-Prolotherapy stimulates the body’s healing response
drZaman excited to bring you the latest procedures and techniques in prolotherapy. Just what is prolotherapy?
Prolotherapy is a minimally invasive and natural treatment option for those living with the chronic pain of many common joint, tendon and ligament injuries.
Prolotherapy is also known as Proliferative Injection Therapy or Regenerative Injection Therapy (RIT). Prolotherapy is sparking renewed interest, particularly with regard to treating muscle or ligament strains or partially torn tendons and ligaments in professional athletes. It may be helpful when ligament or tendon pain fails to respond to prescribed physical therapy alone, or in conjuction with other “traditional” treatment modalities. Prolotherapy uses injections of natural solutions that stimulate a mild inflammatory response at the site of injury to allow the body to heal itself. This works by facilitating an increased blood supply and nutrients to the area, and causing the release of growth factors from the blood to stimulate tissue repair.
Prolotherapy has been used as a “non-traditional” treatment option for more than fifty years; however, it has been more recently recognized in the scientific literature as an effective and safe means of healing.
Ask drZaman if you are a candidate for prolotherapy!,
Do you want to be active again ?
Regenerative injection therapy (RIT) or prolotherapy is a natural healing alternative to drugs or surgery. RIT prompts your body to naturally heal damaged and degenerated tissues. It involves a series of simple injections into the injured area, once a month for 3-6 months.
This is not a steroid, which blocks healing, but substances that heal and strengthen the ligaments and joints. The goal of RIT is to increase your activity level. More activity will allow your muscles to increase their tone and further protect the joints and nerves from injury.
Research has shown that RIT is very effective for knee pain, low back pain, tennis elbow and arthritic hand pain. Our own experience shows that it’s also effective for ankle pain, shoulder pain, elbow pain, neck pain, upper back pain, and hip pain. It’s the perfect solution for active individuals looking to return to a pain-free lifestyle.
How RIT / Prolotherapy Works
RIT works by prompting your body’s natural repair mechanisms to heal damaged or degenerated tissues. While most of our daily injuries heal completely, severe ligament tears, degenerated and worn out tissues, and tissues with a poor blood supply (such as the knee) don’t usually mend themselves. RIT first starts by injecting a proliferant into the damaged area. This inflammation causes your body to release it’s own natural growth factors in the injured tissue. These go to work immediately, directing your body’s natural healing mechanisms to repair painful tissues. The first stage of healing usually takes about a week, but the tissue continues to strengthen for 4-6 weeks after an injection.
A sugar fix for joints and ligaments?
The most commonly used solution is hypertonic dextrose. This essentially means that concentrated sugar water is injected. Since the solution is very concentrated, the body immediately tries to dilute the solution. This causes a brief inflammatory healing response which kicks off a healing cycle.
What should I expect?
You should feel numb in the painful area immediately after each shot. This should last for a few hours. For the next few days you should be sore. This is a normal part of the healing process.
Are there any special instructions ?
Because anti-inflammatory medications ( Steroids, all prescription NSAID’s) block healing, you must stay off these medications while undergoing RIT. You should remain as active as possible as this will help build stronger tissues
Thank you for your interest in the drZaman'sFCPS Interventional Pain, Arthritis & Spine center –POPULAR MEDICAL COLLEGE HOSPITAL, DHAKA, BANGLADESH leaders in Pain Management
