What is prolotherapy?

Prolotherapy is a technique used to treat back injuries and chronic pain. It involves injecting a dextrose solution into the place where soft tissue is injured, such as a joint, muscle, tendon or ligament.

During a prolotherapy treatment, the injection is usually paired with a local anesthetic, such as Procaine or Lidocaine. The solution can be sodium morrhuate, sugar or a mixture of sugar and phenol. A series of injections are given, usually three to 30, depending on the condition of the injured area. It may take three to 6 months for a person to complete the injections.