So how long exactly is this supposed to last?!

 Understandably, patients who receive Regenerative Injection Therapy - whether that is Prolotherapy or Platelet Therapy - want to know how long to expect their benefits to last.

And as much as I would like to forecast each unique scenario with exact precision, I am left with two realms of information to draw from in order to answer that question - observations of myself and colleagues' RIT work, and research.

So today I am discussing Prolotherapy research published in 2012 (document below). I am wanting in particular to look at Prolotherapy because, as I explain to any patients considering either RIT therapy, while both stimulate the body to regenerate the damaged tissue, Prolotherapy is a more gentle force (Platelet Therapy is roughly three times stronger in its effect per treatment).

After injections to the knees for osteoarthritis symptoms such as pain and stiffness (this condition is also known as Degenerative Joint Disease), participants noted improvement around the 4 week mark. I usually counsel patients that we will assess an initial effect in the 3 to 4 week time-frame.

The surprising conclusion is that participants continued to see improvement "through the 52-week followup." That means continued regenerative healing seen one year later.

That is impressive. Can you think of any other treatment recommendation for a chronic musculoskeletal disease, where positive effects continue and accumulate and are seen at least one year afterward?!

The conclusion from that study was that, "prolotherapy may result in safe, significant, sustained improvement of knee pain, function and stiffness." 

This is why I do RIT my friend, because it is safe, it is profound and it truly stimulates healing to deeply, chronically injured areas where surgery is often the only conventional recommendation (and you can see my prior post about how that may be a completely ineffective option).

Where would you like to be in a year? How would you like to feel right about this time in 2017?  Do yourself the favor to at least see whether RIT techniques might be the right fit for you.

If you are in or travel to the Portland area, you can give our office a call to set up a consultation or new patient appointment. I look forward to helping you (and your joints!) reach their maximum potential!

To your best health,
Dr. Angela Cortal

prolo_for_koa_1_yr_follow_up_2012.pdf
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