Prolotherapy (also referred to as ‘Prolo’) is an emerging therapy in the treatment of damaged or weakened soft tissues. This includes damage to your ligaments, tendons, and joints that can contribute to chronic pain and instability.
Prolotherapy, short for Proliferative therapy, operates under a simple principle: by creating controlled inflammation at the site of injury, the body is prompted to initiate a healing response.
At Foundation Kelowna, Dr. Michael offers Prolotherapy as part of a spectrum of pain management treatment options.
Dr. Michael provides comprehensive treatment plans and the tools you need to recover before and after Prolo sessions, all while integrating your treatment with any providers you’re already working with. At Foundation Kelowna, we believe the key to a full recovery that is lasting often requires the use of multiple types of treatment to address the entire body - and Dr. Michael’s approach is no different.
During a Prolo session a specialized solution, containing a mixture of dextrose and local anesthetic (lidocaine), is injected into the damaged tissue. The solution causes a mild inflammatory response, which in turn triggers the body's natural repair mechanisms. Over time, this process can strengthen weakened tissue, which is often addressing the root cause of your pain.
Luckily, despite promoting an inflammatory response, Prolo doesn’t produce all the same symptoms that we get following an initial injury, such as redness, heat, and swelling. With Prolo, it’s as if you get to skip over the first few
Ultrasound-Guided regenerative knee Injection uncomfortable steps that occur with a natural
performed by Dr. Michael into the knee joint injury recovery process, and jump straight to the
step where soft tissues begin the repair process.
As a ‘new’ treatment in the landscape of pain management (having emerged with more regularity in the last 30 years), Prolo has the benefit of being minimally invasive and very safe, especially when performed under ultrasound guidance by an experienced practitioner.
Naturopathic Doctors and Medical Doctors (both those working in pain management clinics and as Sports Medicine Docs) can be trained in the use of Prolotherapy. When looking for a practitioner, inquire about their training and ask if they use Ultrasound imaging to guide their treatment. There are many practitioners who perform Prolo ‘blind’ (without an Ultrasound), and while safe, there is ample evidence to suggest that it can be less accurate. Dr. Michael uses Ultrasound for all Prolotherapy treatments in order to maximize your results.
Compared to steroid injections and surgery, the risk of damage from a Prolo treatment is minimal. Treatments are done outside the hospital setting and are performed within the time frame of a typical doctor’s visit.
Also, Prolo has versatility - it is useful for many different conditions, such as tendonitis,
osteoarthritis, joint instability, and ligament sprains. Especially when conservative care (rest, pain medications) and exercise rehab haven’t led to a full recovery, prolotherapy (and its big brother, PRP) offers a great next step before surgery needs to be entertained.
If you are looking to take the next step in a stalled recovery process, or are looking to speed up your recovery after a recent injury, Prolotherapy is a tool that needs to be added to your arsenal.
And if you’re wondering if Prolotherapy or any other pain management therapies offered by Dr. Michael are the right treatment for you, you can book a complimentary consultation to find out more.