What is Prolozone therapy?
Prolozone is a technique pioneered by Frank Schallenberger, MD, HMD that involves injecting various combinations of local anesthetic (lidocaine), anti-inflammatories and/or homeopathics, vitamins, minerals, proliferatives and ozone into degenerated or injured joints and into areas of pain. The result of this combination can be remarkable in that damaged tissues may be regenerated and untreatable pain may be permanently controlled.
What Causes Pain?
Connective tissue is damaged all the time during daily activity. This is normal. When the connective tissue is damaged, stem cells and blast cells are called into the area of injury. Growth factors are stimulated and very soon the damage is repaired. It is hypothesized that when localized areas of injury fail to heal it is a result of a localized decrease in the utilization of oxygen. If this process can be reversed, then an area of chronic pain can be normal again and an area of chronic degeneration will begin to regenerate as it was supposed to do in the first place.
Circulation and oxygen utilization is decreased in areas of ligaments and joints which is why chronic pain and degeneration commonly occurs in joints and ligaments and rarely in other tissues. Additionally, oxygen decrease in these tissues is further compromised by aging. Both the initial trauma and ensuing edema and inflammation will result in a decrease in circulation to joints and ligaments. This compromises the delivery of oxygen and important nutrients necessary for healing. This decreases circulation even further resulting in a viscous cycle of continued inflammation, edema and pain Break that cycle and the cells and tissues can begin to heal. That is what Prolozone does.
How Is Prolozone Administered?
Most patients do not need to be sedated for the treatment. The area to be treated is clipped free of hair and sterilly prepped. A small gauge needle is used for the treatment. A combination of lidocaine, B vitamins, and in some cases homeopathics (Zeel or Traumeel) or proliferatives (sodium murrhate) are first injected into the joint followed by ozone. Multiple areas may be safely treated at one time.
What Conditions Respond to Prolozone?
Anything associated with pain will respond to Prolozone therapy. This includes chronic neck and back pain, degenerative and arthritic hips, stifles, carpi, hocks, degenerated discs, scars, non-union fractures, infections. The value of Prolozone is that it actually corrects the pathology of the disorder. In humans, 75% of chronic pain sufferers who undergo Prolozone therapy become permanently pain free.
How Many Treatments are Needed?
After treatment, there is an immediate decrease in pain. Owners often report a resolution of lameness within 48-72 hours after a treatment. The treatment response varies from animal to animal, but most animals will need only 3-6 treatments. Some pets with long term debilitating pain may need “booster” injections every 3-4 months. There is little to no pain or other side effects noted with this therapy. There is no special aftercare required post Prolozone therapy.
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