Prolotherapy for back pain is an alternative treatment designed to help manage chronic pain, especially in ligaments, tendons, and joints that have been strained or worn down over time. The process involves injecting a medicated solution into the affected areas over a few weeks to stimulate tissue repair, promote healing, and relieve pain.
Prolotherapy for lower back pain typically targets ligaments and joints in the spine or hips, helping to restore function to these key areas. Strengthening these tissues can provide relief from persistent pain.
Prolotherapy was previously known as "Ligament Sclerotherapy" because of the scar tissue it created during the healing process. It now focuses on regenerating damaged tissue. Sometimes called Regenerative Injection Therapy (RIT), it emphasizes the body's ability to heal and rebuild itself naturally.
As a growing option for those seeking non-invasive, long-term pain relief, Prolotherapy offers a promising path for people struggling with chronic pain.
What is Prolotherapy for back pain, and what are the types of Back Pain that can treated with it:
Prolotherapy injections might be suggested as a treatment option for back pain that has persisted for more than 3 to 6 months and hasn't responded to other nonsurgical treatments. First-line treatments like physical therapy, exercise, medications, or self-care strategies are typically tried first. If these approaches don't bring relief, Prolotherapy could be the next step to help manage the ongoing pain and promote healing. This treatment focuses on targeting the source of the pain to encourage the body's natural ability to repair damaged tissues.
Prolotherapy For Lower Back pain
Prolotherapy is often recommended for treating chronic lower back pain when the exact cause is unclear. It can be beneficial for conditions like:
Pulled muscle injuries that cause ongoing discomfort
Gluteal tendinosis, which is the degeneration of tendons in the buttock area
Lumbo-sacral ligament dysfunction, where the ligaments connecting the lower spine and pelvis become weakened
Sacroiliitis, which is inflammation of the sacroiliac joints located between the lower spine and pelvis
These issues often lead to persistent pain, and Prolotherapy aims to strengthen the affected tissues, providing relief and improving mobility.
Injuries can damage and weaken the cells in the affected tissues, leading to pain and discomfort. Prolotherapy is not recommended if you have an acute fracture or an infection like cellulitis, a local abscess, or septic arthritis. These conditions need different treatments and could be aggravated by Prolotherapy.
When Prolotherapy Might Be Right for You
Prolotherapy is usually explored after other nonsurgical options have been exhausted and before moving on to surgery. It's often recommended when conventional treatments, like spinal manipulation and exercise therapy, haven't fully addressed the issue. Prolotherapy can be an effective step in your treatment journey, especially when used alongside these initial approaches to improve results.
How Prolotherapy Helps Heal Your Pain
Prolotherapy is a treatment that helps heal damaged tissues by kickstarting the body's natural repair process. It works by injecting a small amount of a special solution directly into areas with chronic damage. This solution triggers a mild, controlled inflammation, prompting the body to repair and regenerate the damaged cells. Over time, this can strengthen the tissues and reduce pain, helping you feel better and recover faster.
What is in a prolotherapy injection?
In Prolotherapy, different injection solutions are used to kickstart the body's healing process. Here's a breakdown of how some of these solutions work:
Osmotic Agents: These solutions create a shock to the cells, prompting them to release substances that promote healing and reduce pain. For example, concentrated glucose, glycerin, or zinc sulfate can trigger this response, encouraging the formation of collagen and supporting tissue recovery.
Irritants: These agents induce a controlled reaction by either damaging the target cells or changing their surface properties. This controlled irritation sets off an inflammatory response that attracts immune cells, such as macrophages. These cells help to clean up the injected particles and release growth factors that aid in tissue regeneration.
By using these solutions, Prolotherapy aims to harness the body's natural repair mechanisms, tackling chronic pain and effectively supporting healing.
Examples of irritants include phenol, guaiacol, and tannic acid.
Chemotactic agents:
Chemotactic agents are substances that help trigger an inflammatory response in the body, similar to how irritants work. They attract immune cells to a specific area, which can help with healing and tissue repair. One well-known example of a chemotactic agent is sodium morrhuate. By drawing attention to areas of damage or injury, these agents can promote a natural healing process and assist in the recovery of affected tissues.
Hyperosmolar dextrose, a specialized sugar solution, is the primary choice for injections in Prolotherapy. This solution is categorized as an osmotic agent, which helps in the treatment process. Another option sometimes used is sodium morrhuate, a chemotactic agent.
In Prolotherapy, dextrose is available in two different strengths to target specific areas: a 15% concentration is used for injections around tendon and ligament attachments near joints, while a 25% concentration is used for injections within the joint spaces. These concentrations have been developed over many years based on the experience of prolotherapy practitioners.
Dextrose solutions may be mixed with anesthetic medications or saline to minimize discomfort during the procedure. This helps to reduce irritation and pain, making the treatment more comfortable for patients.
Is Prolotherapy painful?
Prolotherapy can be painful, but most patients handle the procedure well.
Pain During the Procedure:
Patients may feel some discomfort, numbness, or a sense of fullness at the injection site. To minimize pain, a local anesthetic is usually applied.
Pain After the Procedure:
Discomfort typically lasts 5 to 7 days following the treatment, as the body's inflammatory response kicks in. This reaction is a positive sign that healing has begun. Over-the-counter pain relievers like acetaminophen (Tylenol) can help manage this post-procedure discomfort.
Although, unlike Cortisone injections, the inflammation is desired and the best results occur when NSAID use is kept to a minimum.
Acetaminophen is less problematic than ibuprofen. Many experienced Prolotherapy patients don’t use any NSAID’s after treatment instead using alternating hot and cold compresses,
and herbal remedies such as Boswellia,
Other Side Effects:
Bruising, swelling, and tenderness around the injection site are common but temporary. Homeopathic Arnica cream is very effective to clear any temporary swelling or bruising after treatment.
Prolotherapy At Proactive Choice
At Proactive Choice, Prolotherapy starts with a detailed consultation where Dr. Drew Collins reviews your medical history, discusses your symptoms, and may recommend diagnostic tests. This helps ensure the treatment is tailored to your needs.
Before the procedure, you'll receive clear instructions on what is prolotherapy injections, what to avoid, such as certain medications or activities, depending on the injection site. To keep you comfortable, a local anesthetic will be applied.
The treatment involves injecting a solution, often Dextrose, Procaine and Lidocaine, designed to stimulate your body's natural healing response. The number of injections will vary based on your condition, and multiple sessions may be needed for optimal results.
We'll closely track your progress throughout your recovery and may recommend complementary therapies, like physical therapy, to further support healing.
Call (858) 333-5196 for a free 10-minute consultation with Dr. Collins.
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