DAVID HARRIS, M.D.
1) Is Prolotherapy painful?
The injection is considered mild to moderately painful, and there is typically a "flare" of soreness for 3-7 days afterwards.
2) Are there any medication interactions?
Because the effect of Prolotherapy is to initiate a "healing cascade" which requires Inflammation, the patient is advised to avoid anti-inflammatory medication, both over-the-counter and prescription.
3) Is Prolotherapy safe?
Using the current solutions and techniques, there have been no reported significant side effects of this treatment in over 35 years. There is occasionally some bruising, and very rarely, a nerve may be injured, usually transiently. The procedure has been used for over 60 years.
4) How does "sugar water" have a chance of solving the painful condition?
The dextrose is actually quite irritating in the standard 50% concentration. This is then diluted with water, anesthetic such as Lidocaine, or Sarapin, a water-based herbal extract of the Pitcher Plant, to a concentration of 12-15%. This is thought to "dehydrate" the injected tissues, causing an injury signal for the body, and initiating the healing process. Dextrose has been shown to be a growth stimulant on it's own as well.
5) What tissues of the body are treated by Prolotherapy?
The ligaments, which connect bones together, may be stretched and torn. Tendons attach muscles to bone and may also be torn. The capsule surrounding joints may become lax (loose) and also contribute to pain. All of these may be strengthened and "tightened" with Prolotherapy, reducing the "play" in the joints, reducing arthritis, and bonding the clicking or popping structures in a way that is much more functional and normal. Cartilage has been shown to be repaired and thickened after a series of Prolotherapy injections.
6) Are back and neck pain resolved with Prolotherapy?
Prolotherapy is an excellent treatment for many spine disorders, and can reduce pain and improve function in a great many cases . Pain from ligaments frequently is "referred", that is, travels down the arm, buttock, or leg, much in the same way that pain can refer from a "nerve pinch." If one is unaware of these patterns, it is not surprising that the true cause of the pain remains an enigma. If you are told that the "pain is in your head", and you can put your finger on it, you should see a Prolotherapy specialist.
7) Do you treat muscle pain with Prolotherapy?
Trigger point injection are given in muscles and prolotherpy in tendons . However, used to strengthen the attachments of these same muscles where their tendons connect to the bones, this type of pain is very treatable with much more permanent results. myofascial pain is frequently cured with this approach, unlike the traditional and well-known practice of massage, trigger point injection, spray and stretch, and similar techniques. When these techniques do not provide resolution of pain within 3-4 months, the patient should strongly consider the more permanent and cost-effective technique of Prolotherapy.
8) Does Prolotherapy involve steroid injections?
Not usually. Occasionally, the physician may try a steroid injection first, as this is a mainstream, accepted approach for these types of injuries. Steroid injections are well known to have complications, usually mild but occasionally significant, and repeating them unnecessarily increases the risk. Each steroid injection weakens the underlying connective tissue, and may result in a need for additional Prolotherapy injections to regain any lost ground from steroid injections.