Prolotherapy
What is Prolotherapy?
Prolotherapy is a regenerative injection treatment used to treat joint and musculoskeletal pain by repairing damaged and weakened ligaments and tendons. The Prolotherapy procedure is considered a safe, effective, and affordable option that allows the patient to keep working and/or training during treatment. Evidence based research demonstrates Prolotherapy to be a viable alternative to surgery, and as an option to pain medications, cortisone and other steroidal injections.
Prolotherapy is a nonsurgical regenerative injection technique that introduces small amounts of an irritant solution to the site of painful and degenerated tendon insertions (entheses), joints, ligaments, and in adjacent joint spaces during several treatment sessions to promote growth of normal cells and tissues.
Irritant solutions most often contain dextrose (d-glucose), a natural form of glucose normally found in the body, but may also contain combinations of polidocanol, manganese, zinc, pumice, ozone, glycerin, or phenol. In severe cases, autologous cellular solutions may also be needed, such as platelet-rich plasma (PRP).
For the patient, the goal of Prolotherapy in chronic musculoskeletal pain and instability is the stimulation of body’s natural healing and regenerative processes in the affected area that will facilitate the repair and regrowth of connective tissue, ligaments, tendons for tensile strength, and cartilage and other joint stabilizing structures such as labral tissue.
Prolotherapy works by the same process that the human body naturally uses to stimulate the body’s healing system, a process called inflammation. The technique involves the injection of a proliferant (a mild irritant solution) that causes an inflammatory response which “turns on” the healing process. The growth of new ligament and tendon tissue is then stimulated. The ligaments and tendons produced after Prolotherapy appear much the same as normal tissues, except that they are thicker, stronger, and contain fibers of varying thickness, testifying to the new and ongoing creation of tissue. This is documented in the research below.
Highlights
Prolotherapy is an in-office injection treatment that research and medical studies have shown to be an effective, trustworthy, reliable alternative to surgical and non-effective conservative care treatments.
In our opinion, based on extensive research and clinical results, Prolotherapy can be superior to many other treatments in relieving the problems of chronic joint and spine pain and, most importantly, in getting people back to a happy and active lifestyle.
Prolotherapy in adjunct with other alternative therapy modalities (cold plunge, sauna, massage therapy, IV therapy - all offered at The Wellness Lounge) can provide profound healing.
All Prolotherapist providers will hold an advanced practitioner license and be certified in Prolotherapy with hands-on training. All Prolotherapy protocols are based on 80 years of research and clinical observation and based on tens of thousands of treatments.
Prolotherapy vs Cortisone
In my Nurse Anesthesiology residency (a chronic pain rotation in Wisconsin) we did cortisone injections and trigger points injections. Upon learning about prolotherapy as an alternative treatment I wanted to know what the difference was. I was surprised by my research findings.
Cortisone injections are widely accepted and many would consider a standard practice for arthralgias. I include this information to highlight some misconceptions regarding the safety and efficacy of cortisone injections, and to provide insight on prolotherapy as an alternative therapy.
The difference between Prolotherapy and Cortisone is extensive.
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.
RESEARCH FINDINGS
A randomized-controlled trial of prolotherapy injections in the treatment of plantar fasciitis
A Systematic Review of Dextrose Prolotherapy for Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain