Many friends ask what kind of injections I receive during my road to recovery. Here is a brief sumamary of prolotherapy. It is used to aid the healing process.
Introduction to Prolotherapy
Prolotherapy is an injection technique that has been shown to cause proliferation (growth) of cells and tissue to stabilize and strengthen weakened joints, cartilage, ligaments and tendons. The injected solution intentionally causes controlled irritation in the injected tissue. This irritation is an inflammatory response, which increases the blood supply and thereby stimulates the tissue to heal and regrow new tissue.

Prolotherapy strengthens ligaments instead of weakening them, as in the case of cortisone. The solutions vary from sucrose to fish oil. It is a non-surgical treatment, which appeals to many candidates.

 The term "Prolotherapy" is short for "proliferation therapy." Proliferation, of course, means "rapid production." What Prolotherapy rapidly produces is collagen and cartilage. Collagen is a naturally occurring protein in the body that is a necessary element for the formation of new connective tissue—the tissues that holds our skeletal infrastructure together. These tissues include, tendons, ligaments, muscle fascia and joint capsular tissue.

It is not dangerous, and no serious side effects have been reported. Prolotherapy can be used to strengthen ligaments or used to speed up the healing process of injuries. The below picture is of a patient receiving a prolotherapy injection for back pain.

all resources from visit getprolo.org

Something interesting in stem cell research. The FDA is banning stem cell therapy using the stem cells from a patient's own fat. They claim that once it is extracted from a body it is considered "medicine". But, a few days ago,  Fox News showed a clip from a local doctor who continues to use this therapy. If interested, here is the link:
http://www.drmagaziner.com/stem-cell-therapy-philadelpha-south-jersey-news/
But, no such great news for this doctor, the FDA is now investigating.

Last Thursday, February 9, I received a stem cell treatment on my knees. It was an exciting day for me. Stem cell therapy is a promising treatment, especially for severely damaged joints, tendons, muscles, etc. It took about two hours from start to finish. To sum up briefly, my doctor, Dr. Shiple, took some blood from my arm and bone marrow from my iliac crest (top of hip bone). The bone marrow and blood was placed into a machine, stem cells and platelets extracted. With guidance from ultrasound, Dr.Shiple placed the stem cells into my damaged knees and the platelets into some not as severe injuries. I was sent home to bed rest for the first 24 hours. It was a long night, which I could not sleep because of a deep throbbing pain. I am feeling much better today, just very sore. I have faith this treatment will work. Time is on my side, and I am doing everything possible that will aid in my recovery.

This blog shares the advances in medicine. Such developments will be described and explained as how it can help others to overcome a variety of health problems. For the past several years, there have been numerous findings in such therapies such as platelet rich plasma therapy, prolotherapy, and stem cell therapy.
I have had much experience in having these treatments to aid in the recovery of multiple sport injuries. I was diagnosed with a genetic collagen disorder in 2010. These treatments are helping me to gain full strength and mobility. If you want to learn about how these therapies can help you and your ailments, follow my blog. Any advances or new research will be posted and shared with viewers.