What to Do Before and After Your Prolotherapy Treatments

All patients are encouraged to moderate their activities for 24 hours following each session, after which they can resume appropriate physical activity. Pain following the injections is usually short term, and can often be controlled with the natural enzyme bromelain. Occasionally a few doses of aspirin or Tylenol may be recommended to ease post-injection pain, and rarely a narcotic pain reliever such as Vicodin is prescribed.

The M.E.A.T. Protocol:
MOVEMENT, EXERCISE, ANALGESICS, TREATMENT.

MOVEMENT and EXERCISE stimulate blood flow, muscle conditioning, and growth factors. Movement of the affected tendons, joints and ligaments is essential to insure that the new collagen aligns correctly. Specific exercises may be prescribed and it will be essential for you perform them through your rehabilitation.

ANALGESICS facilitate movement and encourage healing. We use natural enzymes to reduce swelling and promote blood flow. In contrast, drugs like ibuprofen, indocin, naproxin, phenylbutazone, and cortisone are all contraindicated because they turn off your body's healing response and inhibit collagen synthesis. In rare cases, we prescribe Tylenol short term or Vicodin and other narcotic based drugs for pain if natural products are insufficient.

TREATMENT using ultrasound and sine wave, myofascial release, trigger point therapy, and diet changes all promote healing and hasten recovery. Depending on your diagnosis, a specific course of supportive treatment will be prescribed.

I do not recommend the R.I.C.E. protocol: R est, I ce, C ompression, and E levation because these methods actually inhibit your body's healing response.

Diet and Healing
What you eat can and will have a profound effect on your healing.

First, avoid sugar. Sugar will increase your production of insulin, and insulin will inhibit your ability make new connective tissue. Instead, eat the Athlete's Food Pyramid: emphasize plenty of healthy proteins, whole foods and legumes, healthy oils and fats, vegetables, whole fruits, and whole grains. Follow the Zone recommendations of 30% of calories from protein, 30% from healthy fats, and 40% from whole grains, fruits, vegetables and legumes.

Anti-inflammatory foods

Dr. James A. Duke suggests in The Journal of Medicinal Food s that many compounds that promote connective tissue repair and control inflammation. are present in our foods. The following list includes his best food and herbal sources for safely healing your injuries:

  • Chamomile
  • Celery seed
  • Ginkgo
  • Skullcap (baicalein source)
  • Hops, barberry, goldenseal, and Oregon grape for berberine
  • Boswellia for boswellic acid
  • Green tea, rhubarb and current for catechin
  • Green tea, cabbage, and chives for kaempferol
  • Clove, lavender, marjoram, and ginseng
  • Ginger, cardamon, and turmeric for curcumin
  • Rosemary, thyme and sage for ursolic acid
  • Salmon and whole flax seeds for omega 3's

 

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