Prolotherapy for Joint Pain

Millions of adults suffer from troublesome knee pain due to weakness, overuse or chronic conditions. Developed in the 1940s by George S. Hackett, prolotherapy is recently becoming more accepted as an alternative to cortisone injections and invasive forms of surgery for the treatment of joint pain.

What Is Prolotherapy?

• Prolotherapy uses injections of nonpharmacological irritant solutions into the areas around the joints that help strengthen connective tissue to alleviate pain. The goal of prolotherapy is to help your body create new cells in weakened areas to promote increased strength in tendons and ligaments.

How Is Prolotherapy Performed?

• A very fine needle is used to inject the natural irritant solution into the connective tissues surrounding the knee joint. It is a quick and painless procedure performed on an outpatient basis at a doctor's office or clinic.

How Many Treatments Are Required?

• The number of treatments required depends on the individual and the extent of the knee pain; however, most patients see results after four to six treatments.

Is Prolotherapy Safe?

• In a study conducted in 1993 and published in the "Journal of Orthopaedic Medicine," of 494,845 patients treated, there were 14 cases of serious complications requiring hospitalization and 66 minor complications, resulting in a complications risk of 0.00016 percent.

Who Should Seek Prolotherapy Treatment?

• Anyone who suffers from knee pain due to trauma or chronic conditions is a good candidate for prolotherapy treatment. Even those who have had previous surgeries can still receive treatment.