Prolotherapy
Why do prolotherapy?
Prolotherapy is a treatment for chronic soft tissue injuries. Soft tissue injuries include strains and bruises of muscles, tendons, and fascia. Soft tissue is often injured during sports, auto, household, and work accidents. Most of these injuries heal themselves by the body making inflammation that triggers growth of fibrous tissue that mends the damaged areas. Of those that do not heal, many are where the ligament or tendon attaches to the bone. This area has poor circulation and cannot heal as well. Soft tissue injuries that do not heal can cause chronic pain and problems in daily life. Prolotherapy is a treatment that can help many of these problem cases.
What is prolotherapy?
Prolotherapy creates inflammation by injecting a substance into the injured area. This substance is most often glucose (sugar water). By doing this, doctors can stimulate the body to start to heal itself like a new injury. This will trigger the growth of new tissue where it was injured and give the injured area a second chance to heal.
Instructions for prolotherapy
The injection itself only takes a few minutes. You will probably be told to stop taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medicines (ibuprofen, Advil®, etc.) before the procedure. Many people have an increase in pain, which may last up to a week and may require a brief increase in pain medicine. For this reason, many people schedule the injection during time off from work.
Because this treatment is not widely used, many insurance companies and Medicare do not pay for it. If you are thinking about having this treatment, you should check with your insurance company first.
Material References
www.prolotherapy.com, 03/01/2004
www.drreevesonline.com/prolotherapy_research.html, 04/14/2004
www.prolotherapy.com/articles/myers.htm, 04/14/2004
www.wehelpwhathurts.homestead.com/prolotherapy~ns4.html, 04/14/2004
www.diagnose-me.com/treat/T85233.html, 03/09/2005
The information provided should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.
Last Updated: 11/15/2011
Copyright © 11/15/2011 University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority. All rights reserved. Produced by the Department of Nursing. HF#6261
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