It was in August 2004 that I began noticing pain in my left shoulder. This persisted for several months causing many wakeful nights due to pain. Ibuprofen was minimally helpful.
In October of 2004, I saw an orthopedic surgeon who felt, after x-rays, that I had an impingement syndrome of my rotator cuff with a bursitis. He gave me a cortisone shot, which gave relief for about two months. When the pain returned, along with weakness of my left arm, the surgeon ordered an MRI. That was in February of 2005. He felt that, along with a bursitis, my rotator cuff was being pinched (impingement syndrome) between the outer end of my collar bone and the acromion (bone on top of my shoulder). He scheduled me for surgery the latter part of March, 2005. His plan was to cut off the outer end of my collar bone and shave off the under surface of the acromion to enlarge the space for my rotator cuff to function. He indicated I would need physical therapy afterwards to restore the strength and range of motion of my shoulder.
Two weeks before the surgery date I “just happened” to call my friend, Dr. George Kramer, about an unrelated matter. He asked how I was doing and at that time I told him about my up coming surgery. He asked if I had considered Prolotherapy as an alternative before submitting to surgery. He explained that Prolotherapy was a “natural method to treat chronic painful conditions. It involved a series of injections to the painful area at the points where ligaments attach to the bones. Fifteen percent dextrose (sugar water) along with lidocaine, to numb the injections, is used. This causes the ligament, tendon and cartilage tissues to grow and strengthen, thus alleviating the pain.” His final comment to me was that I could always have the surgery at a later date if the Prolotherapy didn’t work.
I decided it was worth the trial. I cancelled the surgery and proceeded to have the injections around my shoulder. This was done at monthly intervals for four visits. At each visit Dr. Kramer gave me twelve or so injections. By the second month I could detect improvement with less pain and improved range of motion. At the fourth, and last visit, I was almost pain free and my strength was returning. As I continued with the exercises Dr. Kramer instructed me in, I fully recovered my strength and range of motion. I remain pain free with full use of my shoulder and very grateful I didn’t submit to surgery.
My next experience with Prolotherapy involved my left knee and right ankle. I needed arthroscopic surgery on my left knee in April of 2004 for torn cartilage. At that time the orthopedic surgeon said I had significant degenerative joint disease and would probably need a total knee replacement in the not too distant future.
I enjoy brisk walking for exercise, but because of my very flat feet I developed significant right ankle pain. This started in the fall of 2007. At the same time pain returned in my left knee. I had to give up walking and the pounds began to increase on my body. In December, 2007 I returned to Dr. Kramer and after a series of five monthly injections to my left ankle and four to my left knee, I’m back walking up to sixty minutes a day and feel great. I also had one injection to the base of my left thumb for painful degenerative disease with an equally excellent result.
At a recent visit, Dr. Kramer told me that in the last 6 to 12 months he has had five patients cancel their total knee replacement surgery after receiving Prolotherapy. If you have been able to read through this lengthy testimonial, you will understand how grateful I am for the value of Prolotherapy and Dr. Kramer’s expertise in treating my problems.