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Prolotherapy or Proliferation Therapy or Proliferative Injection Therapy: Uses, Side Effects, Benefits

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What is Prolotherapy or Proliferation Therapy?

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Prolotherapy, also known as “Proliferation Therapy” or “Proliferative Injection Therapy,” is injection of a non-medicinal irritant solution in the body. It is injected in the area of tendons or ligaments to promote strengthening of a feeble connective tissue and relieve musculoskeletal pains. The Prolotherapy or Proliferation Therapy is noninvasive and it’s aim is to stimulate healing. The basis of treatment of Prolotherapy or Proliferation therapy is to stimulate the human body’s naturally present healing mechanism so as to repair any injury to the musculoskeletal tissues.

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Prolotherapy or Proliferation Therapy or Proliferative Injection Therapy
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History of Prolotherapy or Proliferation Therapy or Proliferative Injection Therapy

The phenomenon of generating injury to facilitate healing has been known to occur as early as the Roman era. Prolotherapy or Proliferation Therapy has been an alternative pain treatment since ancient times. The treatment with Prolotherapy or Proliferation Therapy is believed to have started in the 1930’s by Dr. Earl Gedney. He was an osteopathic surgeon who was successful in treating his own severe hand injury. In the ’50s, a general surgeon named Dr. George Hackett from the United States of America started giving injections of irritant solutions to repair joints.

Uses of Prolotherapy or Proliferation Therapy or Proliferative Injection Therapy

Prolotherapy or Proliferation Therapy is used for management of chronic pain, acute pain, joint pain, or other pain management issues like back pain, knee pain, shoulder pain, neck pain, hand pain, migraines or other headaches, hip pain, ankle pain etc.

How is Prolotherapy or Proliferation Therapy or Proliferative Injection Therapy Performed?

Proliferative Injection Therapy

Prolotherapy or Proliferation Therapy is performed by injecting an irritant solution in a joint space, a weak ligament, or tendon insertion for pain relief. The most common solutions that are used for Prolotherapy or Proliferation Therapy are hyperosmolar dextrose, glycerine, lidocaine, phenol, and sodium morrhuate. The injections are given in the joints or tendons at their attachment to the bone. Prolotherapy is assumed to restart the inflammatory process that builds up new fibers and thus repairing flaccid tendons or ligaments. It also promotes release of local growth factors. The precise method of action is still not known but once repaired the weak areas stop sending pain signals to the brain.

Prolotherapy or Proliferation Therapy treatment is generally given after every two to a maximum of every six weeks for a few months. Many people get Prolotherapy treatments at lesser intervals till the time they are not required.

What are the Side Effects of Prolotherapy or Proliferation Therapy or Proliferative Injection Therapy treatment?

Some people who have received Prolotherapy or Proliferation Therapy have come across mild side effects, which may include pain at the site injected along with numbness or mild bleeding. This pain is generally temporary and is treated with acetaminophen or in exceptional cases opioids. Nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs are generally not used, but are given to those patients who have pain that is not calmed down by other forms of pain control. Some other adverse effects of Prolotherapy or Proliferation Therapy include lightheadedness, allergy to the agent injected, infection, or damage to the nerve.

There are different types of Prolotherapy. They are named as Dextrose Prolotherapy, PRP Prolotherapy, and Biocellular Prolotherapy.

Benefits of Prolotherapy or Proliferation Therapy or Proliferative Injection Therapy

Prolotherapy or Proliferation Therapy or Proliferative Injection Therapy is found to be beneficial in treatment of various ailments as following:

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  • Low back pain.
  • Knee osteoarthritis.
  • Achilles tendinopathy.
  • Shoulder dislocation.
  • Neck strain.
  • Sacroiliac joint dysfunction.
  • Costochondritis.
  • Lateral epicondylitis.
  • Fibromyalgia.
  • Pain due to a whiplash injury.
  • Plantar fasciitis.
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Team PainAssist
Team PainAssist
Written, Edited or Reviewed By: Team PainAssist, Pain Assist Inc. This article does not provide medical advice. See disclaimer
Last Modified On:June 15, 2018

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