Prolotherapy

Prolotherapy is an injection based therapy that stimulates the body’s healing response in damaged tissues. It is done with an injection of dextrose, a local anesthetic and B vitamins into tendons, ligaments, fascia, or joints. This creates mild local inflammation that stimulates the healing cascade.

Areas targeted by prolotherapy often have poor blood supply, have disorganized collagen fibers and high cellularity without lots of inflammatory cells.

Prolotherapy

• Releases growth factors
• Turns off pain with local anesthetic and dextrose
• Settles hyper-reactive nerves
• Protects the joint cartilage
• Helps re-initiate healing
• Antibacterial

Expected results

• Initial pain relief lasting 1-2 weeks (can be sore for 1-2 days)
• Mild/moderate return of symptoms over week 3-4
• Gradual improvement as healing process continues
• Repeat treatments have an additive effect

Goals

• Decreased pain
• Removal of trigger points/muscle tension
• Tissue resistance to reinjury

Risks

• Infection (risk for any injection)
• Nerve Irritation – rare but possible

Meds

• No NSAIDS or Steroids (carprofen, meloxicam, aspirin, onsior, Pred) for 2 days before and 14 days after – these will inhibit the healing process we are trying to stimulate
• Acetaminophen can be given during this time

Uses

• Cruciate ligament injuries
• Hip dysplasia
• Tendon/Ligament injuries

Procedure:

• Sedation required
• One treatment every month for 3 treatments
• Can do a treatment every 3 months for maintenance depending on response