Center for Healing and Regenerative Medicine

Prolotherapy. I was told it is «regenerative medicine» with little to few side-​effects. Unfortunately, from my experience that simply is NOT true.
I had prolo in my neck and it has caused me nothing but debilitating, chronic pain since the beginning of March. Honestly, it has ruined my life. I went from being a functioning person to a non-​functioning person with debilitating pain due to prolo. Because of the pain caused by prolo, I have been unable to work, sleep or even be available to my children. My husband has had to do everything in our household while also running his own business. I have been brought to my knees with pain and have shed plenty of sobbing tears.
When I pointed out how I was never told that prolotherapy could have such detrimental effects upon my life, the response I got was «prolotherapy doesn’t work for everyone; your body is just really upregulated; and we don’t know how people will respond.» Really? Not working is one thing, but causing the patient to become worse off is unacceptable, and how can you practice a modality where you have absolutely no idea how someone is going to respond or not tell them that they could have a very bad response??? Instead of injecting me with more prolo when I could no longer turn my head, I think it would have been prudent for the medical professionals who were treating me to reassess how I was reacting to prolo and take a different course. Finally, due to unbelievable muscle spasms/​tightness/​pain I was offered cortisone injections and then two weeks later facet joint injections. When I arrived for my follow up for the facet joint injections, and I expressed how I was still experiencing a lot of tightness in my upper neck and said that I think my entire neck should have been injected, the response I got was «I would have done your whole neck too».? Why not have proper treatment? It seems to me communication is lacking, as well as assessing a patient properly.
And now I sit here in unbelievable pain, unable to sleep because being prone makes me feel like my head is going to explode and no pain medication available because I have an ulcer from taking anti-​inflammatories from the inflammation prolo caused. Yet, I can’t get more facet injections because insurance won’t cover it (honestly, I think CHARM should have offered to cover the cost, considering how much prolo has ruined my life) and now I have to wait two weeks to go see another pain specialist to get me out of the pain they put me in.? Don’t tell me «I know your frustrated…». I am not frustrated, I am ANGRY. I am angry that the pain they caused me hasn’t been managed well. I am angry that I was told more prolo would help me when in fact it brought me to my knees. I am angry that I had to pay for the cortisone/​facet injections. I am angry that the facet injections weren’t even done properly (the whole neck) to provide me with relief. I am angry that I have to wait two weeks to see a pain specialist. I am angry that I was never told that prolotherapy can actually make someone worse off. I am angry that I have been awake since 2:36am because of horrible neck pain that makes me want to die.
I think people who are considering «healing» themselves via prolo have the right to know that prolo can actually cause prolonged, debilitating pain, so they can make an informed decision about treating their pain.

Three years ago I had several appointments with Dr. Edwardo Elizondo. At that time I had severe back issues which had prevented me from not only doing my hobby of running but I could barely walk. This was not the normal back going out issue. I was fearful about what type of procedures I might have to have. Dr. Elizondo was patient, a good listener, and most importantly he treated me in a non-​invasive way which has allowed me to return to my hobby and very active life simply by following his good commonsense advise. He taught me techniques to move my body daily in such a way so that I would not have this as a recurring problem. He also referred me to physical therapy. For the first time in 30 years I have not had one single back issue for three consecutive years.
Three years later I have a hip issue which has caused me significant concern. Again, Dr. Elizondo was thorough, sent me for an MRI and x-​rays and during the follow up reviewed my situation in a manner which I completely understood. Once again he has made practical suggestions for me to deal with this issue in a holistic way which did not include surgery. I can assure you if I ever needed something like surgery he would be the first person that I would consult as to what would be in my best interest.
He has excellent people skills, takes the time to treat you as you would hope to be treated when seeing a physician about something so important as your body, has a good sense of humor and is very professional.
For the second time I have had exceptionally good experiences in being taught how to heal my body and it being done in a manner which was understandable and enjoyable. I highly recommend Dr. Elizondo.