What is prolotherapy and who can it help?
Prolotherapy is one of the earliest forms of regenerative medicine, dating to the mid-1930s. Concentrated sugar water, called dextrose, is injected into injured tendons or ligaments, causing a mild inflammatory response that signals the body to heal. It may help joint hypermobility, chronic tendon injuries and ligament laxity, and usually involves four to six injections over several months.
Before Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP), before orthobiologics, before the term regenerative medicine became widely known, there was prolotherapy. It’s one of the earliest forms of regenerative medicine still in use today, which shows it has stood the test of time.
The team of Board-Certified doctors at The Michigan Center for Regenerative Medicine has performed prolotherapy for patients across Michigan and beyond. In this post, we’ll explore the history of prolotherapy and help you determine if it’s applicable to you based on your current condition.
What is Prolotherapy?
Prolotherapy actually dates back to the mid-1930’s and is considered one of the earliest forms of regenerative medicine. The procedure uses highly concentrated sugar water, which is delivered to injured tendons or ligaments. The sugar water acts as a mild irritant in the area and helps trigger an inflammatory response, which signals the body to begin healing the damaged tissue. Patients struggling with joint hypermobility, chronic tendon injuries or ligament laxity can often benefit from prolotherapy.
What a Patient Can Expect With Prolotherapy
The prolotherapy procedure itself is quite straightforward. An injection of the sugar water, also referred to as dextrose, is injected into the affected area. After the injection, the patient can return to most normal physical activities the same day or soon after. There is no lengthy recovery, which is much different compared to other invasive treatment options such as surgery.
One thing to keep in mind with prolotherapy is that patients need to understand this treatment is provided in a series. Unlike some other regenerative medicine procedures, where one session may be sufficient, prolotherapy often requires four to six injections spaced out over several months. This helps the tissue to strengthen gradually over time.
Who Benefits the Most from Prolotherapy Treatments?
There are two types of patients who often benefit from prolotherapy, which we’ll explain below:
- Patients with little time for rest or rehab – Patients who are training for something important or who simply cannot rest or rehab because of the risk of missing work or some other extenuating circumstance can often benefit from prolotherapy.
- Patients where cost is a significant factor – Prolotherapy is one of the more cost-effective options when it comes to regenerative medicine. Because of this, some patients are drawn to this type of procedure as a first step. At The Michigan Center for Regenerative Medicine, we will always be honest with each patient about whether prolotherapy is a good option for you, regardless of cost.
Why Image Guided Injections Are Needed for Prolotherapy
Injection location is critical for all regenerative medicine procedures, including prolotherapy. The treatment will only work if the dextrose solution reaches the exact area that needs it. Every patient’s anatomy is different, which is why knowing exactly where our injections are going is so important. At The Michigan Center for Regenerative Medicine, we use ultrasound or X-ray guidance for every injection to ensure we’re accurately targeting the tissue or area that is causing your pain.
Data actually backs up the importance of image-guided injections. A 2021 study in Arthroscopy, Sports Medicine, and Rehabilitation reviewed randomized trials on knee injections. In every completed trial, ultrasound-guided injections were more accurate. This data shows that even experienced physicians who are injecting without imaging are leaving accuracy on the table. Even if you’ve tried prolotherapy before, it’s worth asking the question of how the injection was delivered.
Ready to See if Prolotherapy is a Good Option for You?
If chronic pain has been holding you back, prolotherapy may be worth considering. Call our office today at (248) 216-1008 to schedule a consultation with one of our Board-Certified physicians.
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