What is the difference between Osteopathic Medicine (DO) and Allopathic Medicine (MD)?
The difference lies in philosophy and approach. Both DOs and MDs are fully licensed physicians who can prescribe medications, perform surgery, and practice in all medical specialties. However, osteopathic medicine is rooted in the principle that the body is a dynamic, self-healing unit where structure and function are intimately connected. DOs are trained to perceive and work with the body’s inherent motion, fluid dynamics, and self-regulatory capacity through osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT)—gentle, hands-on techniques to support healing.
In contrast, allopathic medicine traditionally emphasizes disease-focused diagnosis and intervention, often prioritizing pharmacological or surgical solutions. While modern MDs certainly consider prevention and holistic care, the osteopathic physician places particular emphasis on palpation, body mechanics, and the unity of body, soul and spirit.
In essence, osteopathy listens deeply to the body’s story, not just its symptoms, inviting health to emerge from within.
What mixture is in the prolotherapy injection?
An anesthetic such as a 1% lidocaine is mixed with dextrose solution. The lidocaine numbs and causes instant relaxation of spasming muscle-it shuts down the spasming and tension loop. It, in effect, shuts down the “computer” and when the lidocaine is cleared out, the nervous system “reboots” and forgets the memory of the spasms. The dextrose is in a concentrated form that causes a mild form of controlled inflammation to signal for tissue repair. Dextrose is a sugar that is used as cellular nutrition; part of this signaling wakes up your own adjacent stems to come out to do tissue repair.
There are many uses of prolotherapy and powerful PRP in other parts of the body: joints for ligament and tendon repair; back and neck for herniated discs, spinal stenosis, Arnold Chiari; TMJs for clenching and grinding.
Does it hurt?
It pinches a little. Dr. H uses a small face needle on your scar. After cleaning the site, Dr. H pinches your scar with her fingers. While you are distracted by dull pinching, she injects in between, so you don’t feel the mosquito bite of a face needle.
When will I feel the results?
Most women with one C-section scar will feel it immediately while in the office. Women have reported relief of their pelvic congestion within minutes. Women with multiple, thicker scars may need a few minutes to one day of walking around; women with associated back pain will feel relaxation in the back after standing up.
How many injections do I need?
Most women with one C-section should only need one visit. Women with multiple thicker scars may need one to three separate visits, one month apart.
How is the doctor unique and different from other injectors?
Dr. H is an osteopathic musculoskeletal expert. As part of your visit, after the procedure, she will manually evaluate the scar and gently free it up using a specific technique to relax the scar along its planes of weakness. This additional attention to detail sets her style apart from others and increases the chance of permanently freeing up the abdominal wall in one visit.
Will it ever come back?
No. Once the scar is freed up, your results are permanent.
What if I want to get pregnant again?
Prolotherapy injections are recommended only for women past childbearing age.
