What is it? DR. CASSANO OFFERS PROLOTHERAPY AT HER EDMONTON CLINIC ONLY Prolotherapy (proliferative therapy) is a recognized orthopedic injection procedure that stimulates the body’s natural healing capabilities in order to strengthen and repair injured and painful joints and connective tissue. Prolotherapy can repair areas of stress and weakness by stimulating new collagen (connective) tissue, thus permanently stabilizing the joint. With joint stabilization, pain patterns typically resolve.
HOW PROLOTHERAPY IN EDMONTON AB WORKS Prolotherapy in Edmonton works by producing a controlled, localized, inflammatory response in the area of the injured connective tissue or joint. With this controlled inflammation, the body is essentially tricked into trying to heal again. The mild inflammation created by the injection encourages the growth of new, strong, healthy, ligaments and tendons. Because this process is repeated with a series of injections, the injured area gradually builds up new connective tissue to restore its original strength.
WHAT IS THE PROLOTHERAPY SOLUTION? Prolotherapy solutions contain natural substances that help stimulate the healing process as well as local anaesthetic to help mitigate the discomfort of the injection. A typical prolotherapy solution contains dextrose, saline and procaine or lidocaine.
HOW MANY TREATMENTS WILL I NEED? While everyone’s case and severity of pain and injury is different, most patients require at least 3 to 4 injection treatments to see a marked improvement. In more severe cases, or in larger joints, up to 10 treatments may be required. Occasionally, maintenance treatments may be required or recommended. These treatments may be done once every 6-9 months for the long term.
HOW QUICKLY ARE RESULTS SEEN? Many patients at Redefined Health experience some improvement within the first 3 weeks after their first injection. Prolotherapy, however, continues to repair and grow new connective tissue for a period of 6 months after the final injection. Thus, the maximal healing response and pain reduction benefit from a series of injections may not be seen for many months after the last treatment.
WHAT IS THE COST OF PROLOTHERAPY? An initial session of prolotherapy costs $235. The follow up sessions cost $195. Patients with extended health benefits for Naturopathic Doctors in Edmonton will often have coverage for the treatments.
WHAT CAN I EXPECT AFTER A PROLOTHERAPY TREATMENT? Prolotherapy solution is typically injected with a local anaesthetic solution, thus, for a a few hours after the treatment, most patients feel little or no discomfort in the injection site. It is common, however, to feel a fullness or pressure sensation in the area that was treated. This is largely due to the fact that solution was injected into a small space. Once the anaesthetic wears off, one might feel some dull ache in the area that can last for 24-48 hrs after the treatment date.
HOW LONG DO I NEED TO REST AFTER I HAVE A PROLOTHERAPY INJECTION? It is typically recommended to avoid exercise or any major stress to the treatment area for 48 hours after the injection. After 48 hours, a patient may resume regular activity at 50% of their maximum effort for the following 7 days. Approximately 10 days after treatment, most activities can be resumed at fill capacity. There are of course exceptions to this and this is assessed on a case by case basis.
WHAT ARE THE MOST COMMON TREATMENT SITES FOR PROLOTHERAPY? There are multiple sites in the body that can be treated with prolotherapy. Some of the most common treated conditions are shoulder pain, labral tears, rotator cuff injuries and tears, tennis and golfers elbow, wrist pain and instability of the carpal bones, hip pain, hip labral tears, osteoarthritis of the hips, knee osteoarthritis, LCL and MCL ligament injuries, ACL tears, ankle and foot pain and so forth. Some physicians and Naturopathic Doctors in Edmonton also offer treatment to the spine for back and neck pain.