Prolotherapy seminar
"Prolotherapy: Exploring the Path to Healing"
Presented by CJ Smith, DO, Family Practice
Prolotherapy is an injection therapy used to promote growth and healing in painful musculoskeletal conditions, such as osteoarthritis and chronic back pain. If you're interested in exploring the possibilities of prolotherapy, please join us:
Thursday, May 29 at 6:00 p.m., Monroe Clinic's Founders Hall (lower level of clinic building)
There is no cost to attend. To register, call 1-877-865-1462 or visit www.monroeclinic.org.
Q. I am often hearing about prolotherapy as a treatment for chronic pain. What is prolotherapy and how does it work?
A. Prolotherapy is an injection therapy used to treat chronic pain. An increasing number of people are receiving prolotherapy for relief from a number of conditions, such as back pain, osteoarthritis, migraine headaches, fibromyalgia, tennis elbow and pain from musculoskeletal injury.
How It Works
Prolotherapy treatments are most often administered through an injection of a mild irritant or proliferant. The most basic prolotherapy solution consists of a sugar solution (dextrose) and an anesthetic, such as lidocaine, though other common natural agents may also be used. The purpose of the injection is to actually inflame the targeted soft tissue and tighten the ligaments and tendons in that area.
The practice of prolotherapy and how it works is based on two premises. The first premise is that inflammation can actually aid in the repair of damaged tissue by triggering the body's natural healing process and promoting new tissue growth. The second is that loose or damaged soft tissues, such as ligaments, tendons and muscles, are a central cause of many types of pain.
The ultimate goal of prolotherapy is to restore stability and strength to these connective tissues, thereby alleviating pain associated with the damaged or loose tissue.
What to Expect
A typical treatment plan can range from four to 10 sessions of proliferant solution. Sessions are scheduled every three to four weeks, and the number of injections can also range, depending upon the size and condition of the affected area. While there is some discomfort with the injections, it can vary from person to person and is generally well-tolerated. To limit discomfort, the injections are administered with a numbing agent, and patients may also use other pain-control measures such as acetaminophen or ice packs as needed. In most cases, patients may return to work the same day as a treatment session, though it may depend upon the amount of stress a job places on the treated area.
Patients should not expect immediate relief of pain after a prolotherapy treatment. While some patients report improvement from prolotherapy in as little as two weeks, noticeable results usually take about four to six weeks to occur. Prolotherapy is meant to provide a long-term solution for pain relief based on the healing, growth and tightening of soft tissue, so it is a process that takes a bit of time.
Benefits, Risks
and Research
A key benefit of prolotherapy for patients is that complications associated with treatments are uncommon. As with any medical procedure, it is important treatments are administered by a trained medical professional to avoid possible risks. Side effects and complications can include bruising, worsening symptoms, nerve damage, headache, allergic reactions or infection. Though it is quite rare, serious health risks can arise if the needle comes in contact with the spinal cord, nerves or lungs. When administered properly, these risks are very avoidable.
Because prolotherapy in its modern form has only recently gained notice as treatment for pain relief, more research is needed to demonstrate its effectiveness at a statistical level. Animal studies have shown that prolotherapy increased bulk and strength in ligaments and tendons. A 2007 study also indicated that prolotherapy improved chronic low back pain when combined with other treatments - such as spinal manipulation and exercise. Physicians at Mayo Clinic have supported prolotherapy as a treatment of chronic pain since 2005. The medical school at the University of Wisconsin is evaluating prolotherapy for knee ligament pain.
Since insurance coverage for prolotherapy varies, it's best to check first with your carrier. At this time, Medicare does not cover treatment cost. Your prolotherapist can give you more information on cost, as well as help you understand if prolotherapy is a viable treatment option for your individual needs.
A. Prolotherapy is an injection therapy used to treat chronic pain. An increasing number of people are receiving prolotherapy for relief from a number of conditions, such as back pain, osteoarthritis, migraine headaches, fibromyalgia, tennis elbow and pain from musculoskeletal injury.
How It Works
Prolotherapy treatments are most often administered through an injection of a mild irritant or proliferant. The most basic prolotherapy solution consists of a sugar solution (dextrose) and an anesthetic, such as lidocaine, though other common natural agents may also be used. The purpose of the injection is to actually inflame the targeted soft tissue and tighten the ligaments and tendons in that area.
The practice of prolotherapy and how it works is based on two premises. The first premise is that inflammation can actually aid in the repair of damaged tissue by triggering the body's natural healing process and promoting new tissue growth. The second is that loose or damaged soft tissues, such as ligaments, tendons and muscles, are a central cause of many types of pain.
The ultimate goal of prolotherapy is to restore stability and strength to these connective tissues, thereby alleviating pain associated with the damaged or loose tissue.
What to Expect
A typical treatment plan can range from four to 10 sessions of proliferant solution. Sessions are scheduled every three to four weeks, and the number of injections can also range, depending upon the size and condition of the affected area. While there is some discomfort with the injections, it can vary from person to person and is generally well-tolerated. To limit discomfort, the injections are administered with a numbing agent, and patients may also use other pain-control measures such as acetaminophen or ice packs as needed. In most cases, patients may return to work the same day as a treatment session, though it may depend upon the amount of stress a job places on the treated area.
Patients should not expect immediate relief of pain after a prolotherapy treatment. While some patients report improvement from prolotherapy in as little as two weeks, noticeable results usually take about four to six weeks to occur. Prolotherapy is meant to provide a long-term solution for pain relief based on the healing, growth and tightening of soft tissue, so it is a process that takes a bit of time.
Benefits, Risks
and Research
A key benefit of prolotherapy for patients is that complications associated with treatments are uncommon. As with any medical procedure, it is important treatments are administered by a trained medical professional to avoid possible risks. Side effects and complications can include bruising, worsening symptoms, nerve damage, headache, allergic reactions or infection. Though it is quite rare, serious health risks can arise if the needle comes in contact with the spinal cord, nerves or lungs. When administered properly, these risks are very avoidable.
Because prolotherapy in its modern form has only recently gained notice as treatment for pain relief, more research is needed to demonstrate its effectiveness at a statistical level. Animal studies have shown that prolotherapy increased bulk and strength in ligaments and tendons. A 2007 study also indicated that prolotherapy improved chronic low back pain when combined with other treatments - such as spinal manipulation and exercise. Physicians at Mayo Clinic have supported prolotherapy as a treatment of chronic pain since 2005. The medical school at the University of Wisconsin is evaluating prolotherapy for knee ligament pain.
Since insurance coverage for prolotherapy varies, it's best to check first with your carrier. At this time, Medicare does not cover treatment cost. Your prolotherapist can give you more information on cost, as well as help you understand if prolotherapy is a viable treatment option for your individual needs.
