Prolotherapy is a regenerative injection technique which triggers your body to repair damaged connective tissue supporting joints and muscles. Often surgery can be avoided with a series of Prolotherapy treatments.
Why would Prolotherapy be required?
Specifically, Prolo targets ligaments (holding bones to bones), tendons (muscles to bones) and cartilage (non-bone structural tissue). Often these tissues are injured and never fully heal because the body's healing process requires blood components (platelets and other blood cells) to find the injury to trigger healing. The problem is these tissues have very little blood flow, so injury sites are not detected, leading to incomplete healing. As a result, the tissue is now painful and weakened. In addition, muscles in the surrounding tissue try to protect the joint, leading to spasms and more pain.
How does Prolotherapy help?
Prolotherapy treatment injects a proliferative solution directly into the injured site. The proliferative solution most often contains a simple mix of dextrose and local anesthetic. The action of placing the needle at the site of injury allows blood to enter the tissue. The dextrose solution results in blood flowing into the specific area, triggering healing exactly where it is required. It is your body's natural processes that take over from this point.
Who Benefits from Prolotherapy Treatments?
Prolo is a very effective treatment to strengthen specific injured tissues and eliminate pain by promoting healthy tissue growth. Your body - your immune system - grows the tissue. If you have other health concerns, address them before or alongside Prolotherapy so your body can respond optimally, possibly reducing the number of treatments.
The ideal Prolotherapy candidate has the following:
Pain originating from a ligament or tendon
Strong immune system
Willingness to improve and receive follow-up visits
Healthy diet
Positive mental outlook
Experience Counts
Like other medical procedures, Prolotherapy is a specialty, a technique perfected over time with experience. It is best performed by a doctor who has been trained and accredited. Many practitioners now offer treatments because they have heard of or experienced the benefits.
Dr Terrie has had excellent results treating patients with knee arthritis, shoulder injury, ankle sprain, and other stretched ligament conditions.
Click here to Book an Appointment with Dr Terrie Van Alstyne!