Reconstructive therapy uses injections of natural substances to stimulate the growth of connective tissue in order to strengthen weak or damaged tendons or ligaments. As a simple, cost-effective alternative to drug and surgical treatments, reconstructive therapy is an effective treatment for degenerative arthritis, low back pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, migraine headaches, and torn ligaments and cartilage.

  Joint, tendon, ligament, cartilage, and arthritic problems are among the most common afflictions Americans suffer from today. Many remedies are used to treat these problems, such as rest, medication, traction, exercise, cortisone injections, physical therapy, and surgery, but for many patients, these fail to provide lasting relief. In many cases, however, reconstructive therapy (also known as sclerotherapy, prolotherapy, or proliferative therapy), a nonsurgical method that stimulates the body's natural healing abilities to repair injured tissues and joints, can provide an answer.

  Director of the Milwaukee Pain Clinic and a leading authority in the field of reconstructive therapy, William Faber, D.O., says that ligaments, tendons, cartilage, and bones have poor healing abilities due to the lack of blood supply to these tissues. This is why injuries to these areas are so long lasting. When these tissues become damaged, the joint becomes unstable, and in order to compensate, the body forms bony, arthritic spurs. This causes increased friction, increased pain and weakness, and a loss in joint mobility. Further injury often results.

  Reconstructive therapy can facilitate the curing process for specific injuries. In the case of injured joints, a local anesthetic and a natural irritant (sodium morrhuate, a purified derivative of cod liver oil), dextrose, phenol, minerals, or other natural substances are injected into areas where ligaments, tendons, and cartilage are torn or weak. Dr. Faber says, the injection stimulates the body to produce more connective tissue, which helps to strengthen the weak or damaged areas. As a result, the patient will often experience less pain and greater strength and endurance.