Prolotherapy
What is it?
Prolotherapy is Regenerative Therapy using injections around joints to strengthen ligaments and tendons after injury or overuse.
What is in the Injections?
50% Dextrose (Sugar Water) and 1% Lidocaine
How Does it Work?
The irritant solution (above) creates a temporary, acute inflammatory response bringing white blood cells and growth factors to the injured area which then stimulates a healing response.
What Kinds of Conditions Respond to This Form of Treatment?
- Low back pain due to osteoarthritis, disc herniation, facet atrophy, and sacro-iliac joint instability
- Knee problems such as PFS/Chondromalacia, chronic sprains/strains, osteoarthritis
- Tennis Elbow
- Shoulder problems including rotator cuff injuries, impingent, recurrent dislocations
- Neck pain after whiplash, osteoarthritis, disc/facet issues
- Chronic ankle weakness, recurrent sprains
- Plantar fasciitis, heel spurs
- Joint pain
- TMJ pain
Treatment Considerations
Anti-inflammatories such as Celebrex, Alleve, Advil, ibuprofen, aspirin, steroids (Prednisone) should be discontinued at least 4 days before the treatment (7 days for Celebrex).
Some patients experience an increase in pain/soreness for 24 to 48 hours after the injections followed by improvement. If needed, Tylenol and topical ice may be used to help, but NO anti-inflammatories (as mentioned above) or high dose fish oil for 2 weeks.
How Many Treatments are Required?
This is decided on an individual basis, but usually 1-5 with at least 3 weeks between each treatment.
What is the Cost?
The cost range is $150-$350 per joint/region and is priced according to the complexity of the treatment.
For new patients there is a patient consultation fee of $225 as well as a one-time introductory charge of $50 for the first treatment.
Prolotherapy is not covered by insurance.
