What is Prolotherapy?

Prolotherapy (proliferative therapy), also known as ligament reconstructive therapy or sclerotherapy, is a recognized orthopedic procedure that stimulates the body’s natural healing processes to strengthen ligaments and tendons weakened by trauma or arthritis. Prolotherapy is the rehabilitation of a ligament or a tendon by the induced proliferation of new cells. A ligament is a band of connective tissue that holds bones together. Just like a rubber band, a ligament can become “over-stretched.” The resulting weakness can cause severe pain as bones rub together or muscles are over-worked as they tighten in an attempt to stabilize the bones.

Prolotherapy is a treatment where a solution of natural substances is injected directly into the site where the weakened ligament attaches to the bone. These injections then trigger the body’s own healing system to grow new and healthy tissue which then properly stabilizes the bones and joints, relieving various musculoskeletal pain and stiffness. Prolotherapy is one of the treatments of choice for chronic pain.

When ligaments and tendons are stretched, torn, or loose, joints become hypermobile and painful. Traditional approaches with anti-inflammatory drugs and surgery often fail to stabilize the joint and relieve pain permanently. Prolotherapy has the unique ability to directly address the cause of instability and repair the weakened sites, resulting in permanent stabilization of the joint. When precisely injected into the site of pain or injury, prolotherapy creates a controlled inflammation which stimulates the body to lay down new tendon or ligament fibers, resulting in a strengthening of the weakened structure. When the joint becomes stronger, pain will be relieved.

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Prolotherapy’s Range of Applications

Prolotherapy can be used to relieve a broad spectrum of conditions, including:

	Arthritis		Chronic headaches
	Backaches		Tennis elbow
	Carpal tunnel syndrome		Shoulder pain
	Compression fractures		Neck pain
	Knee conditions		Temporal mandibular joint dysfunction
	Hand & wrist pain		Work-related injuries

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Prolotherapy’s Role in Chronic Pain Relief

Chronic pain is primarily due to ligament and tendon weakness in and around the joint. At Kokopelli Health and Wellness, prolotherapy is part of the comprehensive approach we take to curing chronic pain. We evaluate each patient thoroughly with a personal history and physical exam and, if needed, specialized laboratory analysis. We may have X-rays taken before receiving prolotherapy. In all cases involving chronic pain, our physicians will use their expertise in dietary and nutritional medicine and recommend specific supplements to maximize your health and ability to heal.

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How Effective is Prolotherapy?

The success of prolotherapy depends on a number of variables, including the patient’s history and ability to heal. Some 85-95% of patients suffering from low back pain with hypermobility, for instance, experienced remission when treated with prolotherapy. In comparison, the Journal of Bone and Joint Therapy reports only a 52% improvement in patients treated with disc surgery.

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Are Prolotherapy Treatments Painful?

Patients can have prolotherapy without the need for anesthesia. The pain of an injection will vary depending on the structure to be treated and the choice of solution involved. Because prolotherapy uses inflammation to heal the body, it may result in swelling and stiffness. This condition can be treated with pain relievers such as Tylenol or narcotic pain medication. NSAID’s or anti-inflammatory medications are not used as they inhibit the healing process.

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How Often Are Treatments Administered?

Prolotherapy treatments are administered as determined on an individual basis, usually every three to six weeks. The length of the treatments is variable and depends on several factors, including nutritional status, ability to heal, and the degree and site of the injury involved. Some patients may experience complete relief from pain along with restoration of full function after only one or two treatments. Generally speaking, however, back and neck problems require from three to six sessions and less extensive injuries from one to three sessions. We ask patients to avoid any heavy-duty exertion during the treatments, but they are otherwise usually able to pursue their normal life and work schedules in between sessions.