Prolotherapy involves a series of three injections that are usually given six weeks apart to encourage optimal tissue growth.
You’ll be given a local anesthetic to ensure minimal discomfort as we inject a dextrose solution (glucose sugar water) into your painful ligament and tendon sites, and/or into adjacent joints.2
The injection makes your cells lose water, causing inflammation in that area of your body. Inflammation stimulates the growth of collagen fibres and connective tissue. That’s thought to thicken, tighten and strengthen the weak tissue, resulting in a stronger tendon or ligament that can hold your body’s structures in place more effectively.
As the weakened area heals, your pain should reduce significantly. This biological process can often take up to six to eight weeks, meaning you may not feel the benefits immediately.
Prolotherapy is often used as an alternative to cortisone injections, which may weaken connective tissue with long term use.3 In contrast, the dextrose solution used in phototherapy is water-soluble and easily excreted by your body once it’s done its job.