Prolotherapy Injections in Northern VA - The Kaplan Center, McLean, VA Prolotherapy Prolotherapy is a healing technique that is applied to unstable and injured joints, ligaments, and tendons to encourage the restoration of normal, healthy tissue. As such, prolotherapy can help people heal more quickly.
Full Answer
What is prolotherapy and does it work?
Prolotherapy is an injection treatment used to relieve pain. Your healthcare provider will inject a small amount of an irritant into your body. Dextrose (sugar) solution is the most commonly injected irritant. Proponents of prolotherapy claim it relieves pain by jumpstarting your body’s natural healing abilities.
Is prolotherapy covered by insurance?
Prolotherapy doesn’t have approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and most insurance policies won’t cover it. Depending on your treatment plan, you may need to pay $150 or more for each injection.
What medical treatments are available for veterans/public?
This section provides links to tools on "Medical Treatments," developed for Veterans/Public. Medications; non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (like ibuprofen), tramadol, and some anti-seizure or anti-depressant medications. Injections like botulinum toxin and cortisone can sometimes be used to manage certain types of pain for a short term.
How many prolotherapy injections do you need?
According to an article published in the Journal of Prolotherapy, the following are typical courses of treatment: For an inflammatory condition involving a joint: three to six injections at intervals of 4 to 6 weeks. For neural prolotherapy, for example, to treat nerve pain in the face: Weekly injections for 5 to 10 weeks.
What is the success rate of prolotherapy?
Most patients will feel real improvement after 3-4 injections. The number of treatments and duration between them is determined by the rate of progress that the patient is making with their pain and recovery. Studies suggest a success rate (“greater than 50% improvement in pain level”) of 80-90% for all patients.
Who should not get prolotherapy?
Any patient who is taking any anticoagulation therapy, e.g., heparin, Coumadin (Warfarin), Plavix (Clopidogrel), is not a Prolotherapy candidate. Note: 80 mg of Aspirin a day is acceptable.
Can prolotherapy make you worse?
It is NORMAL to experience increased pain or soreness at the injection site(s) for up to a week or more. You may also notice swelling surrounding this same area. It is not uncommon to feel worse before you start feeling better.
Is prolotherapy a permanent fix?
Prolotherapy is an all-natural, permanent treatment, as it relies on the body repairing itself to reduce pain. In contrast, pain relievers and anti-inflammatory medications only provide temporary relief. Similarly, surgical options do not always work to stabilize a joint fully.
Who is a good candidate for prolotherapy?
Prolotherapy is most effective at treating joint injuries and conditions that cause pain. So any patient who has suffered a joint injury may be a good candidate. More specifically, prolotherapy may be right for you if you experience any of the following: Damaged or lost tissue, especially surrounding the joints.
Does Medicare pay for prolotherapy?
Prolotherapy is considered alternative medicine and its effectiveness remains in dispute. Prolotherapy is not covered by Medicare.
Is prolotherapy a hoax?
Prolotherapy is an alternative treatment, which means it's not regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Experts have found that it can benefit some people in certain situations, but it's still not universally accepted because research has found inconclusive results.
Is prolotherapy covered by insurance?
The initial examination by a physician to determine if prolotherapy may be useful will typically be covered by insurance (depending on your plan), but the injections themselves are not covered by most plans. On average, a prolotherapy injection costs between $150 and $300.
Is PRP better than prolotherapy?
In addition, the cost of PRP prolotherapy is higher than for dextrose prolotherapy because of the additional materials needed. Another difference is that PRP prolotherapy seems to stimulate multiple healing episodes, sometimes creating more “ups and downs” in pain levels during the weeks following a treatment.
What is the cost of prolotherapy?
Prolotherapy is an alternative treatment for joint and muscle pain. It usually costs around $150 per injection and isn't typically covered by insurance.
Can prolotherapy cause nerve damage?
Prolotherapy for the back and neck pose a greater risk for complications than other areas due to the proximity of the spinal cord. The chance of permanent nerve damage is slim, but it does exist. The risks from prolotherapy to this region is still less than the associated risks with back or neck surgery.
How many prolotherapy treatments are needed?
How many treatments do I need? The average patient requires three to six Prolotherapy treatments at 4-6 week intervals. Some patients require only 1-2 treatments to reach complete healing, which are typically younger patients or those who have sought Prolotherapy right away after an injury.
What is Neural Prolotherapy (NPT)?
Neural Prolotherapy (NPT) is one of the newest exciting advances in Regenerative Medicine used to treat neuropathic pain in a variety of musculoskeletal injuries and various pain conditions.
What are the origins of Neural Prolotherapy?
Neural Prolotherapy was developed by New Zealand physician Dr. John Lyftogt, who has been using this method to treat musculoskeletal injuries and various pain conditions over the last decade with outstanding results.
What is the solution that is injected?
Neural Prolotherapy solution contains 5% Dextrose in sterile water (D5W). Dextrose is a sugar originally derived from a plant source.
How does Neural Prolotherapy work?
When tissue is injured, it causes a release of pro-inflammatory substances (e.g. Bradykinin, Prostaglandins) that activate a channel on nerves called the “Transient Receptor Potential Vanilloid1” (TRPV1) cation channel, also known as the capsaicin receptor.
Are these treatments painful?
Nobody likes injections, but Neural Prolotherapy treatment is not like having normal injections. Neural Prolotherapy is generally very well tolerated. The treatment consists of micro-injections just under the skin. The needle that we use is the smallest on the market. It is finer than a hair on your head.
How will I feel after a Neural Prolotherapy treatment?
Most patients notice an immediate reduction of pain immediately after the first injection. This initial analgesic effect may last anywhere between four hours to four days. Pain is generally reduced by 10-20% with each subsequent treatment as the tissue is progressively healed.
How successful is this treatment?
Depending upon the body part, how long you have had the injury/pain for, and the individual circumstances, the “rule of thumb” is that 85% of people resolve their pain completely, with many more experiencing a significant improvement.
How to access VA mental health services?
To access free VA mental health services right away: Call or walk in to any VA medical center —anytime, day or night. Find your nearest VA health facility. Call or walk in to any Vet Center during clinic hours. Find your nearest Vet Center. Call us at 877-222-8387.
How many hours a day does the VA provide mental health care?
This includes: Emergency mental health care 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, through VA medical centers and some local, non-VA hospitals. The Veterans Crisis Line, which offers support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, for Veterans in crisis and their families and friends. Learn more about VA mental health services.
What is the VA mental health number?
We’re here Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. ET. If you have hearing loss, call TTY: 800-877-8339. You don’t need to be enrolled in VA health care to get care. Learn more about accessing VA mental health services. To connect with other resources for Veterans and transitioning service members:
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Contact the National Call Center for Homeless Veterans at 877-424-3838 for help 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. A trained VA counselor will offer information about VA homelessness programs, health care, and other services in your area. The call is free and confidential.
Prolotherapy FAQ
A dextrose solution is commonly used; this solution is a non-pharmacological irritant and is injected into the ligament or tendon. The theory is that the solution causes an increase in blood supply and overall flow of nutrients to stimulate tissue repair.
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Reviewed by: Dr. Christopher Good, MD, FACS, Dr. Colin Haines, MD, FACS, Dr. Ehsan Jazini, MD, FACS, Dr. Niteesh Bharara, Dr. Thomas Nguyen, Dr. Thomas Schuler, MD, FACS, FAAOS.
What is prolotherapy?
Takeaway. Prolotherapy is an alternative therapy that may help repair body tissues. It’s also known as regenerative injection therapy or proliferation therapy. The concept of prolotherapy dates back thousands of years, according to experts in the field. There are different types of prolotherapy, but they all aim to stimulate ...
What are the side effects of prolotherapy?
bruising and swelling. infection. allergic reactions. Depending on the type of prolotherapy, less common adverse effects are: spinal headache. spinal cord or disk injury. nerve, ligament, or tendon damage. a collapsed lung, known as pneumothorax.
How long does it take to get a prolotherapy injection?
apply lidocaine cream to the injection site to reduce pain. inject the solution in the affected joint. The process should take around 30 minutes, including preparation, after you arrive at the facility.
Does prolotherapy help with knee pain?
Prolotherapy may provide some pain relief. In one study. Trusted Source. , 90 adults who had had painful OA of the knee for 3 months or more had either dextrose prolotherapy or saline injections plus exercise as a treatment. The participants had an initial injection plus further injections after 1, 5, and 9 weeks.
Can you use prolotherapy for OA?
do not recommend using this treatment for osteoarthritis of the knee or hip. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections are another type of prolotherapy that some people use for OA.
Does insurance cover prolotherapy?
Prolotherapy doesn’t have approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and most insurance policies won’t cover it. Depending on your treatment plan, you may need to pay $150 or more for each injection. The number of treatments will vary according to individual needs.
Is prolotherapy safe?
Prolotherapy is likely to be safe, as long as the practitioner has training and experience in these types of injections. However, there are risks involved with injecting substances into a joint. Possible adverse effects include: pain and stiffness. bleeding. bruising and swelling. infection. allergic reactions.
