Prolotherapy

Prolotherapy is a non-surgical regenerative injection technique used to stimulate the healing of damaged connective tissues. The injections promote a healing response in small tears and weakened tissue, with the goal of alleviating pain and restoring mobility and function. This technique has been shown to cause growth in cells and tissues to stabilize and strengthen weakened joints, cartilage, ligaments, and tendons. Essentially, the injection to the directed site is ‘tricking’ the body to repair again; each treatment session results in increased deposition of collagen and fibrinous tissue which causes the joints to become stronger and more stable.

A few indications that you may benefit from prolotherapy:

  • Ankle Pain or Instability
  • Achilles Tendinopathy
  • Costochondritis
  • Elbow Pain including Golfers or Tennis Elbow
  • Foot Pain including Plantar Fasciitis
  • Hypermobility
  • IT Band Syndrome
  • Knee Pain
  • Knee Meniscal Tears
  • Low Back or Mid-Back Pain including Degenerative Disc Disease and Sacro-Iliac Joint Instability/Dysfunction
  • Musculoskeletal Pain or Injury
  • Neck Pain or Strain
  • Osteoarthritis
  • Osteitis Pubis
  • Piriformis Syndrome
  • Shoulder Pain including Rotator Cuff Tears
  • Temporal Mandibular Joint Syndrome (TMJ)
  • Wrist or Hand Pain including Carpel Tunnel
  • Ankle Pain or Instability
  • Achilles Tendinopathy
  • Costochondritis
  • Elbow Pain including Golfers or Tennis Elbow
  • Foot Pain including Plantar Fasciitis
  • Hypermobility
  • IT Band Syndrome
  • Knee Pain
  • Knee Meniscal Tears
  • Low Back or Mid-Back Pain including Degenerative Disc Disease and Sacro-Iliac Joint Instability/Dysfunction
  •  Musculoskeletal Pain or Injury
  • Neck Pain or Strain
  • Osteoarthritis
  • Osteitis Pubis
  • Piriformis Syndrome
  • Shoulder Pain including Rotator Cuff Tears
  • Temporal Mandibular Joint Syndrome (TMJ)
  • Wrist or Hand Pain including Carpel Tunnel

pricing

An initial consultation with a Naturopathic Doctor is required for all new patients to determine if prolotherapy is appropriate. If deemed appropriate, an individualized treatment plan will be recommended based on medical history, an assessment of the concern, and health goals. The cost of treatment thereafter will be determined by how many injections are necessary which will depend on the severity of your injury as well as the structures being treated.

Treatment Sessions – $170 – $265

Frequently Asked questions

The injection solution contains local anesthetic (lidocaine or procaine), dextrose, adenosine monophosphate, and vitamin B12. These ingredients help trigger a healing response which stimulates blood flow and connective tissue production, thereby improving overall stability of the joint.

Treatment intervals vary depending on the specific problem and severity of the area being treated, as well as the protocol of the practitioner. Typical intervals between treatments are every two to six weeks, with an average interval of once a month, for a total of four to six treatments. However this can vary and may be more frequent, or take longer, depending on the condition being treated.

You may experience a few days of soreness in the area following treatment. This is related to the healing reaction being stimulated. After this initial recovery period,  about 50% of patients report improvements in overall pain or mobility after only one treatment.  For other patients, it may take 2 – 3 treatments for notable improvements to occur. 

Corticosteroid (often referred to as “cortisone”) injections can be very effective for suppressing inflammation and related arthritis symptoms.  Unfortunately, cortisone does not fix the underlying problems which are usually related to joint degeneration and/or joint instability.  

In contrast, prolotherapy is considered a regenerative therapy – it can help strengthen tendons, ligaments and improve the overall stability of the joint in question. After several treatments, it has been shown to significantly improve symptoms related to arthritis and joint instability.