Prolotherapy is the concise form of "Proliferation Therapy," implying a procedure that encourages the proliferation of healing cells and tissues. Typically it is used for the treatment of torn ligaments or tendons, but is not limited to it.

Prolotherapy injections contain local anaesthetics and natural irritants (such as dextrose, saline and sarapin) to induce inflammation so that better healing occurs. Sometimes, based on requirement the prolotherapy injections may also contain plasma rich platelets (PRP).

Science behind Prolotherapy

Normally, your body sends naturally produced stem cells to injured sites to promote healing. Prolotherapy works by stimulating a low-grade inflammation at the injured site, thereby encouraging the natural healing process of your body. Due to various reasons, your healing process may be been compromised, halted or needs to be sped up; proliferation therapy kick starts this process efficiently.

Your physician personalizes your injection as per your requirement. Typically growth factors are included, which activates the fibroblasts in the area of administration, eventually forming mature collagen and reconnective tissue to heal your injury. These regenerated cells become new tissues that replaces the injured or weakened tissues, thereby reducing pain.

Uses of Prolotherapy

• Healing of injured or torn ligaments and tendons, works wonders on sports related injuries
• Healing of conditions of spine: Degenerative disc disease, Sciatica, Sacroiliac problems, Whiplash
• Healing of conditions of shoulder and knees: tears in rotator cuff of shoulder, tears of meniscus in knee, as well as tears/strains of tendons and ligaments surrounding the knee.

Conditions mentioned above are commonly tackled by Prolotherapy procedure, although prolotherapy is not limited to it. Various other conditions that would benefit from low-grade inflammation to induce healing, may find prolotherapy beneficial. Contact us to get in touch with our physicians to see if you could benefit from prolotherapy.

Prolotherapy procedure

When you visit our physician, our doctors give you a full medical exam to assess your mobility and extent of your pain. You may require to undergo some X-rays or MRI studies, along with routine blood work up. Prolotherapy procedure may follow:

• A local anaesthetic is often used prior to injections, more often than not it forms a component of the injection to control localized pain.
• Your physician inserts a very thin needle with the customized mixture of ingredients near the site of injury or torn tissues.

Simple non-surgical procedure is completed, depending on healing and pain relief you may require 3-5 sittings of the procedure in 2-3 week intervals. You may expect some swelling, along with mild pain for few days to a week. Worry not, as this is expected and it just means your treatment is working. Ice packs, pain killers, physiotherapy and moderate exercise such as walking would minimize your discomfort during this period.

Advantages of prolotherapy

• Increased strength of ligaments and tendons
• Reduced recurrence of the injury
• Reduction or elimination of pain
• Improvement or return to normal functionality
• Risk of infection or allergic reaction is negligible
• May be used for years as a long-term solution