Prolozone refers to injection into injured or degenerated joints and soft tissues using a combination of the anesthetic Procaine, B vitamins, anti-inflammatory medications and homeopathics, minerals, amino acids and a mixture of medical oxygen and ozone. It is a powerful tool for relieving pain and inflammation, and enhancing the regeneration of injured, overused or otherwise compromised tissues.
The term was coined by Frank Shallenberger MD, one of the pioneers of injection of medical oxygen/ozone. In many cases it provides a non-surgical means of dealing with common joint and tissue injuries and problems.
Here are a few of the conditions that respond well to Prolozone injections:
- Neck pain, whiplash
- Low back pain
- Plantar fasciitis
- Tendinitis
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Tennis and golfer's elbow
- Rotator cuff tendinitis
- Ligament injuries
- TMJ pain
- Wear and tear arthritis of the joints
How Does It Work?
The first comment that’s typically made when people hear about injecting ozone into the body is “Wait a minute! But I thought ozone was toxic?!” Truly, we never want to inhale it into the lungs, but it behaves differently when introduced to body tissues.
Let’s clarify the details about ozone. For purposes we are describing, the ozone is made by a medical-grade generator using medical grade oxygen. Oxygen is fed into the corona discharge machine and exposed to an electric spark. The result is much like oxygen in the atmosphere that is struck by lightning. An unstable combination of three oxygen atoms all sharing electrons is formed. Due to the unstable nature of ozone, it will in a period of time return to its stable resting state of a two-atom molecule commonly known as oxygen. In the clinical setting, the ozone gas generated is approximately 98% oxygen and 2% ozone and must be used within a few minutes.
Let’s clarify what keeps injured or degenerating tissues from repairing themselves. In most injured or otherwise compromised tissues, impaired oxygen utilization is at the core of the problem. Inflammation may have caused lack of circulation, keeping needed oxygen and nutrients from being delivered to the tissues. When injured areas stay deprived of oxygen and nutrients for a long time, ligaments and tendons will tend to build up calcium deposits, cartilage cannot regenerate, and the starved tissues cause pain and loss of function. Since oxygen is crucial for energy production inside of cells, cells without enough oxygen or impaired ability to utilize oxygen cannot repair themselves.
What happens when the ozone/oxygen mix is introduced into a compromised area: When ozone (referring to the mix of ~98% oxygen and ~2% ozone) is injected into tissues, the ozone will react with proteins and lipids in the local structures to form compounds known as ozonides. These ozonides are what increase tissue oxygen utilization and also help increase the synthesis of the body’s anti-oxidant buffering enzymes. Ozonides are also thought to be capable of altering signaling within a cell and from one cell to other cells in a favorable way to healing as well. Once a cell is able to use oxygen again, it is capable of much more efficient function and regeneration, especially when the key nutrients for cellular regeneration are supplied in the Prolozone injection.
We find that many of our patients avoid the need for surgical interventions after Prolozone injections. We also find that patients who do need surgery have better outcomes when they utilize Prolozone injections both before and at an appropriate time after the surgery to reduce inflammation and improve tissue health.
Dr. Barter has had didactic and hands-on clinical training on the use of medical oxygen and ozone therapies from Drs. Robert Rowen MD, Dietrich Klinghardt MD, and Frank Shallenberger MD.
