Osteoarthritis Update

     It has been a good year since I wrote my last article about my knees and the issues I was having.  Since that time, I have talked to a good friend of mine who decided to have stem cell.  Doing that is so expensive!  It's 3000.00 - 5000/00 per knee, insurance won't pay for it, and there is no guarantee that it will work.  Heck with that! 

     This same friend was shopping one day at Natural Grocers.  At this store they had a booth set up called Energetic Health.  If you live in the Boise area, I highly recommend seeing them for natural healing. 

     Anyway, they introduced her to Prolozone injections.  She talked to me about it, and I was so skeptical.  I shouldn't be with the experience that I have with a plant based diet.  Food is healing, why can't ozone be healing, and who came up with this anyway.  I will post an article below.  Here is the readers digest definition:

Prolozone is a form of non-surgical ligament reconstruction and is a permanent treatment for chronic pain. Prolozone is a connective tissue injection therapy of collagen producing substances and ozone gas which can reconstruct damaged or weakened connective tissue in and around joints.

     Still skeptical, but willing to go talk to them I went to the office.  Dr. Jeff Hartford talked to me about this process, and the great success they have had with it.  You can have as many shots are you need, it lasts a life time.  It is inexpensive to say the least compared to a total knee replacement or stem cell.  I was all set up to have 2 total knee replacements, but I thought I would try this first and I had time since the surgeon was so busy that I couldn't get in for about a year.  (thank heavens!)  I decided to give it a try.  He prepared my shots.  By this time I was sweating.  I HATE any type of injections.  The first part of the shot is B vitamins, and lidocaine to numb the pain.  He then fills 2 syringes with what looks to be air, but it's ozone.  So weird.  I felt like he was playing make believe because you can't see it!  He prepared my knees, and starts the process.  The shots hurt a little, not bad, but when he puts the ozone in, it is the weirdest feeling!  It's a bit of pressure and you can feel air circulating in and around your joints.  After the shots, he placed me on this machine that shakes it all into place.  It's a bit hard to walk at first, but with this machine it really helps to stabilize everything.  

     After it's done he lets you know that you should stay active, so I went grocery shopping.  Felt pretty good, and I was on my way to healing.  Life went about normally, and I started experiencing pain again, so I went in for another shot.  Each time after my injections the movement, and pain got better and better.  

     I have had a total of 4 shots.  Some people have up to 6 and never have to go back.  After my 4th, I can now go to the gym and get on the elliptical, and the indoor bicycle without any problems.  I'm so thankful to Dr. Hartford.  He is so knowledgeable and makes you feel at ease.  

     What have I learned from all this?  I have learned that you have to take your health into your own hands.  You have to do the research.  Had I had my knees replaced I would have never been the same.  Lots of patients continue to experience life long hardships after joint replacement surgery.  Just remember that doctors don't know it all.  In the long run, they are there to make money.  It's a business.  This isn't to say that there are no good doctors out there.  I have met some wonderful physicians who truly care about a patients well being, but it doesn't hurt to do a little research for yourself.  

 https://www.georgekramermd.com/prolozone/

     
     

1 comment:

Unknown said...

Wow! Naomi, I am so happy that this therapy has worked for you. Thank you for sharing.