Prolotherapy is a highly effective method of treating chronic joint pain. The word comes from “prolo” representing proliferative and “therapy” representing treatment. It is also called Regenerative Injection Technique (RIT) because an injection of natural solutions, not steroids, is directed at the injured ligament or tendon site to “regenerate” or stimulate the growth of healthy, strong tissue. It is a safe, cost-effective, scientifically proven treatment for chronic joint pain, by treating pain at its structural source. What kind of pain or injuries can Prolotherapy help with?
The most commonly treated pain is “arthritis.” Arthritis is a large category of painful joint diseases, and the type that responds best to prolotherapy is osteoarthritis. This type of arthritis is also known as degenerative joint disease and develops from a joint being overstretched, torn or used repetitively. Ligaments hold bone to bone and create the stability for a joint to move without pain or inflammation, but when the ligaments—cable like structures—are weakened, they allow the joint to wobble, thus creating stress on all the joint structures and ultimately weakness and pain. Osteoarthritis is characterized by stiffness, usually feels better with movement, has a deep ache sensation, will respond to anti-inflammatory medicine for a while, and treatments such as massage and manipulation only feel better for a short period of time.
How does it work?
Prolotherapy stimulates the body’s natural healing response by small injections of dextrose (corn sugar) at the site of the bone where the ligament grows, known as the fibro-osseous junction. As the fluid is released, and small holes in the ligament-bone junction are made, the body starts creating the wound healing. We have all sprained our ankles, and immediately felt the heat, seen the swelling and noted the throbbing sensation. This process is how the body will repair the over-stretched ligaments. With a good healing system, and no interference (anti-inflammatory medications, ice or prolonged immobility), the ankle will heal with little notice. This is the same process we use for prolotherapy—we recreate the injury, and give the body all it needs to heal. Obviously, we restrict the use of anti-inflammatory medications and ice.