Prolotherapy
Prolotherapy treatment has gained tremendous momentum in the sports medicine arena, because athletes do not want to stop training for an event or give up on scholarships.
Prolotherapy is a procedure where a series of injections are used to speed the healing processes by causing temporary inflammation in the injured tissue. Prolotherapy also helps reduce prolonged pain associated with injuries. Prolotherapy allows practitioners to treat the pain at the source instead of masking it with drugs that wear off quickly.
What Conditions Are Treated With Prolotherapy:
- Arthritis
- Back Pain
- Barre-Lieou Syndrome
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
- Cluster Headache
- Deep Aching
- Degenerative Arthritis
- Degenerative Disc Disease
- Disc Herniation
- Fibromyalgia
- Headache
- Heel Spurs
- Hip Degeneration
- Knee Injuries
- Lower Back Pain
- Migraine Headache
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Muscular Dystrophy
- Osteoporosis (Compression Fractures)
- Pain
- Polio
- Post-Concussion
- Headache
- Rotator Cuff Tears
- Sciatica
- Scoliosis
- Slipped Spine
- Spinal Defects
- Tennis Elbow
- Tension Headache
- TMJ Dysfunction
- Whiplash
Frequently Asked Questions
How Does Prolotherapy Work?
A low grade inflammation is created at the injection site which causes fibroblasts in the affected area to produce more collagen and new cell growth. The inflammation also elevates the secondary growth factor to speed the healing process.
Is Prolotherapy the Same as Cortisone Injections?
No, Cortisone injections relieves pain temporarily where as Prolotherapy promotes healing.
Does Prolotherapy Hurt?
You may feel a stinging sensation as you do with any type of injection.
How long will it take to complete a course of treatments?
The response to treatment varies from individual to individual, and depends on one’s healing ability. Some people may only need a 10 treatments while other may need more.
Pre & post Instuctions
A patient is generally sore for a couple of days after Prolotherapy. This is because the injections have to go through some muscles to get to the ligaments and tendons. To help the muscle soreness resolve itself sooner, massage therapy and moist heat applied to the area is recommended.
For those who are more sensitive to pain, medications such as Tylenol and Ultram, which are not anti-inflammatory medications, are permissible. Occasionally a muscle relaxant is needed. It is very important to avoid anti-inflammatory medications, as these may decrease the effectiveness of Prolotherapy.
Narcotic Medications, such as Vicodin, Tylenol with Codeine, and Darvocet should also be avoided because they depress the immune system.
ACTIVITY AFTER PROLOTHERAPY
Exercising is permitted as soon as the patient feels ready. Generally, light exercise can begin two days after Prolotherapy. The general rule is if a certain activity or exercise hurts significantly, switch to a different one.
Follow-up is still recommended to allow the physician to assess the area for complete healing. If it is still significantly tender, further treatments are needed because the area is still injured. Gradually as treatment progresses, improvement in pain as well as functional changes will occur.
When your low back or hips have been treated, NO lifting at the waist. Use your legs when picking up light items and minimal use of stairs. You can use stairs, but plan your trips up and down, or have other family members get things for you. The most significant hindrance to maximum healing is over-activity.
Think of the healing ligaments as fresh growing grass. If it gets trampled on, it will die. If too much activity is done, the fresh growing ligaments will also be destroyed. Several times patients have fallen or lifted heavy items and have had no improvement.
