Ultrasound
The development and use of Ultrasound technology has contributed to the success and positive outcomes of prolotherapy, other regenerative medicine treatments and pain management.
Ultrasound technology is based on being able to analyze sound wave echoes. What is measured is 1) the time it takes for sound waves of a certain frequency to travel a certain distance to hit a part of the body and to bounce back to the receiver and 2) the strength of the returning sound wave. The distance to and density of the body part being bounced off of effect the strength of the returning signal.
A skillful prolotherapist is able to locate, by palpation and knowledge of anatomy, and inject the vast majority of structures which need prolotherapy treatment. For those practitioners who are not as skillful the ultrasound technology allows them to find the target structure and guide the needle to it safely and successfully. Because the lungs and spine and other vulnerable organs can be seen with the ultrasound machine there is much less chance of injuring these organs. Even the experienced prolotherapist is not always able to locate and get the needle to the exact right spot without the help of an Ultrasound.
Treatment of pain and injury, guided only by radiologic or ultrasound imaging will never replace careful history taking, physical examination including palpation for getting to the “right place”. Use of an ultrasound machine can expedite finding the location for putting the needle and actually inserting it to both the correct spot and the associated ligaments and tendons which are invariably involved.
Ultrasound information is also useful for finding and treating pathology associated with nerve injury. Nerves can get caught in scars following trauma or surgery or can be subject to compression in tissue which has expanded in size or changed in its tension due to repetitive use such as in Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. The nerves can be visualized by ultrasound and hydrodissection can be done to take the pressure off of them and allow them to recover. This is usually not possible to do by palpation and normally would require surgery to visualize the problem and correct it.