Michigan Center for Regenerative Medicine
Prolotherapy in MichiganNon-surgical treatment for weak ligaments and tendons
Image-guided prolotherapy from board-certified physicians at our Rochester Hills and Grand Rapids offices, to help strengthen unstable, painful joints.
★ 4.7 Google rating · Board-certified physicians · Rochester Hills & Grand Rapids
What is prolotherapy?
Prolotherapy, also called proliferative therapy, is a non-surgical injection treatment for stretched or torn ligaments and tendons. It prompts the body’s own healing response to strengthen weakened tissue, with the goal of better joint stability and less pain. It may be an option if you want to avoid surgery or ongoing pain medication.
Prolotherapy, short for proliferative therapy, is a non-surgical injection treatment for stretched or weakened ligaments and tendons. It is sometimes called non-surgical ligament and tendon reconstruction. The goal is to prompt your body’s own healing response so weakened tissue becomes stronger, which can improve joint stability and reduce pain.
When ligaments or tendons stretch or tear, the joint they support can become unstable and painful. Prolotherapy targets those weakened areas directly. It is an option for many patients who want to avoid surgery or ongoing pain medication.
How Prolotherapy Works
Your physician places a solution, usually a dextrose (sugar) solution with a local anesthetic, at the injured site. This causes a mild, controlled inflammation that signals the body to lay down new collagen. Over a series of treatments, the tissue can rebuild strength.
Because the healing response builds over time, several treatments are usually needed. Your physician will explain the expected number of sessions for your condition.
What to Expect
The solution contains natural substances that start the healing response, along with a local anesthetic to make the injection more comfortable. How much discomfort you feel depends on the area treated and the solution used.
Mild swelling and stiffness afterward are common and can usually be managed with simple over-the-counter pain relievers. Your physician may ask you to avoid anti-inflammatory medicines such as aspirin and ibuprofen, because they can blunt the healing response.
Who Is a Good Candidate?
Prolotherapy may be considered for:
- Lower back or mid-back pain
- Degenerative disc disease
- Sacroiliac (SI) joint instability or dysfunction
- Neck pain
- Knee pain and meniscal tears
- Wrist or hand pain
- Osteoarthritis
- Rotator cuff tears
- Tennis elbow
- Plantar fasciitis
- Jaw (TMJ) pain
This is not a complete list. Some areas are more challenging to treat than others, so you should always be evaluated by a physician trained in prolotherapy. Results vary with your history, your healing ability, and the solution used. See the ASRA review of prolotherapy evidence and our article Prolotherapy Explained.
Prolotherapy, PRP, and Stem Cell Therapy
Prolotherapy is the original regenerative injection treatment. PRP uses growth factors from your own blood, and stem cell therapy uses a concentrate of your own bone marrow cells. Your physician will recommend the option that best fits your diagnosis.
Conditions
Conditions Our Physicians Evaluate
Back, SI joint, and knee pain are common reasons patients ask about prolotherapy. We also evaluate shoulder, elbow, and foot problems.
Low back, mid-back, and neck pain linked to weak ligaments may be evaluated.
A loose or irritated sacroiliac joint can cause low back and buttock pain.
Ligament laxity, meniscal tears, and arthritis of the knee.
Rotator cuff tears and shoulder instability.
Tennis elbow and wrist or hand pain from strained tissue.
Heel pain from an irritated plantar fascia.
Patient reviews
What Our Patients Say
In Their Words
We were amazed at how thorough the explanation of the recommended procedure was. I knew just what would happen and what I was agreeing to.
Steve G. Regenerative medicine patient
This doctor is very professional, using layman’s terms and taking his time with my parents to fully explain everything, and in answering all our questions!
Rosanna Windsor, Ontario · Family of a stem cell patient
Dr Nabity answered every question/concerns I had prior to the procedure in detail. If you leave a message for him he always calls you back himself.
Connie H. New Baltimore, MI · Stem cell patient
Excerpts from our patient testimonials.
Individual results vary. Reviews reflect each patient’s own experience.
Your visit
Your Path to Treatment
Most visits follow four simple steps. Our team guides you through each one and answers questions along the way.
1. Consultation
Meet your physician, talk through your symptoms, and review your history and goals.
2. Diagnosis & Imaging
Ultrasound or other imaging helps identify the source of your pain.
3. Treatment
If prolotherapy fits your condition, your physician places the treatment with image guidance and plans a series of visits.
4. Follow-Up
Check-ins track your progress and adjust your plan as needed.
Insurance & cost
Insurance, Self-Pay, and Clear Pricing
We accept many major insurance plans for consultations, testing, and many spine and joint procedures. Regenerative treatments such as PRP and stem cell therapy are usually self-pay, so you get a clear estimate before you decide.
Usually billed to insurance
- Consultations and office visits
- EMG and nerve testing
- Epidural, facet, and SI joint injections
- Nerve blocks, radiofrequency ablation, and nerve stimulators
Usually self-pay
- PRP and stem cell therapy (BMAC)
- Prolotherapy
- PRP hair restoration
- Stem cell banking
Self-pay options include prompt-pay discounts, payment plans, and HSA or FSA funds for eligible expenses.
Plans we accept
- PPO Trust
UMR coming soon. Blue Care Network plans require a referral. Coverage varies by plan and service, so call Rochester Hills (248) 216-1008 or Grand Rapids (616) 288-1109 and we will check your benefits.
Why patients choose MCRM
- Board-certified physicians Every procedure is performed by a board-certified physician, not a technician.
- Image-guided precision Ultrasound or fluoroscopic (x-ray) guidance places treatment exactly where it is needed.
- Your own cells, prepared on site Platelets and bone marrow cells are processed in our in-house lab during your visit.
- Results we track We have reported patient outcomes to the DataBiologics registry since 2019.
- Clear, upfront pricing Itemized estimates before treatment, prompt-pay discounts, and payment plans.
- Physicians who teach physicians Our doctors teach orthobiologic courses and helped write national back pain guidelines.
Our physicians
Meet Your Care Team
Thomas Nabity, MD
Board-certified physician
John Santa Ana, DO
Board-certified physician
Robert Farhat, DO
Board-certified physician
Kevin M. Nemeth, MD
Board-certified physician
John Steele, MD
Board-certified physician
Christopher Hannasch, DO
Board-certified physician
Credentials & memberships
Training You Can Look Up
Board certification shows a physician completed specialty training and passed independent exams. Our physicians go further, with added certifications and memberships in orthobiologics, musculoskeletal ultrasound and electrodiagnostic medicine. Each program is run by an independent organization, so you can see exactly what it requires.
PM&R Board Certification
Board certification in physical medicine and rehabilitation, the specialty focused on restoring function.
Pain Medicine Board Certification
Board certification in pain medicine, covering evaluation and treatment of complex pain conditions.
IOF Certification Courses
Advanced knee, hip and spine certification courses in image-guided orthobiologic procedures.
IOF Instructors & Training Hub
Our physicians teach other doctors as IOF instructors, and our Rochester Hills clinic hosts training.
Musculoskeletal Ultrasound
Certified in diagnostic musculoskeletal ultrasound, the imaging used to guide our treatments.
Electrodiagnostic Medicine
Board certification in electrodiagnostic medicine, the specialty behind EMG and nerve testing.
American Academy of PM&R
The national society for physiatrists, physicians focused on restoring movement.
Interventional Pain (ASIPP)
A society that sets education and practice standards for interventional pain medicine.
Orthopaedic Medicine (AAOM)
A physician group focused on non-surgical musculoskeletal care, including prolotherapy.
DataBiologics Registry
We report patient outcomes to a national orthobiologics registry to track results over time.
Patient stories
Hear From Our Patients
Patients describe their own experiences with care at the Michigan Center for Regenerative Medicine. Individual results vary.
Patient Testimonial
Patient Testimonial
FAQ
Prolotherapy Questions
Answers to common questions about prolotherapy. Your physician can address your specific situation during a consultation.
What is in a prolotherapy injection?
Usually a dextrose (sugar) solution combined with a local anesthetic. Your physician will explain the solution chosen for you.
How does prolotherapy work?
It creates a mild, controlled inflammation that signals the body to lay down new collagen and strengthen weakened ligaments and tendons.
How many treatments will I need?
Several treatments are usually needed. Your physician will explain the expected number for your condition.
Does prolotherapy hurt?
A local anesthetic is included to make the injection more comfortable. Mild swelling and stiffness afterward are common.
Can I take ibuprofen afterward?
Your physician may ask you to avoid anti-inflammatory medicines because they can blunt the healing response. Ask which pain relievers to use.
What conditions does prolotherapy treat?
Common examples include back and neck pain, SI joint problems, knee pain, rotator cuff tears, tennis elbow, and plantar fasciitis.
How is prolotherapy different from PRP?
Prolotherapy uses a solution such as dextrose to start a healing response. PRP uses growth factors from your own blood.
Is prolotherapy image-guided?
Our physicians use ultrasound or x-ray guidance to place treatment precisely.
Is prolotherapy covered by insurance?
Coverage varies and is often limited. Our team will give you cost information before you decide.
How do I schedule a consultation?
Call (248) 216-1008 for Rochester Hills or (616) 288-1109 for Grand Rapids, or use the short form on this page.
Keep learning
Related Regenerative Medicine Articles
News & Events · PRP Therapy
Pre-eminent Journal Publishes Findings in PRP for Knee Osteoarthritis
What did the PM&R Journal find about PRP for knee arthritis? The PM&R Journal reported two main factors linked to better results …
Joint & Spine Pain
SI Joint Pain After Pregnancy: Why It Lingers and What Actually Helps
Why does SI joint pain linger after pregnancy? During pregnancy, the hormone relaxin loosens pelvic ligaments, which can make the SI joint …
Stem Cells & Orthobiologics
The Role Exosomes Play in Regenerative Medicine
What role do exosomes play in regenerative medicine? Exosomes are tiny cellular messengers packed with growth factors, RNA and proteins that help …
Next step
Find Out if Prolotherapy Is Right for You
Answer a few short questions and our team will contact you to schedule a consultation.
Share your symptoms and goals in the short form.
Our team contacts you to schedule a consultation.
Meet a board-certified physician in Grand Rapids or Rochester Hills.
★ 4.7 Google ratingBoard-certified physiciansTwo Michigan clinics
Prefer to talk?Rochester Hills (248) 216-1008Grand Rapids (616) 288-1109
Free webinar replay
Watch: Regenerative Medicine for Arthritis and Injury Repair
Watch the replay of our physicians’ webinar on regenerative options for arthritis and injuries.
Our physicians host free webinars with live Q&A. Watch any past webinar on demand, or call us to ask about the next date.
Our locations
Visit Our Michigan Clinics
Rochester Hills Clinic
355 Barclay Cir, Suite A
Rochester Hills, MI 48307
Monday–Friday, 9:00 am–4:30 pm
Grand Rapids Clinic
1000 E. Paris Ave SE, Suite 221
Grand Rapids, MI 49546
Monday–Friday, 9:00 am–4:30 pm
Areas we serve
Prolotherapy Near You
Patients visit our Rochester Hills and Grand Rapids clinics from across Michigan.
- Prolotherapy in Flint
- Prolotherapy in Grand Rapids
- Prolotherapy in Auburn Hills
- Prolotherapy in West Bloomfield
- Prolotherapy in Rochester Hills
- Prolotherapy in Novi
- Prolotherapy in Detroit
- Prolotherapy in Birmingham
- Prolotherapy in Northville
- Prolotherapy in Troy
- Prolotherapy in Bloomfield Hills
- Prolotherapy in Metro Detroit