What Is Prolotherapy & How Does It Work?

How Prolotherapy Can Help Relieve Pain

If you have chronic pain, you may have come across a treatment called prolotherapy. Prolotherapy is a type of alternative therapy that uses an injection of an irritant to stimulate an immune response in your system. Prolotherapy has been around for decades and may help accelerate your recovery.

At Unruh Spine Centers, we focus on helping patients live pain-free. We are proud to offer prolotherapy to our clients. We have decades of experience providing relief to Santa Clarita Valley residents. Our fully licensed and trained team will work with you to meet and exceed your health and fitness goals. Contact us to schedule your appointment today.

What Is Prolotherapy?

Prolotherapy is a simple, injection-based treatment that targets areas that have been damaged due to an injury or overuse. Also referred to as proliferation (proliferative) therapy or non-surgical ligament and tendon reconstruction and regenerative joint injection, the treatment involves injecting an irritant into the body.

The injection triggers an immune response in the body that can help stimulate your body’s healing process. The body works to repair any damaged or injured areas including ligaments, tendons, and tissue.

What Are the Benefits of Prolotherapy?

There are numerous benefits to prolotherapy. It can be used to alleviate discomfort throughout the body including in the back, knee, elbow, or foot. Many patients receive injections around once a month for approximately four to six months. However, the treatment can be tailored to meet the individual needs of the patient.

Benefits of prolotherapy may include:

Increased blood flow at the injection site
Production of new collagen tissue
Faster recovery
Repairing damaged tissue

By stimulating the body’s healing process, prolotherapy offers a less invasive way to repair damaged tissue, torn ligaments, or stretched tendons.

What Is Injected During Prolotherapy?

As described by the American Osteopathic Association of Prolotherapy Regenerative Medicine the solution injected at the site may include both an irritant and an anesthetic. One of the most commonly used irritants is dextrose or sugar. Newer formulas may include things like Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP).

What Conditions Can Prolotherapy Treat?

Prolotherapy can help treat several conditions and is designed to reduce pain. If you suffer from any chronic pain, prolotherapy may be a viable option to help you alleviate the discomfort without surgery.

Common conditions treated with prolotherapy include:

Back pain
Knee pain
Meniscus tears
Plantar fasciitis
Osteoarthritis
IT band syndrome
Degenerative disc disease
Sacro-iliac joint instability/dysfunction
Musculoskeletal pain
Tennis elbow
Rotator cuff tears

These are only a few of the plethora of conditions that prolotherapy may help. Prolotherapy may be used on its own or as part of a comprehensive recovery program.

Schedule Your Prolotherapy Appointment Today

If you live with chronic pain, prolotherapy may be the right treatment. Contact our office today to schedule your appointment with a member of our team. You are just a few clicks away from starting your journey toward a pain-free life. We offer same-day appointments. Visit us at one of our spine centers located in Santa Clarita and Valencia today!