LuAnns case of frozen shoulder and Prolotherapy
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The shoulder is a great area to treat with Prolotherapy. In our experience, a thorough Prolotherapy treatment and proper exercise and supplement regimen, can get a person with a shoulder injury back to full activity and range of motion. Take the instance of LuAnn, a 55 year-old retail worker, who came to us from North Carolina.
LuAnn suffered a direct fall onto her right shoulder and elbow after missing a step upon leaving a restaurant. While initially just embarrassed that she fell, the pain that night became increasingly worse and did not subside. Listening to her husband’s old school advice of "ice and ibuprofen," LuAnn thought she was going to feel better in a couple days once the initial swelling went down. However, after a couple months of this RICE protocol (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation), LuAnn had lost significant range of motion and strength in her arm, and the pain was constant from her shoulder down to her elbow. She could not lift her purse up onto her shoulder, and was limited in her ability to comfortably dress herself and wash her own hair. At work, she could only perform overhead work with her left arm, which was restricting her ability to fully function on the job. LuAnn consulted a local doctor who did an X-ray to ensure she did not break any bones. But she did not gain any detailed perspective on how to reverse her painful shoulder condition.
When LuAnn’s daughter went to visit her mother three months after her initial fall, and saw that she was not able to move her arm even halfway over her own head, she knew LuAnn needed to get another opinion. Lucky for LuAnn, her daughter was a patient of Dr. Hauser's and encouraged her to seek his opinion on Prolotherapy for her frozen shoulder. She explained to LuAnn how Prolotherapy helps the body to correct the underlying structural weakness. Typically, when done in conjunction with a local physical therapy or exercise program to restore range of motion, the results are great.
As we see here with our patients, the Prolotherapy technique is important, as the whole shoulder should be treated in order to begin repairing the damaged shoulder attachments. Prolotherapy works on the attachments, so an exercise program can be effective. Without it, many people with frozen shoulder, or adhesive capsulitis, do not fully regain their range of motion or may continue to suffer pain during and after physical therapy.
Knowing her mother was initially hesitant to travel for medical care, LuAnn’s daughter explained that it is actually very common for this type of specialty and her condition definitely warranted a qualified opinion for Prolotherapy. She could fly in and out the same day, if she wanted to. LuAnn made an appointment. At this point, she did not want to mess around anymore.
Upon first examination, Dr. Hauser explained that she was going to need to take this condition seriously if she wanted to get better. It would require LuAnn getting Prolotherapy, and being diligent with an exercise program to encourage strengthening and motion through the shoulder joint. He outlined a supplement program that would act as a natural alternative to the ibuprofen she was taking. He also wrote orders for a physical therapy program to begin after Prolotherapy. He explained how this multi-level approach would potentially get LuAnn pain free and with full use of her arm again. LuAnn was encouraged by the thoroughness of the exam and specific recommendations. She thought she was just coming in for "some shots" but it turned out to be a much more worthwhile experience. "Dr. Hauser even prayed with me before my treatment. That meant a lot that he really went the extra mile."
LuAnn returned to North Carolina with a renewed hope that she was finally going to get better. As Dr. Hauser had recommended, she followed up the Prolotherapy treatment with a round of physical therapy exercises, and specific supplement regimen to promote connective tissue healing. It has been over a year since we originally saw LuAnn, for Prolotherapy. LuAnn kept in touch with our office, as we do with many of our out of town patients, via phone and email. She continued to have less pain and more range of motion in her arm. She stated that she did not even think she needed another treatment, she was progressing so well.
Today LuAnn is back to being fully functional at work and in her activities of daily living. She said to us during a recent follow up call, "Every time I raise my right arm over my head I’m reminded of the power of Prolotherapy. Dr. Hauser put my condition into perspective for me, and I was able to re-gain use of my arm again. Now when I’m working in the store and I see someone limping or in pain, I tell them about you guys." Thanks LuAnn, we’re happy to help! If you have a chronic condition, such as a Frozen Shoulder, contact us to see how we may be able to help you gain full use and less pain of the area again. Dr. Hauser and our team would love to see you here in Chicagoland!
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