The best medical treatments restore health and function to an injured or ailing part of the body. 

In the case of our joints, our ligaments, tendons, and cartilage can be injured or weakened over time creating significant pain. 

To be confident in using these joints again to their fullest potential and without risk of re-injury, a treatment that encourages regeneration of the injured areas is needed to ensure a complete recovery.

Prolotherapy is a Regenerative Therapy

Prolotherapy is the ideal treatment as it enables injured areas of joints (the ligaments, tendons, and cartilage) to heal such that they are no longer painful.

Compared to no treatment or standard anti-inflammatory treatments, a joint treated with prolotherapy will:

– regain greater strength and stability

– have greater functionality

– recover more quickly and more completely

How does this compare to standard treatment for pain?

Commonly used treatments for pain and injury typically include anti-inflammatory medications or cortisone injections. These treatments reduce pain but get in the way of the repair processes. With time, joints become weaker, making them more vulnerable to continuing deterioration and re-injury. This is not a preferred scenario.

How does Prolotherapy work to regenerate joints and relieve pain?

Most joint pain results from injured ligaments and tendons or arthritis within a joint. 

There are a lot of nerve endings in these areas to (painfully) remind you of your injury! The only way to properly resolve the pain is to heal the tissue (and calm those nerve endings).

Inflammation is required to initiate the healing process, which explains why anti-inflammatory medications and cortisone injections compromise the process of healing. 

The effect of prolotherapy is to trigger localized inflammation at the site of injury to allow the healing process to move forward, repair the damaged tissue, and ultimately resolve the pain.

What is the process of a Prolotherapy Treatment?

The process of prolotherapy involves the injection of a “proliferant” solution via small needles to painful ligaments, tendons, and joints. The injected solution may vary slightly between patients but will always include dextrose (a sugar), procaine (an anesthetic), and vitamin B12. Often ozone is included alongside the prolotherapy solution to maximize the body’s healing response.

Our experience with prolotherapy spans over 12 years and many, many patients, and we can confidently say that when applied appropriately at least 85% of patients will respond well. Even those patients having suffered for years with severe pain can benefit.

For further information, please visit with Dr. Colin Race at Vive Integrative Health Group. The most appropriate therapies for your care will be discussed at your first visit.