Abstract

Vitamin D receptors are ubiquitous in tissue distribution, which opens the possibility for its unforeseen biological functions. It is very important in the treatment of many conditions including heart conditions, high blood pressure and high cholesterol. It is used for diabetes, obesity, muscle weakness, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, bronchitis, premenstrual syndrome, tooth and gum disease. It is also used for skin conditions including vitiligo, scleroderma, psoriasis, actinic keratosis, and lupus vulgaris. Vitamin D boosts the immune system, preventing autoimmune diseases and preventing cancer. Prolotherapy is an injection treatment designed to stimulate tissue healing. Dextrose is the most commonly used proliferant solution with its different concentrations. Platelet rich plasma is very powerful because it delivers growth-factors to the tissues. Adult mesenchymal stem cells is the hot topic nowadays in the non-surgical field of pain management.

Objectives: Stimulate tissue regeneration by an injection technique called Prolotherapy using different proliferant solutions such as dextrose solution with vitamin D, platelet rich plasma, or adult mesenchymal stem cells. This treatment helps the tissues to regain their strength, to decrease the neurogenic inflammation and to stop the neuropathic pain.

Methods: In this paper, 270 patients suffering from chronic pain and dysfunction of different body areas (knees, hips and low backs), were treated with: (1) Dextrose prolotherapy with an extra or intra-articular vitamin D injection. (2) Platelet rich plasma “PRP”. (3) Adult mesenchymal stem cells “AMSCs”. The patients were assessed regarding the improvement of pain and function.

Results: Patients treated with dextrose and vitamin D in group (1) showed very good improvement regarding their musculoskeletal pain and function.

Conclusions: Adding vitamin D to dextrose prolotherapy helped the patients to show good results close to those of the patients treated with PRP or AMSCs, regarding the pain and function of the musculoskeletal system.

Keywords: Musculoskeletal Pain, Prolotherapy, Vitamin D, Dextrose, Platelet Rich Plasma, Stem Cells.