One of the most interesting parts of the body to treat with
Prolotherapy is the hip. The reason is that most people mistakenly call
different parts of the body, the hip.
The "hip" could be the back of the pelvis
where the iliolumbar ligament attaches to the L4 and L5 vertebrae, The "hip" can also be
the greater trochanteric bursa, where there is a lump on the side of the
femur (the thigh bone). Or "the hip" may be the thick fascia that attaches the
quadraceps muscle on the front of the thigh to the pelvis, The "hip" may
actually be the hip joint or the ligaments that hold the hip in place in the
pelvis (in the acetabulum).
Sometimes it is a herniated disc that can refer pain to the area
of the hip, or a mixture of some, or all of the above, depending on the
patient's condition. So, a very complete examination of all of these areas
with my hands must be made to determine the hip pain source. I can't depend on an X-Ray or MRI to tell me
where to do the Prolotherapy treatment.
There are too many people that have hip
arthritis and have no pain, and visa-versa.
A great example is Joe DeAngeles, who has been Mr. America, Mr.
Universe, and has other exceptional titles. Joe could squat 750 pounds. When his butt touched the ground, he experienced extreme pain in the "hip".
I examined Joe and found that although he thought he
had injured his hip, I found a baseball sized "lump" that felt like bone on
the greater trochanter. His pain went all the way down the side of his thigh
to his knee. After a few Prolotherapy treatments in my Los Angeles clinic, we were amazed at the
miracle healing we saw. Not only was his pain gone, but the "lump" disappered and he
was back to squats again.
Joe DeAngeles - Dr. Darrow's Prolotherapy Patient
Former Mr. America and Mr. Universe
Actual hip arthritis in the joint is no different in the way a
Prolotherapist treats it than any other part of the body. Often, the hip pain is
felt in the groin and there is limited range of motion of the femur. I
typically use Prolotherapy injections in two areas.
The first- below the pelvis at its
intersection with the upper limit of the pubic bone, and then laterally just
above the greater trochanter. Patients will tell me that they have a little
stiffness, and then feel better or pain free for a day or so in the
beginning. Then, the days of "freedom from pain" usually increase till full
healing is achieved.
The main goal is to avoid needless hip replacement or resurfacing.
The side effects from hip replacement are often disasterous. There can be
dislocation, short leg syndrome or infection. Prolotherapy is a great and
less invasive alternative in which a patient walks out of my office and
goes back to work.
 About Dr. Darrow: Doctor Marc Darrow is a leading Prolotherapy specialist in Los Angeles, California. Dr. Darrow has been featured in NewsWeek, Men's Health, ESPN, Muscle & Fitness and Golf Today for his unique approach to pain management using Prolotherapy, To learn more about Dr. Darrow's use of Prolotherapy, please click here to schedule an appointment or call (310) 231-7000.
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