Finding a pain-relieving solution is not a one-size-fits-all process. Your condition, severity, pain tolerance, and the natural makeup of your unique body can affect how you respond to particular treatments. What works for one person doesn’t always work for another, which is why compassionate medical professionals must take the time to get to know their patients and evaluate all aspects of their health and wellness before moving forward with pain treatment therapies.
One innovative pain relief treatment is prolotherapy, which jump-starts your body’s incredible healing capacity. Many patients report experiencing a decrease in pain and an increase in mobility following prolotherapy. So, how do you know whether prolotherapy is right for you?
What Is Prolotherapy?
Proliferation or prolotherapy is one treatment that helps alleviate chronic pain and boost natural tissue repair and regeneration. It is a non-invasive treatment that involves injecting a natural, dextrose-based solution into painful, injured, or damaged joints, ligaments, or tendons.
Dextrose is a form of sugar that comes from corn or wheat. When injected, it irritates the injured area, causing minor inflammation. This concept may sound bad if a patient is already experiencing pain and discomfort. However, by stimulating a mild inflammation reaction, the body sends platelets and other crucial cells to promote tissue regeneration. The body naturally starts to repair damage to the injured area. Over time, the site becomes stronger, less painful, and more mobile.
What Conditions Can Prolotherapy Treat?
How do you know if you are a candidate for prolotherapy? The first step is evaluating which conditions prolotherapy can help manage. While it can treat various injuries and medical conditions, prolotherapy is most effective in treating musculoskeletal conditions that affect soft tissues like muscles, ligaments, and tendons. Some of the injuries and conditions that respond well to prolotherapy treatment include:
- Tendonitis
- Tendinopathy
- Ligament injuries
- Osteoarthritis
- Lower back pain
- Plantar fasciitis
- Chronic joint pain
Prolotherapy can also be used in combination with other therapeutic treatments, such as physical therapy, to enhance the treatment’s effects and increase mobility and function.
Are You a Candidate for Prolotherapy?
If you suffer from chronic joint pain or have one of the above conditions, you may be a suitable candidate for prolotherapy. However, not everyone can tolerate the procedure. Patients who should avoid prolotherapy include individuals who may have an allergy to the substances used in the injection, like dextrose. Always alert your physician to any potential allergies because they may influence which treatment options are right for you.
Individuals with certain health conditions may also need to skip prolotherapy treatment for chronic pain. Contraindications for prolotherapy include:
- Allergies to the irritant solution
- Certain bleeding disorders
- Patients take certain medications like blood thinners
- Individuals with active infections or gout
Patients should also understand that prolotherapy can cause some discomfort, like localized pain and tenderness, for a day or two after the injection. If a person is unlikely to tolerate the mild discomfort or cannot follow their physician’s post-injection instructions, prolotherapy may not be the right pain relief treatment option. Additionally, to achieve optimal results, patients need to undergo several treatments spread out over several weeks. Individuals who cannot commit to this schedule may not benefit from the treatment.
For individuals interested in prolotherapy, the side effects are generally well-tolerated. Many people report a reduction in pain, better mobility, and increased function and can generally return to their normal activities soon after therapy.
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy is another non-invasive regenerative pain relief therapy similar to prolotherapy. However, it’s generally recommended for patients with chronic joint injuries caused by disease, aging, or significant wear and tear.
Find Out If Prolotherapy is the Treatment Option You’ve Been Looking For
Prolotherapy and other regenerative treatment options like PRP therapy can help give you the pain relief you’ve been searching for. At Long Island Spine Rehabilitation Medicine, we work with you to find personalized and holistic pain relief options that meet your needs.
Contact our office today and schedule an appointment to find out if you are a candidate for prolotherapy.