use a long, thin needle to deliver the irritant solution to several different points around the target area in the back or joint. The number of injections used depends on the area or joint affected.