By Dr. Chris Calapai You're sitting in your car. You open the door, put your leg out, and suddenly a stabbing pain shoots up your spine. Immobilized in agony, you contemplate your next step. Of course, each step now depends on your increasingly creaky knees. Or perhaps after a long workday, you are awakened at 3 a.m. by sharp pains in your wrists. These days, the phrase "pain in the neck" could easily be renamed for pain in the back, knee, shoulder, elbow or wrist. When we're healthy, it is easy to take connective tissue comfort and functionality for granted. But when pain manifests, even the simplest activity can be a struggle: climbing stairs, raising a glass, swinging a golf club. Quality of life declines when pain invades, as recreation, working, and even walking can become torturous. Where can the hurting masses turn? Drugs have been the default prescription for pain, but the maelstrom of controversy surrounding Vioxx and other COX-2 Inhibitor drugs-estimated to cause over 16,000 deaths annually-means that for many, drugs are no longer an option. In fact, even the most common OTC painkillers may now get strict warning labels, as the FDA recently revealed that ordinary dosages of aspirin, ibuprofen, and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can cause gastrointestinal bleeding and kidney injury. What if there were a technique that eliminated pain and joint problems, restored functionality and range of motion, and dramatically enhanced quality of life- without subjecting patients to invasive surgery or dangerous drugs? Such a technique does exist: prolotherapy. Though not yet a household word, prolotherapy has been in use since the 1920s. Today, as more informed people are avoiding synthetic drugs, seeking natural treatments, and otherwise being more proactive in pursuing optimal health, prolotherapy is poised for healthcare superstardom. Through prolotherapy, patients suffering from chronic joint and connective tissue pain can achieve the following benefits, naturally:

• Walking without pain
• Resuming sports activities
• Eliminating chronic neck aches and headaches

How does prolotherapy do it? A minimally invasive procedure, prolotherapy delivers restorative nutrients directly into inflamed tissues via injection. Prolotherapy injections-which are nutrient- customized to meet each patient's unique needs- stimulate blood vessel growth in damaged tissues, leading to enhanced circulation, nutrient delivery, and oxygenation. This nourishment kickstarts the body's natural ability to repair damage and regrow new tissue, and improved mobility, flexibility, and comfort soon follow. Whether you've suffered sudden trauma such as a sports injury or cumulative wear and tear over many years, prolotherapy initiates the new tissue growth that strengthens weakened ligaments, tendons, cartilage and joints. Most prolotherapy patients enjoy noticeable results in one or two sessions, and after approximately six sessions, they are naturally-and permanently- pain-free. Prolotherapy education is the first step to recovery. When you learn about and understand your body, you're better able to make decisions that can both improve your present health and prevent problems in the future. Peak health is within your reach-so learn how prolotherapy can improve physical condition, relieve pain, and restore ability without surgery or dangerous drugs. Dr. Chris Calapai has been a practicing physician and educator in the world of Complementary Medicine for over 18 years. He is board Certified in Family Medicine, Board Certified in Chelation Therapy and holds a certificate in Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy. He is an Osteopathic Physician specializing in Nutritional Assessment, and uses Prolotherapy for musculoskeletal disorders. He has hosted "The Optimal Health Program" for 18 Years to help educate people about the benefits of Nutritional and Complementary techniques. C.C. Medical Services 1900 Hempstead Turnpike Suite 503 East Meadow, NY 11554 516-794-0404 --------- Article originally featured in the Health Media newsletter, reprinted with permission. Get a free issue of the Long Island Health and Fitness Magazine published by Health Media Group.