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| 323.874.7166 |
Prolotherapy and PRP
by John Diaz
Go through life long enough and eventually you will experience some type of joint and muscular
pain. Whether it’s an acute injury, chronic use syndrome or arthritis there are options you
should be aware of beyond pain relievers, a sedentary lifestyle, and surgery. Prolotherapy and
PRP are 2 such treatments that can reduce or eliminate pain, speed healing, and erase most
the debilitating symptoms.
Prolotherapy
Early forms of this treatment have been around since the 1800’s. Some believe crude forms of
prolotherapy were administered hundreds of years before that. Prolo is short for proliferation
because it causes growth or formation of new tissue. Essentially a doctor injects an injury site
with most commonly dextrose (sugar water) or in some cases glycerin, cod liver oil or even
alcohol. The solution causes the body to increase inflammation temporarily bringing growth
factors that aid the formation of collagen. This collagen can increase the strength of tendons
and ligaments by as much as 40%. The formation of new collagen also coats exposed cartilage
and nerve tissue decreasing or eliminating arthritis and tendonitis pain. Standard protocol calls
for 2-6 injections spaced about 2 weeks apart.
Platelet Rich Plasma
PRP is a more advanced form of prolotherapy. Used in the 1990’s to aid healing after oral
surgery it has now found favor by doctors to aid many musculoskeletal injuries in areas such as
the wrists, elbows, knees, hips, shoulders, and spine. The process requires blood to be drawn
then centrifuged to separate the red blood cells. The red cells are then discarded. The
remaining white cells and plasma are rich in growth factors. Using an ultrasound to pinpoint the
affected area, the PRP is then injected along with a numbing agent. The growth factors cause
the rapid formation of new tissue speeding healing and reducing or eliminating pain. Uses have
been documented for wound healing, bone healing, cartilage regeneration, disc regeneration,
as well as ligament and tendon mending. Several famous athletes such as Tiger Woods, Hinds
Ward, and Troy Polamalu have used PRP to return to the top of their game after serious
injuries. Standard protocol is 2-4 injections 4-6 weeks apart.
Osteopaths, Physiatrists and some Orthopedic doctors (all medical physicians) are most likely
to administer these treatments. You should find a doctor who is highly skilled rather than cheap
to get the best result. Prolo runs around $125 - $250 per injection and ultrasound administered
PRP runs around $750 - $1500 per injection. Currently neither is covered by insurance.
by John Diaz
Go through life long enough and eventually you will experience some type of joint and muscular
pain. Whether it’s an acute injury, chronic use syndrome or arthritis there are options you
should be aware of beyond pain relievers, a sedentary lifestyle, and surgery. Prolotherapy and
PRP are 2 such treatments that can reduce or eliminate pain, speed healing, and erase most
the debilitating symptoms.
Prolotherapy
Early forms of this treatment have been around since the 1800’s. Some believe crude forms of
prolotherapy were administered hundreds of years before that. Prolo is short for proliferation
because it causes growth or formation of new tissue. Essentially a doctor injects an injury site
with most commonly dextrose (sugar water) or in some cases glycerin, cod liver oil or even
alcohol. The solution causes the body to increase inflammation temporarily bringing growth
factors that aid the formation of collagen. This collagen can increase the strength of tendons
and ligaments by as much as 40%. The formation of new collagen also coats exposed cartilage
and nerve tissue decreasing or eliminating arthritis and tendonitis pain. Standard protocol calls
for 2-6 injections spaced about 2 weeks apart.
Platelet Rich Plasma
PRP is a more advanced form of prolotherapy. Used in the 1990’s to aid healing after oral
surgery it has now found favor by doctors to aid many musculoskeletal injuries in areas such as
the wrists, elbows, knees, hips, shoulders, and spine. The process requires blood to be drawn
then centrifuged to separate the red blood cells. The red cells are then discarded. The
remaining white cells and plasma are rich in growth factors. Using an ultrasound to pinpoint the
affected area, the PRP is then injected along with a numbing agent. The growth factors cause
the rapid formation of new tissue speeding healing and reducing or eliminating pain. Uses have
been documented for wound healing, bone healing, cartilage regeneration, disc regeneration,
as well as ligament and tendon mending. Several famous athletes such as Tiger Woods, Hinds
Ward, and Troy Polamalu have used PRP to return to the top of their game after serious
injuries. Standard protocol is 2-4 injections 4-6 weeks apart.
Osteopaths, Physiatrists and some Orthopedic doctors (all medical physicians) are most likely
to administer these treatments. You should find a doctor who is highly skilled rather than cheap
to get the best result. Prolo runs around $125 - $250 per injection and ultrasound administered
PRP runs around $750 - $1500 per injection. Currently neither is covered by insurance.
