What is Prolotherapy
The original Regenerative Injection Therapy is known as Prolotherapy. “Prolo” signifies the proliferation of new and healthy tissue, specifically targeting tendons, ligaments, and cartilage in joints. The original Prolotherapy technique relied on the proliferative agent dextrose, a concentrated sugar that irritates or stimulates the body to heal and repair itself. This is commonly referred to as Dextrose Prolotherapy or simply Prolotherapy.
Other forms of Prolotherapy utilize more potent healing agents, such as ozone gas, platelet-rich plasma (PRP), and stem cells. These alternative methods are known as Ozone Prolotherapy (Prolozone), PRP Prolotherapy, and Stem Cell Prolotherapy. These healing agents provide a natural, non-surgical solution for orthopedic pain by stimulating the body’s self-healing processes. Regenerative medicine at its best!
Prolotherapy and its various agents help to stimulate and enhance the body’s natural healing and repair processes, enabling you to live pain-free and remain active.
How does Prolotherapy work?
Most orthopedic pain in the body arises from acute injuries, chronic wear and tear, or age-related degeneration affecting joints, tendons, and ligaments. Microtears in tendons and ligaments are the primary cause of most orthopedic pain. Inability to heal and repair these microtears or regenerate cartilage in joints results in chronic pain and dysfunction.
Most individuals do not heal as quickly as younger people and need help or a healing stimulus like Prolotherapy. Prolotherapy and its various agents help to stimulate and enhance the body’s natural healing and repair processes, enabling you to live pain-free and remain active.
How many treatments will I need?
The extent of damage to the area, how well a person heals, the level of chronic illness, and the degree of physical activity are several factors that determine how many treatments an individual may need. Most patients typically need between 4 and 8 treatments every 2 weeks. Generally, combining different healing agents such as ozone, PRP, hyaluronic acid (HA), and stem cells will be necessary to maximize the regeneration of ligaments, tendons, and cartilage in joints.
Generally, combining different healing agents such as ozone, PRP, hyaluronic acid (HA), and stem cells will be necessary to maximize the regeneration of ligaments, tendons, and cartilage in joints.
How long does it last?
The Prolotherapy healing agents are aiding in healing and restoring the underlying cause of orthopedic pain to a more original state of function. I generally explain it like this: if I punch my hand into a wall and then repair the hole, how long would that last? It would last a long time until I punch my hand into the wall again. My hand represents an injury or wear and tear that occurs from activities or simply living life.
Making Progress with Injections
It is important to stay on track with treatments every 2 to 3 weeks to maximize the healing process. Each treatment builds on the last one, creating a healing momentum that fully restores and repairs; most patients will see progress with each session. It is important to keep encouraging the body to heal by staying consistent with treatments.
Are Injections painful?
The injections are generally well tolerated, although some achiness is expected in most treatment areas, even with the use of local anesthetic. Knees typically show improvement right away. The initial achiness from the shots usually subsides within 1-2 minutes but may remain mildly sore for 3-5 days after treatment. This achiness signifies the healing response, which is a positive indication.
How long before I can go back to my usual physical activities?
It is best to avoid activities that may aggravate the treated area until it is close to 100% improved and has been tested under strain from some activity. It’s plain and simple: the body needs time to heal. The duration depends on how quickly the body responds to Prolotherapy treatments and other healing agents. However, expect to stop or minimize painful activities for the area for about 4 to 8 weeks, as much as possible.
Commonly treated orthopedic conditions
- Knee pain
- Low back pain
- Meniscus Tears
- Osteoarthritis
- Shoulder painRotator Tendon Tears
- Sciatica
- Plantar Fasciitis
- Neuromas
- Foot Pain
- Elbow pain
- Hip pain
- Sports Injuries
- Ankle pain
- Ligament Strains
- Trigger Finger
- Hand and wrist pain
- Thumb joint pain
- Bursitis
- Tendonitis
