On regenerative medicine: What is prolotherapy and how does it work?

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Prolotherapy, short for proliferation therapy, is used to treat orthopedic and vein problems. Because of the regenerative nature of the treatment, it is also called regenerative injection therapy. The treatment is also known in other various names, including sclerotherapy, ligament reconstruction therapy, fibro-osseous injection therapy, and proliferative injection therapy.

Prolotherapy seems like a new breakthrough in medical science, but the practice is linked back to the Romans in 500 B.C., when joint dislocations were treated with hot branding irons to help fuse the torn ligaments. Through the years, advancements were made, including the development of injectable medicine.

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This treatment involves injecting the patient with a proliferant, a mild-irritating solution that contains anesthetic agents and natural substances, into the region of tendons or ligaments with injured or weakened tissues. The proliferant helps in the growth of healthy tissue at the affected area by stimulating the body’s defense mechanism The treatment is usually administered every one or three weeks, as determined by the physician. Some patients may experience pain during the injection and mild swelling and stiffness after the treatment. These discomforts, however, will pass and can be reduced with pain relievers.

The rate of success from prolotherapy may depend on the patient’s medical history, ability to heal, and the type of solution used. The American Osteopathic Association of Prolotherapy Regenerative Medicine (AOAPRM) reports that 85 to 90 percent of patients with low back pain with hypermobility experienced reduced pain, while a 90 to 100 percent success rate was reported for patients treated for varicose veins.

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Dr. Rachna Mehra, a physician who specializes in regenerative medicine, recommends prolotherapy for the cure of arthritis, tendinitis, back and neck pain due to disc disease or instability, bursitis, tennis elbow, and rotator cuff injury, among others. To set an appointment, go to this website.