Prolotherapy
Prolotherapy stimulates the body’s healing processes to strengthen and repair injured, painful joints and connective tissues. When ligaments or tendons are injured or stretched, this can lead to joint instability and pain. This instability in the joint can eventually lead to degeneration of the joint.
Prolotherapy is used to address the root cause of joint instability by promoting repair and new collagen tissue production leading to increased stability in the joint, reduction in pain and increase in function.
What conditions do Prolotherapy injections treat?
The doctors at Two Rivers Integrative Medicine use Prolotherapy injections in many different situations, including:
- Acute joint injuries
- Chronic joint pain
- Chronic headaches
- Arthritis
- Knee pain
- Torn meniscus
- Wrist and hand pain
- Low back pain
- Sacroiliac joint pain (acute or chronic)
- Degenerative Joint and Disc Disease (DJD)
- Rotator Cuff Injuries
- Labral Tears (shoulder and hip)
- Sprained ankles
- Tennis/Golfer’s Elbow
- Unstable Joints
- Aging skin
Frequently Asked Questions
Am I a candidate for prolotherapy?
You may be a candidate for prolotherapy if you have chronic muscle or joint pain. New studies on its efficacy are still being carried out, but many patients report significant improvements in symptoms after just a few injections. Talk with your doctor about prolotherapy and whether it’s right for you. Prolotherapy is not recommended if you are taking anti-coagulants, have a local abscess, or are suffering from an acute infection like cellulitis.
What should I expect during prolotherapy?
Prolotherapy injections are administered while patients are awake and sometimes sedated. The injections contain a mild irritant that is injected directly into the joint. Your doctor may use the x-ray technology to guide the injection into the targeted area – especially when injections are being administered to areas of the spine. Most injections take only minutes to complete, with patients going home the same day.
How often will I need prolotherapy injections?
Though every patient is different, most undergo prolotherapy injections every few weeks for a period of several months. Some patients experience a reduction in pain by as much as 50 percent after just 3 injections. If you are experiencing rapid results, your doctor may recommend fewer injections. If your progress is slower, prolotherapy may be combined with other treatments, such as physical therapy.
The physicians at Two Rivers offer free 10-min phone consults for anyone considering orthopedic injection procedures. Call us today to set up a consultation, or schedule online for your initial visit and exam.
Schedule with Two Rivers’ Prolotherapy Specialist:
(Regenerative and Aesthetic Medicine Specialist)
FAQs: Prolotherapy
Prolotherapy injections contain substances and formulations are tailored for each patient including local anesthetic agents to help with the pain of the injection. Typical formulas can contain dextrose (sugar water), saline, lidocaine, B12 or Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP).
Injections can be uncomfortable, however anesthetics like lidocaine are used to decrease pain levels. Pain can vary by regions of injection but is often quite manageable for most individuals and often passes quickly after treatment. Dr. Norris focuses her practice on assuring injection therapies are safe and effective. The skill with which these injections are administered can make a dramatic difference in outcomes, she prides herself on having exceptional technique. Following injections Tylenol can be used to manage any pain. Anti-inflammatory medications, such as aspirin and ibuprofen, will suppress the proper healing response and are not recommended following Prolotherapy injections.
The number of treatments that will be needed depends on the type of condition, severity and overall health of the individual to support an optimal healing response. Typically 3-6 sessions of Prolotherapy on average are needed. Some conditions can respond with 1-2 sessions.
- Acute joint injuries
- Chronic joint pain
- Chronic headaches
- Arthritis
- Knee pain
- Torn meniscus
- Wrist and hand pain
- Low back pain
- Sacroiliac joint pain (acute or chronic)
- Degenerative Joint and Disc Disease (DJD)
- Rotator Cuff Injuries
- Labral Tears (shoulder and hip)
- Sprained ankles
- Tennis/Golfer’s Elbow
- Unstable Joints
- Fibromyalgia
- Severely herniated disks
- Chronic myofascial pain syndromes
- Central spinal stenosis
- Complete rotator cuff tears
- Frank surgical conditions
- Pain from cancer
- Pain from autoimmune disease
When ligaments and tendons are stretched they cause pain. Regenerative Injection Therapies, including Prolotherapy and PRP, helps to reduce ligament laxity and repair cartilage, collagen and regenerate the joint to reduce ligament laxity and reduce pain.
Simply put, these therapies help to regenerate the tissues.
Cortisone is temporary and damaging to the tissues. Cortisone short term reduces inflammation but long term it disintegrate or breaks down the joint tissues. Many of you out there have failed to get long term relief from cortisone injections and know the damaging effects of these injections.
Prolotherapy relies on the body’s ability to heal injured tissues. The injections act as the source of stimulation for the healing process to occur. If someone’s health is overburdened with inflammation, hormone imbalances, chronic disease or nutritional deficiencies the body will not be able to respond to the injections as well.
We highly encourage patients to optimize their health prior to seeking Regenerative Injection Therapies (RIT). If you are needing help starting this journey into better health, Dr. Norris can help navigate you to an appropriate physician to address your health concerns.
Insurance plans do not typically cover prolotherapy treatments. Costs vary depending on area of treatment and type of treatment. Individual treatment regimens are chosen for the individual patient. The number and type of treatments will vary according to individual needs.
Typically price ranges for Regenerative Injection Therapy:
Prolotherapy: $250-300/joint, $450 for bilateral joints
Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP): $600-800/joint
