More than 50 million people, or about one in five United States adults, experience chronic joint pain. While lifestyle changes and over-the-counter pain medication can help ease symptoms, these steps aren’t always enough for lasting relief, leading many to consider surgery.
The good news is that surgery isn’t always necessary. Many people are exploring prolotherapy as a minimally invasive approach that stimulates joint repair.
At HealthFirst, our team uses prolotherapy to help ease chronic joint pain. Read on to learn five signs that this approach may be right for you.
Prolotherapy is a type of regenerative medicine. It involves injecting a dextrose (sugar water) solution into painful joints.
After the dextrose enters the joint, it stimulates the bone and surrounding tissues, increasing blood flow. Over time, this encourages tissue repair and helps you move more comfortably.
Almost everyone experiences joint pain, especially as they get older. However, if your symptoms don’t improve with rest, OTC pain medication, or activity changes, it may point to a more serious underlying issue, such as arthritis.
Many traditional pain management treatments simply mask symptoms. Prolotherapy is different because it targets the cause, stimulates tissue repair, eases inflammation, and promotes recovery.
Conditions like osteoarthritis typically worsen over time. As cartilage breaks down, the bones in a joint begin rubbing against each other, often leading to stiffness and mobility issues.
If you’re struggling to walk, climb stairs, or perform other daily activities, prolotherapy may help. Research suggests prolotherapy can help strengthen loosened ligaments and tendons, supporting joint health and making movement easier.
Chronic musculoskeletal conditions like arthritis often fluctuate in intensity. Many people go weeks or even months without symptoms only to have a flare occur, impacting sleep, mobility, and other daily functions.
Although flare-ups can’t be completely prevented, prolotherapy may make them less frequent. It reduces inflammation and supports long-term joint stability, helping many people experience less overall pain.
Some people with joint pain find that nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications, such as ibuprofen, provide relief. But for others, the pain persists.
Steroid injections can help some people, but they carry potential side effects and may not be suitable for everyone, especially those with underlying health conditions, like uncontrolled diabetes or high blood pressure.
Prolotherapy offers a minimally invasive alternative to conventional approaches. Since it uses only sugar water, side effects are rare, and the procedure is generally well-tolerated.
Many people explore prolotherapy after they're told that surgery, like joint replacement, will be necessary to relieve their symptoms. If you’re concerned about potential side effects or a lengthy recovery process, prolotherapy is worth considering.
By helping repair damaged tissues and ease inflammation, prolotherapy may help you delay or even avoid surgery.
Chronic joint pain can sap your energy and keep you from your favorite activities, but prolotherapy can help you get back in the game.
To learn more, contact the nearest HealthFirst office in Greenwood Village, Colorado, or Cheyenne, Wyoming, today to schedule an appointment with our caring team.
