Prolotherapy is a non-surgical treatment designed for various musculoskeletal disorders, including osteoarthritis, tendinitis, tendinosis, ligament laxity, and the aftereffects of musculoskeletal injuries. This method harnesses the regenerative potential of connective tissue in response to injections of a 15-20% dextrose solution. In certain cases, activated platelets (PRP) or autologous blood may also be utilized. This procedure stimulates specialized cells, particularly mesenchymal stem cells, which play an essential role in the healing of damaged or diseased tissues.
Not every patient will benefit from this treatment. Careful clinical and diagnostic evaluation is necessary to select suitable candidates.
Please contact our office for an evaluation regarding prolotherapy.
FAQs
Am I a candidate for Regenerative Injection Therapy (Prolotherapy)?
Many problems related to musculoskeletal conditions can be successfully treated with prolotherapy, including:
- Degenerative Joint Diseases (Osteoarthritis) of all locations: neck, TMJ, shoulders, scapulae, clavicles, ribs, elbows, wrists, fingers, thoracic and lower back pain, “disc’s problems”, hips, knees, ankles, feet, toes.
- Consequences of ligamentous and tendinous injuries (with some limitations). Partial tears of tendons, muscles and ligaments can be successfully treated with prolotherapy and possibly PRP (platelet rich plasma).
- Some forms of arthritis may have infectious, allergic, autoimmune or metabolic causes. In such cases, we will order special diagnostic tests to help you in the selection of an appropriate treatment.
- Patients with infected joints, non-healing wounds around joints, cancer that has spread into the bones (metastasis, multiple myeloma, leukemias) are not candidates for prolotherapy.
- Elderly and debilitated patients may not respond well to prolotherapy.
- Degree of joint damage (stage of the OA), age, weight, smoking status, nutritional status, use of certain medication (Steroids , NSAID) will negatively affect efficacy of the treatment.
- Other factors may impact treatment efficacy as well, including anticoagulation therapy, anti-platelets therapy, etc.
How much does prolotherapy cost?
The initial consultation and evaluation cost is $375.00. Treatment prices vary by area. Detailed pricing will be provided at the consultation.
Will my insurance pay for prolotherapy?
No, unfortunately prolotherapy is not covered by insurance.
How many prolotherapy treatments will I need?
Every case is different and it is not possible to predict how many treatments a patient will need before they are pain-free. We will give an estimated range of the number of treatments you will need, depending on the severity of your condition. On average, this will be 3-6 sessions.
How far apart are the prolotherapy treatments?
Treatments are usually given at 4-6 week intervals. There are exceptions to this, depending on other circumstances.
How soon after prolotherapy treatment can I work out or play sports?
Prolotherapy provides the best results when activities that involve the affected area are avoided for 3-4 weeks after the final treatment. If you must continue to exercise the treatment area, it may take additional treatments to reach the desired outcome, as you are likely to re-injure it.
What medicine is used in the prolotherapy injections?
There is no cortisone used in prolotherapy. The solution is typically a mixture of highly concentrated dextrose (glucose) and a local anesthetic like lidocaine. In some cases we also administer PRP (Platelet Rich Plasma), which is your own blood product.
What is the success rate with prolotherapy?
When prolotherapy results are recorded, 80% of patients report good to excellent responses to the treatment. About 10% of patients report a poor response or less than 50% improvement.
Is there a guarantee that prolotherapy will work for me?
As every person and case is different, nothing in medicine can be guaranteed.
What should I bring to the doctor’s office for the initial evaluation?
Please bring the completed paper work that the office provides you and any prior X-ray or films you have had done.
What happens at the first visit?
The first visit is a consultative visit. The medical assistant will greet you, collect your paperwork, and take you to the examination room. Next, the doctor will review your paperwork, ask you questions about your problem, conduct an examination, review your X-rays with you, give you their diagnosis, order any new studies that may be needed, and make recommendations for treatment. They will then explain the treatment and answer any questions you may have. You will be given a consent form for treatment and estimated cost. No treatment will be performed during the consultative visit.
Will I need a driver?
Most of the time, patients do require a driver. The treatment is known to affect your ability to drive safely for 12-24 hours.
Will I need to be off work after the prolotherapy treatment?
Most patients do not need to be off work the day after the treatment, as long as it is sedentary work.
What are the risks with prolotherapy?
There are risks with all treatments and medications. If the doctor feels you are a candidate for prolotherapy, they will explain the risks to you and answer all of your questions.
It is important to remember that prolotherapy is a controlled injury. Therefore, you should expect to be sore for the following 24-48 hours.
