Physician Testimonials
| David M, Medical Doctor (Age 72) Shoulder/Ankle/Knee It was in August, 2004 that I began noticing pain in my left shoulder. This persisted for several months causing many wakeful nights due to pain. Ibuprofen was minimally helpful. In October of 2004, I saw an orthopedic surgeon who felt, after x-rays, that I had an impingement syndrome of my rotator cuff with a bursitis. He gave me a cortisone shot which gave relief for about two months. When the pain returned, along with weakness of my left arm, the surgeon ordered an MRI. That was in February of 2005. He felt that, along with a bursitis, my rotator cuff was being pinched (impingement syndrome) between the outer end of my collar bone and the acromion (bone on top of my shoulder). He scheduled me for surgery the latter part of March, 2005. His plan was to cut off the outer end of my collar bone and shave off the under surface of the acromion to enlarge the space for my rotator cuff to function. He indicated I would need physical therapy afterwards to restore the strength and range of motion of my shoulder. Two weeks before the surgery date, I “just happened” to call my friend, Dr. George Kramer, about an unrelated matter. He asked how I was doing and I, then, told him about my up coming surgery. He asked if I had considered prolotherapy as an alternative before submitting to surgery. He explained that prolotherapy was a “natural method to treat chronic painful conditions. It involved a series of injections to the painful area at the points where ligaments attach to the bones. Fifteen percent dextrose (sugar water) along with lidocaine, to numb the injections, is used. This causes the ligament, tendon and cartilage tissues to grow and strengthen, thus alleviating the pain.” His final comment to me was that I could always have the surgery at a later date if the prolotherapy didn’t work. I decided it was worth the trial. I cancelled the surgery and proceeded to have the injections around my shoulder. This was done at monthly intervals for four visits. At each visit, Dr. Kramer gave me twelve or so injections. By the second month I could detect improvement with less pain and improved range of motion. At the fourth and last visit, I was almost pain free and my strength was returning. As I continued with the exercises Dr. Kramer instructed me in, I fully recovered my strength and range of motion. I remain pain free with full use of my shoulder and very grateful I didn’t submit to surgery. My next experience with prolotherapy involved my left knee and right ankle. I needed arthroscopic surgery on my left knee in April of 2004 for a torn cartilage. At that time the orthopedic surgeon said I had significant degenerative joint disease and would probably need a total knee replacement in the not too distant future. I enjoy brisk walking for exercise but, because of my very flat feet, I developed significant right ankle pain. This started in the fall of 2007. At the same time pain returned in my left knee. I had to give up walking and the pounds began to increase on my body. In December, 2007, I returned to my friendly “prolotherapist.” After a series of five monthly injections to my left ankle and four to my left knee, I’m back walking up to sixty minutes a day and feel great. I also had one injection to the base of my left thumb for painful degenerative disease with an equally excellent result. At a recent visit, Dr. Kramer told me that in the last 6 to 12 months he has had five patients cancel their total knee replacement surgery after receiving prolotherapy. If you have been able to read through this lengthy and unasked for testimonial, you will understand how grateful I am for the value of prolotherapy and Dr. Kramer’s expertise in treating my problems. |
| Bill B., DDS (Age 59) Back I would like to tell you about my story. I had back surgery about 15 years ago, along with 2 shoulder surgeries in the past 10 years. I have been through many programs, steroid injections done in the hospital, physical therapy programs involving strenuous exercise. Despite this therapy I still had constant pain in my back and shoulder. I tried every exercise to strengthen the area, but the result was still constant pain. A Russian friend of mine recommended prolotherapy which I replied "I have never heard of it." He was an athlete in Russia and said it was common treatment for athletic injuries. That's when I did my research and found Dr. Kramer. It took several months and repeated treatments, but I was able to get healing and strength in the area that was causing pain. Now I am happy to say that I can go to the gym several times a week without the painful after affects I used to suffer. If you have tried many therapies and had no luck, don't give up, I didn't! |
| Daniel H. – Medical Doctor (age 43) Back and Neck I saw Dr. Kramer for prolotherapy treatments given over a period of a year and a half. I have experienced chronic back and neck pain following two car accidents for almost a decade. I had experienced relief over years of treatment with chiropractic and a dorm of physical therapy called manual therapy. However, those treatments were limited by the fact that any manipulations would not hold in place. When I read of Dr. Kramer and prolotherapy, it made sense to me that this treatment could help to stabilize my spine by strengthening the connective tissue. I was surprised with how quickly I saw benefit from prolotherapy. The immediate reward was a temporary relief from the lidocaine, and then a new stability as fluid is drawn into the connective tissue by osmosis. By drinking a lot of water and taking the supplements that Dr. Kramer recommended, I could visualize all the healing taking place as we were repairing the connective tissue. Over time, I gained strength and stability, which in turn lead to further gains as I continued the other treatment methods. This has lead to substantial improvement to my posture, less pain, and better function. I was so impressed with Dr. Kramer’s technical skill, after so many injections he gained my trust and I was never hurt by them. Also, he is very skilled at examining with his fingers the areas that are most tender and weak; this allows him to treat the areas that are necessary, and when to stop treatments in an area so nothing is done that doesn’t need to be. This helped him to estimate well the number of treatments needed, and also how to space them apart. Dr. Kramer is very kind, he listens well, and really cares. I really appreciated the prayer before each treatment, which helped to me at ease and also reassurance that I was in the right hands. |
