Prolotherapy is a method of injection treatment designed to stimulate healing.
Hypertonic dextrose and a local anesthetic is used as a proliferant solution. This solution is safe and causes the least discomfort as a proliferant. It is a recognised procedure that stimulates the body’s healing processes to strengthen and repair injured and painful joints and connective tissue.
When ligaments or tendons (connective tissue) are stretched or torn, the joint they are holding weakens and can become painful.
With its unique ability to directly address the cause of the instability, prolotherapy can repair the weakened sites and produce new collagen tissue.
This stabilises the joint which will usually result in less pain.
What is the Prolotherapy procedure?
Your initial consultation will determine whether prolotherapy is the appropriate treatment for you. If so, prolotherapy may be performed on the day. Occasionally the doctor may require further scanning/investigations prior to having prolotherapy.
The procedure itself will take approximately 20 minutes. During this time the doctor will inject the solution into the injured area/s.
Following the procedure, you may drive home. However, it may be appropriate to have someone with you should you like some company following the injection.
Your doctor will advise if any restrictions on activity apply.
A course of prolotherapy injections may be required. This may be performed over a period of 4-8 weeks.
Is Treatment Painful
Any pain involving an injection will vary according to the structure or joint treated. The treatment may result in a temporary increase in pain with mild swelling and stiffness. The discomfort usually passes fairly quickly and can also be reduced with pain relievers such as paracetamol. Anti-inflammatory drugs, such as aspirin and ibuprofen, are not recommended for pain relief as their action suppresses the desired inflammatory healing process produced by the prolotherapy injections.
Before Prolotherapy Treatment
No fasting is required.
Avoid alcohol and cigarettes for at least two days prior to your appointment.
Please let us know if any of the below apply and we will advise further.
- taking any blood thinning medications (including aspirin).
- have a current infection
- active cancer
- have been told you have a low platelet count
- pregnant or breastfeeding
- have an allergy to local anaesthetic
HOW DO I BOOK AN APPOINTMENT?
For all PRP and prolotherapy appointments please call 03 9699 2499 (these appointments cannot be booked online).
Appointments are available Monday – Saturday. No referral is required.
Please email any relevant scans (MRI, CT, Ultrasound or X rays) to info@cmsm.com.au prior to your appointment.
Cost
From $190 per prolotherapy session
Please note we do not accept TAC or Workcover.