Patients experiencing pain from chronic tendinitis, sports injuries, facet syndrome, and other conditions are gradually turning to prolotherapy hoping to find relief. Considered an alternative treatment, prolotherapy is both safe and effective. It is also minimally invasive.
The question among many patients is how many sessions are needed for best results. According to the pain experts at Weatherford, Texas-based Lone Star Pain Medicine, there is no single answer to that question. Patients respond to prolotherapy differently.
On average, 4-6 treatments are offered 2-4 weeks apart. Some patients respond well after just a few treatments. Others need more than the original 4-6. Lone Star doctors say that the number of treatments really depends on the complexity of the disease or injury being treated.
The Basics of Prolotherapy
Prolotherapy is considered a regenerative treatment, and its aim is to promote natural tissue repair and growth. It is often chosen as an alternative to surgical intervention. Prolotherapy is also an injection-based treatment.
The injected solution is normally a combination of dextrose and a selection of nonactive ingredients. It is designed to irritate the injured or diseased tissue in order to promote inflammation. Although this seems contrary to the Western idea of reducing inflammation, it is the inflammatory response that doctors are looking to activate.
Inflammation signals to the body that something is damaged. It is a natural biological response. By triggering inflammation, prolotherapy encourages the body to address the affected tissue by beginning the healing process.
As a side note, the western habit of trying to reduce inflammation at every turn could explain why musculoskeletal injuries take so long to heal. We are shutting off the body’s natural response in an effort to achieve short-term comfort. But in so doing, perhaps we are prolonging the healing process.
A Simple, Inpatient Procedure
The prolotherapy procedure is a simple inpatient procedure that only takes minutes. Once the site of injury or disease has been found, the irritant solution can be injected fairly quickly. Some doctors will use fluoroscopy during the injection to make sure they are targeting the right area.
Following the injection, the injection site is bandaged, and the patient goes on their way. There may be some swelling and slight pain at the injection site as well. As for complications, the main risk is minor infection. But the risk is no greater than with any other injection.
The Injection Schedule
Receiving up to six prolotherapy injections spaced out over several weeks is the norm. Scheduling is intentional. Doctors space out the injections in order to give the body appropriate time to respond. They also encourage patients to manage their physical activity very carefully until all the injections are completed. The goal is to reduce the risk of further injury.
Once the typical 4-6 treatments work as intended, a patient should begin experiencing significant pain relief and functional improvement by the time the third or fourth injection is received. Subsequent injections are designed to keep the healing process going.
Not experiencing enough relief or functional improvement after six injections may lead a doctor to recommend another course, for a total of 8-12 treatments. A second course would generally extend the total treatment time. Treating for up to a year is not unheard of.
Talk to Your Doctor About It
If you are experiencing musculoskeletal or joint pain, talk to your doctor about prolotherapy. You may be referred to a pain specialist for the actual treatment. Although considered an alternative to traditional treatment, prolotherapy has proven itself a worthy option for treating certain kinds of diseases and injuries.