Prolotherapy - Experiences?

[MomToTwoBoys]

[ame]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prolotherapy[/ame]

Long story short, I was diagnosed with multidirectional instability (MDI) after I fell and dislocated my shoulder back in 1999. I've been through two shoulder surgeries (one in 2000 and another in 2001) and still have problems with slippage/joint grindage. A friend of mine who is finishing his medical residency at the end of this month suggested Prolotherapy as opposed to surgical procedures.

Has anyone had experience with it and/or had relatives who went through it, as opposed to surgery? I'm debating taking this route.

[earthymom]

My first reaction I am ashamed to say is "will insurance cover it"? But my second, gut reaction, is give non-surgical/non-invasive therapies a chance first always.

Being a resident, your friend is up on on the latest that's hard for "regular" doctors to keep up with. Still, seek multiple opinions.

I hope your situation improves regardless.

[Ceashels]

Very little in the Wiki link talked about the uses for shoulder (gleno-humeral) laxity and instability. The shoulder is designed to be very mobile so without ligamentous support the stability is poor.

It seems like prolotherapy treatment hasn't been around that long and with very inconsistent results. Have you done further research to learn what other trials have been done?

[MomToTwoBoys]

Nah not yet. I've given it a thought probably a couple times (my brain's so frazzled lately, it's hard to store much in there without stuff being forgotten). My shoulder definitely isn't the way that it used to be, but there's been alot of times when it's popped and cracked to the point where it hurts quite a bit.

I've tried physical therapy but it made it worse. The doctor that did my last surgery told me I'd need surgery for the rest of my life. I was looking at some options of making my shoulder better without having to go under the knife a third (or more) time.