Prolotherapy is known for effectively healing common injuries such as knee, low back and shoulder pain. But there are many conditions caused by structural weaknesses that can be healed or relieved with Prolotherapy. Conventional medicine tends to use treatments that manage symptoms, but Prolotherapy addresses the root of each problem: a structural weakness. Listed below are less common conditions that can be helped with Prolotherapy.

Morton’s Neuroma: When pressure, injury or irritation is applied to the digital nerves that lead to the toes, ligaments and tendons are weakened. The foot responds to the trauma with a growth of thickened nerve tissue, or a neuroma. A Morton’s neuroma can result from wearing poorly fitted or high-heeled shoes that compress and put pressure on the feet, as well as very athletic and high-impact activities that traumatize the feet. It can also be due to poor foot mechanics. Although this burning pain and numbness may be due to nerve entrapment, it may also be due to ligament and tendon weakness. The condition occurs most frequently in women. Conventional treatments include surgery, steroid injections, anti-inflammatory and suturing.Unfortunately, these typically do not cure the problem, and may actually worsen it.

Bunions: A bunion is an enlargement of the joint at the base of the big toe (the metatarsophalangeal or MTP joint) that forms when the bone or tissue moves out of place. The toe bends inward at an awkward angle, which usually creates a large bone lump. If not treated, bunions can become very painful since this area supports a lot of body weight. Bunionsdevelop when excess pressure is placed on the tendons and joints of the foot. Bunions can also result from foot injuries, congenital deformities and neuromuscular disorders. Flat foot and low arch problems are often precursors to bunions, as are problems with serious arthritis or inflammatory joint disease. An overlap of the first and second toes often causes irritation and corns and can eventually lead to bunions. Poor motion of the big toe can also be a factor. Conventional treatments include surgery and pain management with anti-inflammatories and steroid injections.

Gait abnormality: While many different types of gait abnormalities are produced unconsciously, most, although not all are due to some type of physical malfunction. An abnormal gait is often due to disease or abnormality in one of many different areas of the body. Most of the time the condition is due to muscle weakness because of an abnormal joint plagued by aligament injury or weakness, such as could be the case with osteoarthritis. When ligaments are loose or weakened, the muscles in the area also weaken as they try to avoid movement in the affected joint and atrophy or waste away. Conventional treatments include home care, exercises, and therapy which typically only partially improve the condition.

Prolotherapy for uncommon conditions: Conventional medical treatments may help relieve the symptoms of these conditions, but they do not address the root of the problem. Structural weaknesses can cause many types of injuries, pain and conditions. By strengthening structural weaknesses in the body, as natural medicine therapies like Prolotherapy do, many conditions can be healed permanently. The safest and most effective natural medicine treatment to strengthen tendons, ligaments and cartilages, and thereby the surrounding muscles, is Prolotherapy. In simple terms, Prolotherapystimulates the body to repair weakened, and often very painful, areas. It does so by inducing a mild inflammatory reaction in the ligaments, tendons and cartilage. Since the body heals by inflammation, Prolotherapy stimulates healing.

If you are interested in more information about Prolotherapy or to schedule an appointment with Dr. Ross Hauser, please contact us at 708-848-7789 or online using our contact form.