Prolo Therapy
Prolotherapy is an alternative therapy that may help repair body tissues. It’s also known as regenerative injection therapy or proliferation therapy.
Our Prolotherapy is offered by our Naturopathic Doctor.
What is Prolo Therapy?
Prolotherapy is a therapy used to treat joint and muscle pain. It is sometimes called regenerative injection therapy or proliferation therapy.
Prolotherapy involves injecting a sugar or saline substance into your sore joint or muscle, where it acts as an irritant. It’s thought that your body recognizes the irritant and sends immune cellsand other chemicals to the area, which starts your body’s natural healing process. This process is meant to help repair any damaged soft tissue in your joint or muscle area, like nerves, blood vessels, and muscle tissue.
How does Prolo Therapy work?
The injection attracts immune cells and inflammation chemicals to the area.
The injection causes scarring where the collagen is broken down.
The injection causes irritation to cells in a confined area by drying them out.
This process is said to cause inflammation and stimulate your body to heal, and people say it eases pain.
What to expect after treatment:
Mild effects may include:
- Minor pain at the injection
- Bleeding
- Occasional numbness
- Full feeling in the joint
Conditions commonly treated by Prolo Therapy:
Prolotherapy might be helpful for people who:
- Have chronic low back pain
- Have a tendon injury
- Have osteoarthritis
- Have a sports injury
Precautions before getting Prolo Therapy:
There are some people with certain health problems who shouldn’t have prolotherapy. These include people who have:
- Cellulitis
- Septic arthritis
- Abscess
- Fracture
- Gouty arthritis
Prolo Therapy Vs. Cortisone:
- Cortisone when injected into the joint can successfully mask pain. Many people have very successful treatments with Cortisone. We typically see patients who have a long history of Cortisone injection and these injections are no longer effective for them.
- Cortisone has been shown, in many studies, to accelerate degenerative osteoarthritis through cartilage breakdown.
- Over the years we have seen many patients who have received corticosteroid (cortisone) injections for joint pain. Unfortunately for many, excessive cortisone treatments lead to a worsening of chronic pain. Again, while some people do benefit from cortisone in the short-term – the evidence however points to cortisone causing more problems than it helps.
Prolotherapy is a regenerative injection treatment used to treat joint and spine pain by repairing damaged and weakened ligaments and tendons.
- Prolotherapy is considered a viable alternative to surgery, and as an option to pain medications, cortisone and other steroidal injections.
- The Prolotherapy procedure is considered a safe, affordable option that allows the patient to keep working and/or training during treatment.
What is in Prolo Therapy Injections?
Prolotherapy involves the injection of an irritant solution into a joint space, weakened ligament, or tendon insertion to relieve pain. Most commonly, hyperosmolar dextrose (a sugar) is the solution used; glycerine, lidocaine (a commonly used local anesthetic), phenol, and sodium morrhuate (a derivative of cod liver oil extract) are other commonly used agents. The injection is administered at joints, ligaments, or tendons where they connect to bone.
Prolotherapy treatment sessions are generally given every two to six weeks for several months in a series ranging from 3 to 6 or more treatments. Many patients receive treatment at less frequent intervals until treatments are rarely required, if at all.