Frequently asked questions about Prolotherapy

Prolotherapy (Proliferative Therapy), also know as Non-Surgical Ligament and Tendon Reconstruction and Regenerative Joint Injection, is a recognized orthopedic procedure that stimulates the body’s healing processes to strengthen and repair injured and painful joints and connective tissue. It is based on the fact that when ligaments or tendons (connective tissue) are stretched or torn, the joint they are holding destabilizes and can become painful.

People usually have many questions regarding Prolotherapy, here are the answer for the most common ones.

Is the Prolotherapy treatment painful?

Any pain involving an injection will vary according to the structure or joint treated, the choice of solution, and the skill of the physician administering the injection. 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 Tylenol or other prescribed medication. Anti-inflammatory drugs, such as aspirin and ibuprofen, are not recommended for pain relief because their action suppresses the desired inflammatory healing process produced by the Prolotherapy injections.

Can Prolotherapy help everyone?

Each patient must be evaluated thoroughly with patient history, physical exam and radiological or ultrasound exam. When indicated, laboratory work, should be ordered or evaluated prior to treatment. With this information, your physician can evaluate your potential success with this therapy. Success depends on factors that include the history of damage to the patient, the patient’s overall health and ability to heal, and any underlying nutritional or other deficiencies that would impede the healing process. In appropriate patients,

Prolotherapy has a high success rate.

Who administers Prolotherapy?

Physicians who administer this form of therapy receive training by The American Osteopathic Association of Prolotherapy Regenerative Medicine, or other authorized training group or physician. Postgraduate training is a prerequisite before treating any patient with a medical orthopedic problem that might benefit from Prolotherapy.

What areas of the body can be treated?

Areas/problems treated include: Low back or mid-back pain including degenerative disc disease and sacro-iliac joint instability/dysfunction, neck pain, knee pain, knee meniscal tears, wrist or hand pain, osteoarthritis, shoulder pain including rotator cuff tears, elbow pain including golfers or tennis elbow, foot pain including plantar fasciitis, ankle pain or instability, hypermobility, osteitis pubis, IT band syndrome, piriformis syndrome, temporal mandibular joint syndrome (TMJ), or other musculoskeletal pain or injury. Some areas or problems can be more challenging than others, and it is therefore important to be evaluated by a physician trained and experienced in this procedure so that an accurate assessment and treatment plan can be given.

How often do I need these treatments?

Treatment intervals vary depending on the specific problem and severity of the area being treated, as well as the protocol of the physician. Typical intervals between treatment are every three to six weeks, with an average interval of once a month, for a total of four to six treatments. However this can vary and may be more frequent, or take longer, depending on the condition being treated.

What’s the rate of success in treatment for Prolotherapy?

The anticipated rate of success depends on a number of variables, including the patient’s history and ability to heal, and the type of solution used. In patients with low back pain, studies have shown a 85% to 95% of patients experience improvement with Prolotherapy (compared to studies showing a 52% improvement with back surgery). Many studies done over the years show a high success rate when Prolotherapy is used for various ligament, tendon or joint pain/injuries.

What’s the rate of success in treatment for sclerotherapy and how does sclerotherapy work?

Injection of varicose veins and other similar abnormalities creates a mild inflammatory response causing these veins to contract so that they become smaller or even vanish. When sclerotherapy is used for varicose veins, these can usually be 90% to 100% eliminated. Spider veins can usually be improved 70% to 90%.

Dr Zamudio has more than 16 years of experience performing Prolotherapy

Do you want to know if you are a candidate for Prolotherapy?

Call or Whatsapp Dr. Zamudio from the U.S. to  (928) 287 2429

or from México to (658) 517 7860