Prolotherapy is a cutting edge treatment that uses a natural dextrose solution to create an irritant in a joint capsule or damaged tendon to help the body heal the area faster. Dr. George Hackett formalized the practice in 1950 originally to help with the laxity of tendons after injury. Prolotherapy is a highly specialized treatment that requires extra training and skills. Prolo is great for joint pain and degeneration, bone-on-bone conditions, and overall chronically inflamed joints. Prolo is also highly sought after for tendonitis and torn or previously damaged tendons. Because tendons have very little blood flow in them, it makes it difficult to treat. After injury or incidences like childbirth, tendons become lax and lose their ability to help stabilize. Think of prolo as a super Medical Acupuncture treatment. The time it takes to get a prolo treatment is very little, most areas take about 15 minutes and are only a few sites of injections, but plan on being at our clinic for about 30 minutes for this service. Typically, a person can expect to receive at least three prolo sessions before they start to get relief, and typically up to eight sessions are recommended for one area of pain. Because prolo requires your body immense healing work, it is highly advised against doing any exercise or physical activity for a week after the injection. Light activity can resume after, but strengthening of that area should be avoided strictly for at least 3 weeks after the first injection.
Who might be a good candidate for this service?
Anyone with a previously damaged ligament or tendon who still suffers from instability problems (rolled ankles, shoulder instability, SI joints that won’t stay in place, biceps tendonitis, elbow tendonitis, wrist sprain, or diastasis recti (abdomen muscle tear).
People who have been diagnosed with arthritis in a joint, bone-on-bone, runners/jumpers knee, chondromalacia patella, any other joint inflammation.
We cannot do prolo for patients in an area who have a joint replacement.
Please also note, that after the procedure you might be sore, but it is contraindicated to take any NSAIDs or COX2 inhibitors three days after your injection. These are anti-inflammatories that include advil, motrin, aleve, celebrex, turmeric, ginger, rosemary, green tea extract, boswellia. Tylenol might be safe after prolo. We also cannot do prolo in the same area as cortisone within 2 months.
Typically a prolo injection is given every three weeks until you’ve reached your treatment plan sessions.
Trigger Point injections are great for people who have tried Dry Needling and want an extra boost to their treatment. Imagine a super Dry Needling (called wet needling!) treatment. Trigger point injections can be used to treat tight muscles, muscle knots, and trigger points. We typically use one or a combination of the following:
These injections help to hydrate the muscle, help with pain, decrease nerve inflammation, and decrease several inflammatory cytokines. It is generally recommended to come in for trigger point injections once to twice weekly for at least two weeks in a row. Then your practitioner will devise a prognosis and maintenance plan for you. If you have a job or do a sport or activity that involves repetitive motions of any sort, it is highly recommended to continue treatment ongoing at some maintenance level depending on how long your relief lasts for and how intense your activity is (could be once weekly ongoing, or could be as little as once every six weeks).
Traumeel for injuries
Traumeel® Injection Solution is an anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anti-edematous, anti-exudative combination formulation of 12 botanical ingredients, 1 mineral substance, and 1 animal-derived substance. Traumeel does not work on enzyme inhibition such as NSAID drugs do. Instead, Traumeel helps stimulate the immune system and reduces inflammatory mediators such as IL-1 and neuropeptides. In-vitro studies show that there is no toxicity to surrounding tissues, only oxygenation to reduce free radicals and a release of anti-inflammatory cells.
The anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anti-edematous, and anti exudative effects of Traumeel® Injection Solution have been demonstrated in clinical trials as well as in-vivo experimental models including the carrageenin-induced edema test and the adjuvant arthritis test.
Ingredients
Mountain Arnica
Significant analgesic and anxiolytic activity. Rich in flavonoids and phenolic acids. Antioxidant activity and protection of oxidative stress. Upregulates genes that help macrophages remodel/regenerate connective tissue
Marigold (Calendula)
The richest and purest form of Lutein. Anti Inflammatory, analgesic, and antioxidant. Wound healing by increasing platelet and white blood cell count. Increase hemoglobin count, and reduce bleeding time by increasing clotting ability when there is an injury.
Witch Hazel
Used for pain and swelling. Especially for mucous membrane inflammation, decreased blood flow, bruising
Yarrow
(Shi Cao)
It is an anti-inflammatory agent and is a hepatoprotective herb. The study confirms the antiphlogistic activity and anti-inflammatory effects were partially mediated by the suppression of the activation of transcription factor NF0kB and p38 MAPK signaling cascade. It also showed good free radical scavenging activity and an ability to decrease the levels of intracellular ROS.
Belladonna (nightshade)
Pain reliever, muscle relaxer, and anti-inflammatory.
Monkshood
Studies show it helps to improve Neuropathic pain
Chamomile
Reduces pain from the flavonoid called apigenin which acts as an anti-inflammatory
Comfrey
Contains allantoin which boosts the growth of new skin cells after injury. Also contains Phenolic acids including rosmarinic acid which relieves pain and inflammation. Research has shown an antioxidant effect and decreased healing time after a broken bone. Studies show a decrease in inflammatory molecules IL-1 and NF-kB
Daisy
Helpful for injuries and bruises, especially those caused by trauma to the trunk or in deeper tissues—for example, internal soreness after an accident or surgery. Great for bruised or injured areas.
Echinacea
Contains caffeic acid, alkamides, phenolic acids, rosmarinic acid, and polyacetylenes. It reduces inflammation, improves immunity, and has antioxidant properties. Research showed that when patients who did not respond well to NSAIDs for pain, responded better to Echinacea.
St. John's Wort
Active ingredients include hypericin, hyperforin, and adhyperforin which help keep serotonin, GABA, dopamine, and norepinephrine in the system. It helps reduce pain in people who have an increased sensitivity to pain.
Hahnemann's soluble mercury
For the temporary relief of fatigue
calcium sulfide-made from oyster shells
Contains Vitamins B1, B2, B3, B5, B12, and is high in calcium
Zeel is a homeopathic (diluted plant medication) injection used for joint pain, osteoarthritis, cartilage and articular pain and inflammation, and other rheumatic conditions. Zeel can be injected when acupuncture alone isn't enough.
Neuralgo-rheum is a homeopathic (diluted plant medication) injection used for nerve pain, disc protrusion, and sciatica. It can be injected when acupuncture alone isn't strong enough.
Gelsemium Comp is a homeopathic (diluted plant medication) injection used for postherpatic neuralgia (pain after shingles), trigeminal neuralgia, and chronic sciatica. This injection can be used when acupuncture alone isn't enough.
Calmvalera is a homeopathic (diluted plant medication) injection that can be used for insomnia, nervousness and anxiety, restlessness, mild depression and mental exhaustion. It can be used when acupuncture alone isn't strong enough.
Hepar is a homeopathic (diluted plant medication) injection that can be used to help treat liver or bile duct problems. This formula includes Milk Thistle. It can be injected when acupuncture alone isn't strong enough.
B12 is recommended for people who are on a limited animal protein intake diet, people who have trouble digesting food (who might also have low intrinsic factor), people taking an antacid might benefit greatly from B12, or people who are very stressed. We recommend B12 injections weekly for one month, then talking with your practitioner about the maintenance dose that might work best for you. Our B12 injection service only includes a standard B12 dose into the muscle belly of the arm. This service is not for injecting B12 into an area of pain. If you are interested in B12 injections for pain, please choose the Trigger Point Injection service.
