Prolotherapy, the effects of a scientifically unproven treatment

 

Dynamecho to Manila in the Philippines to visit my friend Dr. Jeimylo De Castro who was organizing a course on prolotherapy with Dr. John Lyftogt founder of the Perineural Injection Treatment® (or also known as Neural Prolotherapy)

As a curious scientist I looked at various scientific articles dealing with the subject with the conclusion that there is a lack of clinical evidence to demonstrate the effectiveness of this type of treatment.

That said, my experience has taught me that there is often a gap between scientific studies and the clinical practice. So I wanted to further my curiosity to try to understand the concept and especially to see the clinical effects on patients with my own eyes because unlike many courses, in this workshop there are real patients with problems. real symptoms that come to be treated … this is where it becomes juicy!

So here I am immersed in another world, another country with in my thoughts a mixture of skepticism and curiosity.

At first sight the theory is in agreement with the treatises of anatomy and the speech is coherent, being practical practico, I thus impatiently wait the moment of the treatment and the implementation of the clinical side. When the time came, my barriers of skepticism collapsed leaving me speechless facing of immediate results with patients pain-free , a particular case completely stupefied me.

Clinical Case: Mrs. X Falling on a scooter a year ago on the head and the right side with acute pain in the cervical spine, high thoracic region and paresthesia in the right arm up to the thumb,index and middle finger. She has regular migraine, cutaneous sensitivity on the right shoulder for 9 months and actually became bilateral. Muscular weaknesses of the right upper limb. Treated by classical Medicine- PT – Chiro without any result. Her last chance remain surgery …
After an XRay examination requested by the surgeon (Dr. Anthony Paul L.) it turns out that a C5 fracture with traumatic degeneration was not detected at the time of the accident. In agreement with her patient they make the decision to try the method and being treated by Dr. Lyftogt before doing surgery …

Treatment:

After a careful inspection of the anatomical landmarks of the nerves and pin pointing these landmarks with a dermographic pencil, the injections begin according to a mapping of points established initially in agreement with the pains described by the patient and the palpation of the sensitive points … ( I begin to understand why it is difficult to have a positive opinion in EBM since each patient has his own symptomatology thus it is difficult to standardize!)

Result:

A few seconds after the injections, the patient reports a remaining pain in the cervical and occipital region …. Dr Lyftogt adjusts with another 2 -3 injections and there …. as Cartesian as I am, this patient started weeping !!! No more pain ….. I can not believe it! ….
Behind her hands drying her tears a radiant face appears as cleared of a heavy burden that gradually gives way to a shy smile of a dazzling beauty. It’s that kind of face that I think any clinician would like to bring to their patients and that brings you some pride and satisfaction in your job.
Here, no hidden camera or trick, no magic or Voodoo, neither as well a group of illuminated guided by a guru but a simple practical clinic with an immediate result on the pain that this patient endures for more than one year every single day.

The patients of the doctors that are following the course were treated as well with always and immediate improvements.
So I decided to test myself on an old wound and put myself as a test dummy in the name of science! After few injections … no doubt … clinically… it works!

At present I do not know what disturbs me the most … if it is all these doctors take the course trying to bring relief to their patients with a simple technique so much criticized, if it is the patients themselves who transmit you their emotions through a real relief of pain, maybe it is this incredible surgeon who does not hesitate to find a less invasive and alternative solution even going beyond scientific proof and criticism, is it the disappearance of my own pain or maybe Dr. John Lyftogt himself who in an immense humility and infinite kindness relieves these patients and make them free of pain according to a protocol based on anatomy and the clinical practice.

The answer is undoubtedly complex and most probably a part of a whole but this gives back to medicine its true meaning in its definition and for us not to forget, although science is currently taking more and more place, medicine also remains art.

Thanks to:

Dr. Jeimylo De Castro for his invitation and his limitless generosity with a big congratulations for the organisation of this course and for his new certification.

Dr. Anthony Paul Laput for the nice exchanges talks, his clinical sense and his incredible open mind.

Dr. Franklin SP Domingo for stirring up my curiosity without influencing my choices and ideas, as well as especially welcoming me with his personal touch of quality hospitality and generosity.

Dr. John Lyftogt for opening my eyes to another approach, his kindness and his exceptional humility as well as Maria his sweet wife who follows him and logistically supports him in all his seminars doing a remarkable job.

Thank you all for this learning that will enrich my clinical practice and my critical sense  that I hope will allow me to help and relieve many patients.
One thing is certain though, my visit to the Philippines will not leave me indifferent. Thank you so much.