Prolotherapy: The Best Treatment for Unresolved Back Pain

 Prolotherapy is an injection used to treat injuries to the connective tissue in the musculoskeletal system. It is used for injuries that have not healed with rest or other nonsurgical therapies. Prolotherapy can be used in order to relieve back pain in SW Calgary among many other uses. It can also help to avoid surgery and allow the body to heal some injuries on its own. The injections promote a healing response in small tears and weakened tissue, with the goal of alleviating back pain and improving function. Seeking prolotherapy in SW Calgary is considered one of the best treatments for unresolved back pain.

It is thought that back pain is related to the activation of pain receptors in tendon or ligament tissues, which are sensitive to stretching, pressure and more. Many believe that the cause of back pain is from ligamentous laxity. With prolotherapy in SW Calgary, the substance injected into the soft tissue causes an inflammatory response at the site, which in turn causes natural healing to take place (the formation or "proliferation" of new blood vessels), with the goal of strengthening the torn or injured soft tissue which will typically reduce back pain.

Prolotherapy is still considered an alternative therapy treatment though it can be traced back to ancient times. Using prolotherapy to treat back in SW Calgary is a common practice though not everyone knows about it or its significant benefits. If you decide to try it as an approach to reducing pain and helping to heal injuries, you’ll likely be seeing a naturopathic doctor or another alternative type of practitioner for the procedure. 

The success rate of prolotherapy ranges from 80%-90% when performed by a practitioner that is properly trained in the prolotherapy procedure. 

Here are some of the improvements that have been reported by doctors and those who have had the treatment:

• Reduced or eliminated back pain

• Increased strength in the ligament, tendon or joint capsule

• Reduced recurrence of injury to the treated site

• Improvement in or return to normal function

While prolotherapy has shown to be an excellent treatment for joint and ligament concerns, there are important factors that may be key for a successful outcome including:

• Correct diagnosis of the location of the sprain or strain

• The willingness of the patient to complete follow-up therapy

• The clinical skill of the practitioner performing the injection

The treatment has been around for many, many years but there is little understanding of exactly how it works. It is considered one of the best treatments for joint and ligament injuries, including back pain, but that is primarily because both patients and practitioners have noticed significant improvements. These improvements have helped many patients to restore function and avoid more invasive treatments such as surgery. While we like to exactly how and why treatments work, sometimes it is just encouraging to know that treatments are available to reduce pain and get function back. If you experience back pain, talk to your practitioner about prolotherapy today to find out if it may help you.