Analysis |
For the analysis, patient percentages of the various responses were calculated. These responses gathered from patients before Prolotherapy were then compared with the responses to the same questions after Prolotherapy. The patient percentages were also calculated for clients who answered “Yes” to the following question: “Before starting Prolotherapy it was the consensus of the my MD(s) that there were no other treatment options that he knew of to get rid of my chronic pain?”
PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS
Complete data was obtained on a total of 19 feet who met the inclusion criteria. Of these, 74% (14) were female and 26% (5) were male. The average age of the patients was 56 years-old. Patients reported an average of four years, six months of pain and on average they saw 2.6 MD’s before receiving Prolotherapy. The average patient was taking 1.1 pain medications. Forty-two percent (8) stated that the consensus of their medical doctor(s) was that there were no other treatment options for their chronic pain. The demographics of the patients can be seen in Table 1.
| Table 1. Foot patient demographics. |
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TREATMENT OUTCOMES
Patients received an average of 3.1 Prolotherapy treatments per foot/toes. The average time of follow-up after their last Prolotherapy session was 18 months.
Patients were asked to rate their pain and stiffness levels on a scale of 1 to 10 with 1 being no pain/stiffness and 10 being severe crippling pain/stiffness. All 19 patients reported pain as a symptom, 10 of the 19 reported stiffness as a symptom. The patients had an average starting pain level of 7.1 and stiffness level of 7.0. The average ending pain and stiffness levels were 2.3 and 2.8 respectively. Sixty-three percent had a starting pain level of 7 or greater, while none had a starting pain level of three or less, whereas after Prolotherapy only 6% (one patient) had a pain level of 7 or greater, while 79% had a pain level of three or less. One-hundred percent of the 9 patients reporting stiffness as a symptom had a stiffness level of 5 or greater before Prolotherapy. (See Figure 2.)
| Figure 2. Pain levels before and after receiving Hackett-Hemwall dextrose Prolotherapy in 19 patients with unresolved foot pain. |
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One-hundred percent of patients stated their pain and stiffness were improved after Prolotherapy. Over 73% percent said the improvements in their pain and stiffness since their last Prolotherapy session have continued 100%. Eighty-four percent of patients stated Prolotherapy relieved at least 50% of their pain. Sixty-three percent received greater than 75% pain relief. All 100% of patients experienced at least 25% pain relief with Prolotherapy. In regard to pain medication usage, before Prolotherapy the average patient was taking 1.1 pain medications but this decreased to 0.2 medications after Prolotherapy.
In regard to quality of life issues prior to receiving Prolotherapy, 58% of patients had a compromised walking ability, but this decreased to 26% after Prolotherapy. Specifically, 37% could walk 3 blocks or less before Prolotherapy, decreasing to 5% (1 patient) that could only walk 3 blocks or less after Prolotherapy. (See Figure 3.)
| Figure 3. Walking ability before and after Hackett-Hemwall dextrose Prolotherapy in 19 patients with unresolved foot pain. |
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In regard to exercise or athletic ability prior to Prolotherapy, 74% said it was compromised, but after Prolotherapy this decreased to 63%. Before Prolotherapy, only 58% could do 30 minutes or more of exercise, whereas after Prolotherapy this increased to 95%. (See Figure 4.)
| Figure 4. Athletic ability before and after Hackett-Hemwall dextrose Prolotherapy in 19 patients with unresolved foot pain. |
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Prior to Prolotherapy, 48% of patients had feelings of depression and 58% had feelings of anxiety. After Prolotherapy, only 16% had depressed feelings and 16% had feelings of anxiety. (See Figures 5 & 6.)
| Figure 5. Depression level before and after Hackett-Hemwall dextrose Prolotherapy in 19 patients with unresolved foot pain. |
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| Figure 6. Anxiety level before and after Hackett-Hemwall dextrose Prolotherapy in 19 patients with unresolved foot pain. |
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In regard to sleep, 53% of patients felt their foot/toe pain interrupted their sleep. After Prolotherapy, 90% of this group had improvements in their sleeping ability.
To a simple yes or no question “Has Prolotherapy changed your life for the better?” 100% of patients treated answered “Yes.” Eighty-four percent of patients rated the Prolotherapy as successful for them (50% or greater pain relief). Sixty-three percent rated it as very successful (75% or greater pain relief). Sixty-eight percent stated that the results from Prolotherapy have very much continued to this day (75% or greater). Ninety-five percent of patients knew someone who had received Prolotherapy. Seventy-nine percent came to receive their first Prolotherapy session because of the recommendation of a friend. One-hundred percent of patients have recommended Prolotherapy to someone.
RESULTS FOR THOSE WHOSE MD'S SAID NO OTHER TREATMENT OPTION AVAILABLE
As previously noted, 42% of patients (8 in number) prior to Prolotherapy were told that there were no other treatment options for their pain. As a group, they suffered with pain on average 54 months. In analyzing these patients, they had a starting average pain level of 7.4 and after Prolotherapy of 3.2. Prior to Prolotherapy, 88% of the patients rated their pain as a level 8 or higher and none rated it a 4 or less. Prior to Prolotherapy, they rated their foot stiffness as a 5.0 and ending of 2.5. All eight patients had improvements in pain and stiffness levels. Six of the eight (75%) had 50% or greater pain relief. All had 25% or greater pain relief. As a group, they were on an average of 2.5 pain medications before Prolotherapy, but this decreased to 0.3 medications after completing treatment.
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