Prolotherapy for Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis---also known as degenerative joint disease---results in chronic pain and discomfort. The condition can become progressively worse with age, especially when left untreated. Prolotherapy is an alternative treatment used to engage the body's natural regenerative processes, though the effectiveness of the treatment may depend on the overall health of an individual.

Prolotherapy

• Prolotherapy is a treatment method designed to work with the body's natural healing abilities. Hippocrates supposedly used this method to treat soldiers who suffered from dislocated shoulder joints. By inserting a hot poker into the afflicted area, Hippocrates sought to initiate the body's natural healing mechanisms. The "prolo" in prolotherapy implies proliferation, or growth. In effect, this treatment focuses on promoting growth in areas that have become weak. Joint problems that accompany osteoarthritis are among many treatment applications for prolotherapy.

Osteoarthritis

• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention cite osteoarthritis as the most prevalent form of arthritis in the U.S. Joint pain in the knees, hips, hands, neck or lower back is characteristic of this condition. The source of osteoarthritis stems from damage to bone cartilage, which is the material that covers the ends of bone joints. This material can wear away as a result of aging, overuse or injury. As cartilage wears away, bones begin to rub against one another, causing pain and possible bone damage. Prolotherapy works to encourage healing of cartilage and bones.

Treatment

• Prolotherapy treatments consist of multiple injections into the affected area. Osteoarthritic cartilage, tendon or ligament areas are injected with a proliferative solution using a fine needle. This solution contains a type of sugar---typically dextrose---and an anesthetic agent. The technique is designed to cause inflammation in the area, which is a signal to the body that repair and healing is needed there. This approach is based on the body's natural inflammation response in areas that have suffered injury or damage. Prolotherapy treatments are designed to simulate this bodily response.

Prognosis

• Prolotherapy is most effective when treating the early stages of osteoarthritis, though an individual's health, age and lifestyle play a significant role in how fast damaged joints heal. The extent of the damage and where it is located may dictate how long prolotherapy is needed. Healthy, athletic individuals may see benefits in as soon as six weeks, while sedentary individuals who eat an unhealthy diet and lead a stressful life may need much more time to heal. Elderly individuals experience slowed bodily responses in general, so it may take as long as six to 12 months before benefits are noticeable.

Considerations

• One of the main drawbacks of prolotherapy is the need for repeated injections, which can result in pain and swelling. Medications such as acetaminophen and hydrocortisone may help alleviate discomfort, while anti-inflammatory agents such as Advil could work against the treatment. Prolotherapy has not been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat osteoarthritis, and there is little evidence as a result of testing that proves its effectiveness. Anyone considering prolotherapy should try to find a practitioner who is experienced, as significant joint damage is possible if the procedures are done incorrectly.