Cortisone injections have been in use for decades for acute injuries. Although helpful in some situations, has many draw backs — in particular, the weakening of fibrous and ligamentous structures that in many cases leads to eventual long term disability and pain. Quite the opposite of the intended result!

Prolotherapy is a method of injection treatment designed to stimulate healing. Various irritant solutions (natural or synthetic) are injected (with anesthetic) into the ligaments, tendons, and joints to encourage repair of damaged tissue.

The original developers of Prolotherapy were three physicians from the 1930s, Earl Gedney, D.O., George Hackett, M.D., and David Shuman, D.O. Advanced techniques and availability of newer proliferants have made this art more popular and specialized training has made it more accessible. Dr. Hackett described Prolotherapy as strengthening "the weld of disabled ligaments and tendons to bone by stimulating the production of new bone and fibrous tissue cells."

Dr. Toth has had the good fortune of learning under the tutelage of some of the great pioneers in the field of Prolotherapy: Dr. Jeffery Patterson, Dr. Brian Shiple, Dr. Carl Osborn, and
Dr. Jon Trister. This, and extensive training on cadavers, and with fluoroscopy has been critical to learning the correct technique. These have proven to be essential elements in Dr. Toth's success with Prolotherapy.

Exercise does not strengthen injured ligaments, so there will always be a need for a procedure to do this just shy of surgery. Prolotherapy fits this niche very well.

Prolotherapy has proven itself to be a safe, effective and affordable alternative to cortisone and surgery, and is available here with Dr. John R. Toth at Advanced Integrative Medicine in Concord, CA.