Regenerative Prolotherapy: The Origins of Regenerative Medicine

August 2, 2021/in News, Prolotherapy, Regenerative Medicine /by Dave Klein

With the advancement of technology and medicine, new procedures and treatments for orthopedic conditions have come along, including orthobiologic therapy, smart implants, 3D printing technology, minimally invasive surgeries, and more. Yet, regenerative prolotherapy, a non-surgical regenerative injection treatment, is still an effective and low-cost treatment option for musculoskeletal injuries to muscles, tendons, and ligaments.

In this article, we’ll discuss the origins of regenerative prolotherapy and the role it has played in regenerative medicine for centuries.

What is Regenerative Prolotherapy?

Before getting into the origins of regenerative prolotherapy, it’s important to know what it is and exactly how it works. Regenerative prolotherapy, which is short for proliferation therapy, is a non-invasive treatment that involves injecting an irritant solution into a weak or damaged part of the body to regenerate and repair tissue. This solution, which often consists of dextrose (sugar), lidocaine (a local anesthetic), and sterile water is injected into tendons, joints, ligaments, and in adjacent joint spaces during several treatment sessions. This is to promote growth and improve the health of normal cells and tissues.

Regenerative prolotherapy works by the same process the body uses to stimulate the natural healing system. That process is called inflammation. The irritant that’s injected into the body during regenerative prolotherapy causes an inflammatory response, which helps enhance the healing process.

So to understand regenerative prolotherapy, imagine what happens when you get a cut or sprain an ankle. Your body initiates an inflammatory response to heal whatever is “broken”. With a cut, your body works to form a scab and regenerate new skin cells. With an ankle sprain, your body initiates an inflammatory response, which causes the formation of blood clots. Then, your blood vessels trigger redness, swelling, and warmth. Finally, your body begins to produce new cells in the ligaments of your ankle.

In a nutshell, regenerative prolotherapy results in the same response your body undergoes after an injury. It involves injecting an irritant, which your body recognizes as a foreign invader. As a result, inflammation occurs. This helps create new ligament and tendon tissue. These ligaments and tissue grow back thicker and stronger. This creates a stronger bond at these attachment points, which means a decreased load on individual fibers. After regenerative prolotherapy, patients often experience significantly less pain, improved range of motion, and improved function in the treated area.

The History of Regenerative Prolotherapy

The Ancient Egyptians used a form of regenerative prolotherapy to treat lame animals. They would use branding or hot iron cautery to stimulate muscles and ligaments that weren’t functioning. Regenerative prolotherapy was first used on humans by Hippocrates. The Greek physician used a hot poker in the axilla (armpit) to repair a dislocated shoulder. From the 1830s to the 1920s, Regenerative prolotherapy was a common treatment for hernias, varicose veins, and hemorrhoids During the 1940s and 1950s, the use of prolotherapy for the musculoskeletal system other than hernias became more popular. Regenerative prolotherapy can be used to treat a variety of conditions:

Joint pain and instability
Back and neck pain
Ligament sprains
Tennis/golfer’s elbow
Ankle pain
Shoulder and knee pain
Osteoarthritis
Whiplash
Plantar fasciitis
…and more.

What Can Patients Expect During a Regenerative Prolotherapy Visit?

Before your physician begins the procedure, he or she will discuss the potential risks and benefits of regenerative prolotherapy. Once you provide consent to undergo the procedure, your physician will position you on an exam table as well as prep and sterilize the treatment area, Your physician will then inject a local anesthetic, followed by the prolotherapy injection(s). Your physician will then cover the area to prevent infection. Overall, treatment of a single area of the body may take 10 to 15 minutes per session.

On average, patients receive 4 to 6 injections, The injections are usually administered 4 to 6 weeks apart. After the procedure, you may be sore for a few days. It’s also common to experience aching, burning, swelling, muscle spasms, numbness, and bruising after your visit. This is due to the fact that the injection produces irritation and inflammation that is intended to repair, strengthen, and heal the affected tissue.

How Long Before Patients Start Seeing Results from Regenerative Prolotherapy Injections?

It may take a little while for patients to see a significant improvement in the areas of treatment. Most patients should see some improvement in pain or functioning after two or three treatments. If a patient does not respond after 2 or 3 treatments, they will have to discuss future care plans with Dr. Janiga.

What If Your Condition is Too Severe for Regenerative Prolotherapy to Be Effective?

Some more severe painful conditions will require stronger regenerative prolotherapy solutions. There are many forms of regenerative prolotherapy. Any injection method that strengthens or repairs a patient’s ligaments or tendons is prolotherapy. Examples of stronger prolotherapy solutions: platelet-rich plasma (PRP) which utilizes a patient’s own growth factors from their own blood or utilizing amniotic allograft growth factors, or even using a patient’s own stem cells from their bone marrow.

How Do Platelet-Rich Plasma Injections Work?

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections involve injecting a concentration of your own platelets to accelerate the healing of injured tendons, ligaments, muscles, and joints. To put it plainly, PRP injections use your own healing system to improve orthopedic problems. If you have chronic musculoskeletal pain, PRP therapy may be right for you. PRP therapy works similarly to prolotherapy in that it initiates the body’s natural healing process, The difference is, PRP involves the use of your own platelets instead of an irritant. For example, when an injury occurs, the body sends platelets — small, colorless cell fragments in our blood that form clots to stop or prevent bleeding — to the site of the injury in an effort to fix the damage. PRP therapy helps harness and boost your body’s natural healing ability.

How Does Bone Marrow Concentrate Work?

Bone marrow concentrate (BMC) is another regenerative procedure that can be used to treat a number of orthopedic conditions. Bone marrow contains healing cells taken from your own body. These cells are concentrated and reinjected into the area of need to bolster the healing response and help new tissue formation. Bone marrow concentrate is usually for patients with osteoarthritis, or moderate to severe orthopedic injuries.

Call on a Trusted Physician for Your Regenerative Prolotherapy Injections

If you’re looking for a trusted doctor to treat your orthopedic condition, we’re here to help. Dr. Mark Janiga specializes in prolotherapy injections for patients in need. Schedule an appointment today for an evaluation of your condition.

References

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Can Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) Therapy Help Treat Plantar Fasciitis?

September 18, 2017/0 Comments/in PRP, Regenerative Medicine /by Matthew Thorson

Plantar fasciitis is a foot condition that can cause long-lasting pain and discomfort. If left untreated, the condition can worsen and make even simple tasks like walking painful. There are many ways to treat plantar fasciitis – including regenerative medicine techniques. In this article, we are going to talk about plantar fasciitis and how Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) Therapy can be a suitable treatment option for the condition.

Plantar Fasciitis

Plantar fasciitis is a painful condition in which the plantar fascia (a long band of tissue that runs from the heel to the toes) becomes inflamed. This could be the result of a foot injury, or simply repetitive strain over time.

There are many potential options for treating plantar fasciitis – from rest and bracing, to surgery. While conservative methods typically do not provide enough long-term pain relief, many patients want to avoid surgery if at all possible. Platelet-rich plasma injections offer patients such an alternative – providing long-term pain relief, without having to undergo surgery.

Is PRP a Good Treatment Option?

PRP therapy begins with the extraction of a small amount of blood from the patient. That blood sample is then put in a centrifuge that separates all the elements. The platelet-rich plasma, once separated, is made into a PRP solution, which is then injected into the plantar fascia. These blood platelets go to work right away repairing the damaged plantar fascia tissue.

Find out if you are a good candidate for PRP Therapy.

Twin Cities Pain Management

At Advanced Spine & Pain Clinics of Minnesota, our double board-certified pain management doctors have over two decades of experience treating patients for both acute and chronic pain conditions. We work one-on-one with every patient we treat to find the best treatment solution – whether it’s pain medication, steroid injections, or regenerative medicine treatments like PRP therapy. If you have foot pain stemming from plantar fasciitis, PRP therapy may be a good treatment option for you. Contact us to see if you are a good candidate. Reach out to us today to set up your appointment at our Edina or Minneapolis pain management clinics.

PRP Therapy for Contouring

January 30, 2017/0 Comments/in Regenerative Medicine /by Matthew Thorson

In previous articles, we have talked extensively about PRP (platelet-rich plasma) therapy and how it can be a beneficial treatment strategy for numerous injuries and degenerative conditions. But PRP can also be used for body contouring purposes. That’s what we’re going to dive into with this article – how PRP injections can be used for contouring.

How Does PRP Work?

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy is a regenerative medicine technique that uses the patient’s own blood plasma to encourage natural regrowth and regeneration. The treatment works by first drawing a small portion of the patient’s blood, then running it through a centrifuge to separate out the platelet-rich plasma. Then the PRP solution is injected back into the patient’s body. This plasma immediately goes to work repairing the body’s damaged tissues.

Contouring with PRP

First of all, what does contouring mean? Body contouring is the process of reshaping and regenerating certain areas of the body. Plastic surgery is perhaps the most famous example of body contouring. However, PRP injections offer a contouring method that is completely natural, pain-free, and much less invasive than plastic surgery procedures. Using the same tissue regenerating methods, PRP can be a fantastic method for contouring specific areas of the body, including:

The Face
Breasts
Hair
Genitalia

Regenerative procedures like the Vampire Facial, the PRP Breastlift, and the P-shot offer excellent alternatives to plastic surgery for patients looking for body contouring help.

Twin Cities PRP Contouring

Advanced Spine & Pain Clinics of MN provides PRP and regenerative medicine treatments to patients throughout the Twin Cities. Our pain management doctors are board-certified and trained in the most innovative regenerative medicine methods, including platelet-rich plasma injections. Whether you’ve sustained an injury or you’re interested in PRP injections for contouring, platelet-rich plasma is a pain-free and natural option. Contact our Edina PRP clinic today to set up your appointment with one of our physicians.

Regenerative Medicine for Finger Pain

December 14, 2016/0 Comments/in Regenerative Medicine /by Matthew Thorson

Finger pain disrupts even the most mundane everyday activities. Typing at your computer becomes an excruciating task when you suffer from pain. Driving, eating, and using your phone can seem like near impossible tasks. In this article, we are going to talk about some finger injuries and conditions that can be treated with regenerative medicine therapies.

Finger Injuries & Conditions

Finger pain can stem from acute injuries like a car accident, or other degenerative conditions like arthritis. Here are a few of the more common injuries and conditions that result in finger pain among patients:

Finger Sprains, Dislocations, & Fractures
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Osteoarthritis
Trigger Finger
Autoimmune Disorders

No matter what caused your finger pain, it’s important to see a pain specialist for diagnosis and treatment as soon as possible after you notice a problem.

Regenerative Medicine for Finger Pain

Treating pain in the fingers is highly dependent on the cause of the pain and the patient’s unique circumstances. Pain from a sprain will likely resolve on its own given enough rest and time. Degenerative conditions like osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis will likely only get worse without treatment. Regenerative techniques like PRP and prolotherapy injections offer patients a natural, surgery-free method for controlling finger pain. These injections promote natural healing and tissue regrowth over time to reduce pain and boost functionality. Contact your doctor to see if you are a good candidate for regenerative medicine therapies.

Advanced Spine & Pain Clinics of MN has over twenty years of experience providing treatment to patients across the state of Minnesota. Our board certified pain management doctors are trained in the most innovative, cutting-edge treatment techniques – including regenerative therapies like PRP and prolotherapy. If you are experiencing pain of any sort in your fingers, regenerative treatment options may help you reduce your pain while avoiding surgery. Contact our Edina pain clinic today to set up your consultation and learn how we can help.

Minnesota Regenerative Medicine Injections

5 Conditions & Injuries That Can Be Treated With Regenerative Medicine

November 2, 2016/0 Comments/in PRP, Regenerative Medicine /by Matthew Thorson

We talk a lot about PRP therapy, prolotherapy, and other regenerative medicine treatment options. These methods are offer a non-surgical, all natural alternative for many common conditions. Since they are relatively new in the medical field, many patients aren’t aware of their usefulness in treating many injuries and conditions. In this article, we are going to discuss five conditions and injuries that can be effectively treated with regenerative medicine techniques like PRP and Prolotherapy injections.

Tennis & Golf Elbow

Tennis elbow and golfer’s elbow – two common repetitive strain injuries – can impact tennis players, golfers, and other patients who perform repetitive motions involving the elbow and arm. The result is recurring pain from damaged tendons in the area. Regenerative injections can help naturally repair this damaged tissue and reduce pain.

Knee Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis of the knee occurs when the cartilage in the knee breaks down over time. PRP and prolotherapy injections use natural healing methods to regrow damaged tissue and decrease the pain caused by osteoarthritis.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Carpal tunnel is a repetitive stress injury common among office workers who type at a computer all day. The condition is characterized by pain, numbness, and tingling in the hand and fingers as a result of an entrapment of the nerves that pass through the carpal tunnel in the wrist. PRP injections can help reduce nerve pain from carpal tunnel syndrome.

Shoulder Injuries

Shoulder injuries such as rotator cuff tears, and tendonitis can prevent a person from exercising, playing sports, and even doing everyday tasks. PRP injections utilize a patient’s own blood platelets and plasma to encourage natural healing and regrowth.

Ankle Tendinosis

Tendinosis of the ankle occurs when the peroneal tendons that wrap around the ankle begin to swell, typically as the result of repetitive overuse activities. Regenerative treatments can decrease this swelling and associated pain naturally, and avoid the need for surgical intervention.

Advanced Spine & Pain Clinics of MN is one of the leading providers of regenerative medicine treatments in the state of Minnesota. Our Twin Cities pain management doctors have over two decades of experience treating patients with chronic and acute pain. If you are experiencing any of the above listed conditions, give us a call today. Contact us at our Edina pain management clinic today to set up your appointment and see if you are a good candidate for a regenerative medicine treatment plan.

How Long Does Prolotherapy Last?

July 13, 2016/0 Comments/in Injections, Regenerative Medicine /by Matthew Thorson

One of the most important things every patient in pain wants to know is how long a specific treatment is going to last. Different treatment methods provide different levels and lengths of pain relief and patients want to make the right decision about the treatment that will reduce their pain for the longest time period. In this article, we will discuss how long the effects of prolotherapy injections last in general.

Prolotherapy Injection Timelines

Before we get into the various timelines associated with a general prolotherapy procedure, it’s important to note that each patient’s pain is different and treatments impact each patient differently. As a result, it’s impossible to give an objective answer to the question: “how long does prolotherapy last?” as the answer varies with each patient. That being said, there are some general timelines we can discuss.

Prolotherapy treatment is typically done over several sessions – usually 3-4, but that can increase or decrease based on the patient’s age and medical history. Injections are given about a month apart from each other to allow the body to regenerate after each treatment. Patients will likely not feel immediate pain relief from prolotherapy injections (as opposed to other injections which can give quick pain relief). The point of prolotherapy is to encourage regeneration and growth over a period of time so the patient experiences long-term pain relief.

Twin Cities Prolotherapy

The regenerative medicine specialists at Advanced Spine & Pain Clinics of MN have been performing prolotherapy injections for the past two decades. We have the experience needed to fully diagnose and understand your pain, and craft a treatment strategy that works for your individual needs. Give us a call today at our Edina clinic and set up your appointment with one of our Twin Cities prolotherapy doctors and see how prolotherapy can help reduce your pain.

Is Prolotherapy a Cure for Everything?

June 29, 2016/0 Comments/in Injections, Regenerative Medicine /by Matthew Thorson

Prolotherapy can be incredibly effective in treating various pain conditions. But is prolotherapy a “cure-all” that can help treat all types of pain and related conditions? That’s our question for this article, in which we discuss what specific injuries and conditions prolotherapy can help treat and when other treatment options are more beneficial.

The Myth of the Cure-all

There have always been snake oil salesmen who tout a specific medication, procedure, or treatment as the cure-all for any condition. The truth of the matter is that pain is complex, and requires a strategic approach to treatment that often incorporates multiple methods.

There is no treatment option on the planet that works for every condition. Each patient experiences pain differently, and a patient’s entire situation (medical history, pre-existing conditions, etc.) needs to be taken into account. A skilled pain medicine physician can weigh all of these factors and work with the patient to develop a nuanced treatment plan that will actually work.

Prolotherapy Best Practices

So what can prolotherapy treat? Prolotherapy is a regenerative medicine technique that dates back a long time (more on the history of prolotherapy here). It is best used to treat injuries involving the soft tissues of the body. Conditions like arthritis, tendonitis, bursitis, and facet joint syndrome can all benefit from prolotherapy. Multiple prolotherapy injections help tissue regenerate and grow over time, which can in turn, decrease pain.

The regenerative medicine specialists at Advanced Spine & Pain Clinics of MN have been performing prolotherapy injections for the past two decades. Our pain care physicians have the knowledge and experience needed to help you achieve the pain relief you’re looking for. Contact our Edina clinic today to see if you are a good candidate for prolotherapy or another regenerative medicine procedure. Our doctors treat patients throughout the Minneapolis / St. Paul Metro, as well as greater Minnesota.

Activity Restrictions after Prolotherapy

June 22, 2016/0 Comments/in Injections, Regenerative Medicine /by Matthew Thorson

Listening to your doctor’s recommended activity restrictions is an important aspect of a fast recovery after any procedure. Many patients want to know what type of activity restrictions they will be facing before they make a decision about their care. In this article, we are going to discuss activity restrictions related to prolotherapy injections.

Prolotherapy Activity Restrictions

Prolotherapy is a non-invasive regenerative medicine treatment that uses a sugar-based solution to promote your body’s internal healing and regrowth process.

One of the greatest benefits of prolotherapy is that there are virtually no activity restrictions after the treatment. Compare that to a surgical procedure, which may knock you out for weeks or months on end, and you can see why many patients choose regenerative medicine techniques over surgery.

Prolotherapy vs. Surgery Restrictions

For example, following an ankle surgery, your surgeon will likely recommend that you remain non-weight bearing for several days or weeks after the procedure. In other words, you can’t put any weight on the ankle for that time period. This prevents you from engaging in the most basic daily activities. After a prolotherapy injection in the ankle, patients are actually encouraged to move and be active.

Prolotherapy Injections are quick and relatively painless. You may experience some mild irritation or swelling after the procedure, but that should dissipate within hours of the injections. After that you are free to walk, run, and sprint!

Advanced Spine & Pain Clinics of MN is a leading provider of prolotherapy and other regenerative medicine treatments in Minnesota. Our Edina pain doctors have been performing prolotherapy injections and other pain reduction techniques for the past twenty years. We have the knowledge, training, and experience necessary to fully address and treat your pain. Contact our clinic today to set up your appointment and talk about your options for reducing your pain.

Is Prolotherapy a Good Surgery Alternative?

June 20, 2016/0 Comments/in Injections, Regenerative Medicine /by Matthew Thorson

We’ve talked many times about the benefits of prolotherapy for treating your pain condition, but is it a good surgery alternative? In this article, we are going to discuss whether or not prolotherapy is a good alternative to surgery for pain conditions and injuries.

Prolotherapy as a Surgery Alternative

Prolotherapy, and other regenerative injection treatments, offer an excellent alternative to surgery for patients with chronic pain from tissue damage. Many patients understandably want to leave surgery as a last resort. Injections like prolotherapy, PRP, and nerve blocks offer pain relief with much less cost, and recovery than surgery.

When to Consider Surgery

In certain patient situations, surgery is the best (or only option). Severe injury or accident cases may require immediate surgery to prevent nerve damage and reconstruct damaged areas of the body. However, these are extreme cases. With most instances of chronic pain, patients have a choice between surgery and more conservative options. Generally, we recommend exploring your non-surgical options before making a decision to undergo surgery. Injections are much less invasive than surgery, and often work just as well in reducing pain. When you’ve exhausted all of your conservative treatment options with little success, then it may be time to consult with a surgeon.

At Advanced Spine & Pain Clinics of MN, we work with each patient to determine their unique needs and develop and individualized pain management strategy. Every patient’s circumstances are different, and require different care approaches. Some patients will benefit from prolotherapy, while others may respond better to surgery or other treatments. Whatever the case, our Edina pain physicians are prepared to help you with your pain. We have been helping Minnesotans in pain for over two decades. Give our clinic a call today to set up an appointment and see how we can help you return to a pain free life.

Should I have Prolotherapy or Another Injection?

June 15, 2016/0 Comments/in Injections, Regenerative Medicine /by Matthew Thorson

If you are a chronic pain sufferer, injection therapy may be an excellent method for reducing your pain. The problem is that there are many different types of injections to choose from and making an informed decision can be difficult. In this article, we are going to discuss a few tips for deciding between prolotherapy injections, and various other types of pain relief injections.

Prolotherapy

As we have discussed before on this site, prolotherapy is a regenerative medicine treatment in which a solution is injected into a patient’s degenerated tissues to stimulate healing and regeneration.

Other Types of Injections

Here are a handful of other common pain management injections, with a little explanation of how they work:

PRP Injections. Similar to prolotherapy, PRP injections fall under the umbrella of “Regenerative Medicine.” However, the actual solution injected is much different. PRP injections use the patient’s own blood platelets and plasma to stimulate healing and tissue regeneration at the site of pain.
Nerve Block Injections. These injections aim to disrupt pain signals from the nerves that transmit them. Nerve blocks are best used when patient pain is the result of a nerve issue.
Corticosteroid Injections utilize a steroidal solution to decrease inflammation and swelling in the area of pain.

Every injection has its pros and cons, and every patient’s situation is different and should be treated according to its unique set of circumstances. Talk with a pain physician about your options before making a decision about what injection to pursue.

The experienced pain management physicians at Advanced Spine & Pain Clinics of MN are trained in prolotherapy, PRP, steroidal injections, nerve blocks, and other pain reduction techniques. If you are living in pain, one of these injections may be your ticket back to a pain-free existence. Contact us today to set up your appointment with a Minnesota pain doctor who can fully diagnose your condition and walk you through your options for treatment.