Yesterday, I had about 50 injections in each knee. Today, my knees are stiff and look like over-used pin cushions.

You may recall the knee problem I had a few weeks ago? Well, the end result of that was that an orthopedic surgeon couldn't really diagnose what was wrong but yet he offered to go in and try surgery. Somehow, that didn't seem like a good idea to me. The pain has persisted though to a lesser degree than it was a few months ago when I found myself having to learn how to use crutches.

I have been bothered by the idea of just inviting this doctor into my knee as a "tourist" so I reached out to an old friend ... a doctor I have known for many years ... from Bluffton, Ohio (yet another recent contact with Bluffton) to see what he thinks. This doctor, Terry Chappell, practices a lot of alternative medical treatments and therapies.

He suggested prolotherapy for my knees. Through this series of about 50 injections in each knee once a week for a few months, the hope is to rebuild the ligaments and cartilage, making my knee more stable and less prone to the pain I have been having. The injections are basically sugar water I am told, designed to cause controlled inflammation which hopefully results in healing.

Dr. Chappell said I was an excellent candidate for prolotherapy and that he has about an 85% success rate with it. The injections were very painful but he did them very quickly if that is any consolation. It probably took less than 90 seconds on each knee.

I am optimistic that this will help with my knee problems. As it has been, I cannot walk more than about a half mile without severe knee pain. It will make it very difficult to do much with my family this summer if I cannot get it resolved.

I will keep you posted.