4 Chronic Pain Conditions That Prolotherapy Can Address

One of the difficulties of treating chronic pain is its ongoing nature. Relying on pain medications invites side effects, drug dependency, and ever-increasing dosages as your body adapts to medication. 

That’s a big reason why patients and physicians alike seek out non-pharmaceutical pain management solutions like prolotherapy. Jake Schmutz NMD of Integrative Medica in Salt Lake City, Utah, recommends prolotherapy to his patients who require pain management beyond their current plans. 

Today, let’s look at prolotherapy and four chronic pain conditions that are well-suited to this treatment. 

The basics of prolotherapy

Prolotherapy uses substances that act as irritants when injected into your body near the source of chronic pain. Unlike medications that have an active effect on your body’s chemistry, prolotherapy substances are inactive, serving only to stimulate a natural immune response.

Injections can contain dextrose, platelet-rich plasma (PRP), and anesthetics. Prolozone therapy uses ozone as its specific irritant.  

These irritants jumpstart a reaction when your body senses the intrusive injection, beginning a healing process to repair damage. It’s this natural response that can locally reduce inflammation and pain while strengthening soft tissue like ligaments, muscles, and tendons.

4 chronic pain conditions that prolotherapy can address

You have a chronic pain condition when symptoms last longer than three months. Prolotherapy works best on conditions that involve soft tissue inflammation. We’ve chosen four chronic pain conditions for which prolotherapy offers an addition to your existing pain management plan. 

Arthritis

Osteoarthritis is the most common of the more than 100 conditions that fall into the category of arthritis diseases. It results from the deterioration of cartilage coverings on the bones of a joint. This causes inflammation that advances progressive breakdown of joint components. Prolotherapy can help to rebuild soft tissue and reduce inflammation. 

Back and neck pain

Pain stemming from the spine can be difficult to treat. Compression of nerve tissue branching from the spine causes symptoms like local pain and sciatica, with symptoms that extend into your legs. When prolotherapy triggers inflammation reductions, nerves have more room and reduced irritation. 

Temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD)

More than 30 conditions can cause pain in the temporomandibular joints, the hinge points of your jaw. These disorders can cause pain stemming from the joint itself, its supporting muscles, or chronic headaches connected to joint dysfunction. 

Tendinitis

A common source of chronic joint pain is inflammation and irritation of joint tendons. It’s difficult to completely immobilize joints like elbows, knees, or shoulders, so mild reinjury can keep a joint from fully healing. Prolotherapy provides a boost to the process. 

Learn more about the benefits and limitations of prolotherapy in consultation with Dr. Schmutz and his team at Integrative Medica in Salt Lake City. Book your appointment online or by phone today.