Prolotherapy can be an effective treatment for many orthopedic conditions, such as injured ligaments and tendons and unstable joints. It is particularly recommended for patients who want to avoid surgery, or those who are not candidates for surgery. This treatment can be used to promote natural healing, relieve chronic pain, and improve function, strength, and mobility.
Regenerative Medicine
Regenerative medicine is a series of non-operative treatments that utilize the body’s natural healing processes to repair and heal damaged tissue more effectively, while reducing or eliminating pain and improving function and mobility. Prolotherapy is a type of regenerative medicine. It dates back to the 1930s and uses the same process that the body naturally uses to stimulate its healing system, a process known as inflammation.
The treatment is designed primarily for injured joints and connective tissue, and can also be used for conditions such as degenerative disc disease, osteoarthritis, and whiplash. It can treat a number of different areas, such as the back, neck, knees, hips, shoulders, and hands. Prolotherapy triggers the body’s healing response to promote the growth of new cells and tissues within a damaged joint, ligament, or tendon.
Ligaments and tendons are strong fibrous connective tissues. Ligaments connect bones to other bones, while tendons attach muscles to bones. Ligaments and tendons do not always have good access to the body’s blood supply, meaning they don’t always heal back to their full strength if they become weak or damaged. Prolotherapy can strengthen weakened tissue to improve function and stability and reduce pain. The treatment can be used alone, or with platelet-rich plasma (PRP) to provide natural healing therapy with rapid results.
How Does The Treatment Work?
Prolotherapy involves injecting the affected area (tendon, ligament, or joint capsule) with a mild irritant solution to cause localized inflammation. This increases the blood flow to the area, which helps stimulate cell growth and tissue repair, and accelerate the healing process. It signals the body to create new collagen to strengthen the ligament or tendon in question. Collagen is a structural protein and the main component of connective tissue. As a result, strength, function, and mobility improve, and there is a reduction in pain and stiffness.
Prolotherapy treatments can be administered by your doctor during an in-office visit. Several treatments are often necessary for prolotherapy to be effective. A prolotherapy session is fairly quick, with the entire process requiring 30 minutes or less. Mild swelling and stiffness may be experienced immediately after the treatment, but this should resolve quickly, allowing you to get back to your normal activities. Your doctor may suggest multiple rounds of treatment completed every few weeks to continue the stimulation of new tissue growth.
Am I A Candidate?
Not everyone is a candidate for prolotherapy. If you have a history of lymphoma or are taking Plavix, it may exclude you from receiving this treatment. Your doctor will be able to let you know if you are a suitable candidate for prolotherapy based on your health.
Prolotherapy In Delaware
At Delaware Back Pain & Sports Rehabilitation Centers, we specialize in prolotherapy and other regenerative healing techniques. Our expert physiatrists have advanced training in prolotherapy to give you pain relief and long-term healing.
Our doctors use regenerative therapy for patients looking for an alternative to surgery. Prolotherapy is a safe, non-surgical procedure that provides effective relief and healing for most patients. The procedures can be done at one of our locations throughout Delaware.
If you would like more information about prolotherapy or our other regenerative treatments, talk to one of our specialists today for more details. At Delaware Back Pain and Sports Rehabilitation Centers, we want to get you back to optimal health. Call us today to schedule a consultation or request an appointment online.
