What is prolotherapy?

Prolotherapy is a type of regenerative medicine. Regenerative medicine includes several therapies that stimulate your body’s natural ability to create and repair cells.

The term "prolotherapy" is short for "proliferation therapy.” In prolotherapy, the weakened areas are injected with a "proliferant solution" that directly stimulates the growth of healthy, strong tissue. Treatments consist of injecting a Dextrose solution (12 - 25%) in the area of injury. Dextrose, at the right concentration, is a powerful growth stimulus for cells – causing them to release growth factors that recruit platelets and stem cells and stimulate a burst of healing, This creates new collagen and cartilage, restoring injured or aging tissue.

What conditions might improve with prolotherapy?

Dr. Turner uses prolotherapy in treatment plans for a wide range of injuries and degenerative conditions. He helps patients with:

• Shoulder pain (rotator cuff tear, arthritis, AC joint sprain)
• Knee pain (MCL or ACL tear, arthritis, meniscal tear)
• Hip pain (labral tear, arthritis)
• Tendinitis (e.g., tennis elbow, golfer’s elbow, biceps tendon, etc.)
• Whiplash
• Ankle sprains
• Pulled muscles
• Low back pain
• Sacroiliac pain
• Torn or inflamed fascia

Whether you have pain in your neck, shoulders, spine, hips, knees, or feet, prolotherapy could be a safe and effective part of your treatment. It can reduce the amount of time — and money — that you spend on physical therapy and can even help you avoid surgery. Why extend the amount of time that you live with pain?

What happens during prolotherapy?

Dr. Turner provides a thorough exam and consultation before recommending any treatment.

If Dr. Turner includes prolotherapy in your treatment plan, he will tell you how to prepare for the injection.

Dr. Turner utilizes numbing medicine and special injections techniques to reduce discomfort. Depending on the location of your injury, he may also use ultrasound-guidance to ensure a safe and effective injection.

The treatment itself doesn’t take long, but you might need a few treatments for complete healing. Dr. Turner explains the process and what to expect, but feel free to ask questions.

What should I expect after a prolotherapy treatment?

Avoid anti-inflammatory medicine for 7 days afterward. You might have some swelling or bruising near the injection sites, but this passes quickly. "Take it easy" until the post-injection pain is gone, then return to regular activity. In general, the more active, the better because your active use of that area will stimulate further healing.

Each prolotherapy injection stimulates a burst of healing that peaks at 30 days and, afterward, is permanent. Some people are cured after one injection, while other more severe cases may require up to 4 injections.

Prolotherapy is safe, effective, and ultimately saves you time and money. You don’t need to put up with pain! Call Dr. Turner today to find out if prolotherapy should be part of your treatment plan.