The Wonder’s of the SI/Sacral iliac Joint Injection and Prolotherapy
by: Dr. Aaron Nickamin, DAOM.
Ligament joint stability is the essence of prolotherapy.
Ligaments connect bone to bone, which are basis of structure in the body, with help from the interwoven fascia. Fascia wraps around muscle fibers and muscle bundles (of fibers). Muscles attach bone to tendon allowing for movement and support to ligaments. Tendons attach muscle to bone. The three tissues work in concert together, like a beautifully flowing orchestra, in tune and sound.
Prolotherapy means injection of a proliferent. The proliferent can be an organic or non-organic substance (man made or from nature eg. Dextrose or growth hormone). The focus of prolotherapy is to needle the site of an injury, which usually occurs at the enthesis of the tendon or ligament (attachment onto the bone), not necessarily the proliferent. As stated in the bible of Chinese medicine (a 5,000 yr. old book) the “Yellow Emperor’s Classic/Huang Di Neijing,” ch. 7- Guan Zhen (On the Application of Needles) “Kidney or Shu Point needling,” is used when the qi and blood levels are weak and one has to connect to the organ/bone level to achieve harmony/balance. That’s correct, needling the bone or again the enthesis of the ligament or tendon onto the bone. This creates an anabolic/building response, which lifts the marrow or red blood cells out of the bone, that stabilizes the joint or joint capsule. The proliferent, that came about in the 1930’s, assists the process. For example, the dextroses’ sandy texture irritates the tissue and draws water to the site of the injection, which tightens up the tendon or ligament. During this process the peripheral/surface nerves relax the trigger of tension, that they have been doing to contract the muscles, which they have been desperately trying to stabilize the lax/loose ligament and unstable joints.
The SI Joint or sacral iliac joint is a joint that is held together by ligaments between the sacrum and the ilium’s. Over time this important structure begins to soften and tilt, typically anterior, and rotate or torque. We all have our own subjective list of falls and frills, that create trauma and weakness. The SI joint instability stresses the spine and the communication it has to the various systems of the body. It’s like a plantar/pot that is not holding its plant. As the pot tilts forward and torques, the plant has to adapt and strain. When the spine strains it places stress on the discs, that are padding between the vertebrae, and the body also has to compensate stability by creating spurs or collections of calcium, or temporary bone for stability.
The five limbs or the head/neck , arms and legs also have to adapt to the change of the bodies posture, since the SI joint plays such an important role as our: “Dan Tian,” “Hara,” or “Core.” Obviously, this creates imbalances that the body has to re-regulate or balance for structure, nutrition, circulation, elimination, proliferation and qi/energy cultivation. The most common effects of SI joint instability are pain in the back and hips, difficulty walking or balancing, constipation, weight gain, bloating, indigestion, knee pain and infertility. Basically, one is disconnected from their core, their source to the source.