What Is Prolotherapy and Can It Replace Joint Surgery

1. What Is Prolotherapy and Can It Replace Joint Surgery? Joint pain can be more than just an inconvenience. It can be life-altering. Whether you’re dealing with chronic knee pain, a nagging shoulder injury, or degenerative arthritis, you’ve likely considered your treatment options. And if you’re like many of our patients at Interactive Health Clinic, you may be looking for alternatives to invasive joint surgery. One increasingly popular regenerative treatment is prolotherapy, a non-surgical injection-based therapy designed to stimulate the body’s natural healing processes. But what exactly is prolotherapy, how does it work, and can it truly replace joint surgery? Let’s break it down. What Is Prolotherapy? Prolotherapy, short for “proliferative therapy,” is a regenerative injection treatment that helps repair weakened or damaged ligaments, tendons, and joints. It involves injecting a natural irritant, typically a dextrose (sugar) solution, into the injured area. This irritant stimulates the body’s inflammatory response, triggering a cascade of healing processes including collagen production and tissue regeneration. Unlike cortisone shots, which suppress inflammation and provide temporary pain relief, prolotherapy encourages the body to heal itself at the sight of pain or injury. How Does Prolotherapy Work? The principle behind prolotherapy is simple: by creating a controlled, mild inflammatory response, the body is “tricked” into restarting the healing process in areas where it may have stalled. Here’s a closer look at what happens:

2. The dextrose solution is injected into the joint or surrounding ligaments and tendons. This causes mild inflammation, which signals the immune system to send growth factors and healing cells to the area. Over time, this promotes the strengthening and tightening of connective tissues, which stabilizes the joint and reduces pain. Many patients begin to feel improvement within a few weeks, with optimal results seen after a series of treatments, depending on the severity of the condition. Conditions Treated with Prolotherapy At Interactive Health Clinic, we’ve seen great success using prolotherapy for a variety of musculoskeletal conditions, including: Knee osteoarthritis Shoulder pain and rotator cuff injuries Chronic low back pain Tennis and golfer’s elbow Hip labrum injuries Ligament laxity and joint instability Plantar fasciitis TMJ dysfunction Sacroiliac (SI) joint pain Because prolotherapy addresses the root cause of instability or degeneration rather than just masking symptoms, it’s especially useful for chronic joint pain or unresolved soft tissue injuries. Can Prolotherapy Replace Joint Surgery? Now to the big question: Can prolotherapy replace joint surgery? The short answer is, sometimes. While prolotherapy isn’t a magic bullet for everyone, it can be an effective alternative to joint surgery for certain conditions, especially in the early or moderate stages of joint degeneration. It’s particularly useful for people who: Want to avoid surgery and its associated risks or downtime Have mild to moderate joint damage but aren’t surgical candidates Have tried physical therapy and medications with limited success Need to improve joint stability and function When Prolotherapy Might Be Enough: You have ligament laxity, not full rupture Your pain is mechanical (triggered by motion or instability) Imaging shows mild to moderate arthritis, not severe joint deterioration You want to preserve your existing joint structure rather than replace it When Surgery May Still Be Necessary: There is complete joint collapse or bone-on-bone degeneration You have a full-thickness tendon tear The joint has significant structural deformities You’ve exhausted other conservative measures

3. That said, many patients use prolotherapy to delay or avoid surgery altogether, especially when combined with other regenerative therapies like Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP). Prolotherapy vs. Other Treatments Let’s compare prolotherapy to some commonly recommended alternatives: 1.Cortisone Injection Purpose: Reduces inflammation Invasive? No Focus on Healing: No Pain Relief: Temporary 2.Physical Therapy Purpose: Strengthens muscles and improves mobility Invasive? No Focus on Healing: Yes Pain Relief: Gradual 3.PRP (Platelet-Rich Plasma) Injection Purpose: Uses your own platelets to promote tissue healing Invasive? No Focus on Healing: Yes Pain Relief: Often fast 4.Surgery Purpose: Repairs or replaces damaged joint structures Invasive? Yes Focus on Healing: Yes Pain Relief: Varies (depends on type and success of procedure) 5.Prolotherapy Purpose: Stimulates natural healing by creating a mild inflammatory response Invasive? No Focus on Healing: Yes Pain Relief: Gradual, long-term Prolotherapy stands out as a low-risk, non-surgical option that not only alleviates pain but also supports structural repair. It can also be used alongside PRP or ozone injections for compounded benefits. What to Expect at Interactive Health Clinic? At Interactive Health Clinic, our approach to joint pain is never one-size-fits-all. Before recommending prolotherapy, we take time to assess your full health picture using: A detailed physical exam Functional range of motion testing Diagnostic imaging (X-ray, ultrasound, or MRI as needed)

4. Lab work to rule out systemic inflammation or nutritional deficiencies If prolotherapy is appropriate, we create a customized treatment plan to target your specific areas of weakness or instability. Treatment sessions are typically spaced 2–4 weeks apart, with 3–6 sessions on average. Our clinic also provides complementary therapies to support healing and enhance outcomes, including: PRP (Platelet-Rich Plasma) injections Ozone therapy IV nutrient therapy PEMF (Pulsed Electromagnetic Field Therapy) Chiropractic care and myofascial release This integrative, regenerative medicine approach allows us to treat the root cause of joint dysfunction without defaulting to surgery. Benefits of Prolotherapy at a Glance Minimally invasive No general anaesthesia required Drug-free and steroid-free Promotes actual tissue healing Supports joint stability Reduces pain and improves function Often helps patients avoid surgery Is Prolotherapy Right for You? If you’re struggling with lingering joint pain, instability, or loss of function, prolotherapy may be the solution you’ve been looking for. It’s especially ideal for active individuals who want to stay mobile and avoid the risks of surgical intervention. At Interactive Health Clinic, we specialize in personalized, regenerative solutions that treat the cause, not just the symptoms, of joint pain. Ready to learn more about whether prolotherapy can help you avoid joint surgery? Contact us today to schedule a comprehensive consultation. Our experienced naturopathic doctors will evaluate your condition and help you understand all of your options, so you can make the best decision for your health and mobility. Call us at (425) 361-7945 or visit https://interactivehealthclinic.com/ to learn more.