Potential side effects from a treatment
Though each area of the body that is injected has its own concerns, side effects are minimal to non-existent. At the time of initial evaluation, any and all concerns are well explained. In the many years that I have personally treated patients with Prolotherapy, I have never had any significant complications.
How painful is the treatment?
In the hands of a well-trained therapist, like myself, the procedure causes very little discomfort. It is not uncommon for patients who may even fear needles, to say that the treatment had minimal discomfort. Also, since the patients we treat have often been living with significant pain for years, they approach the treatment positively as a real hope for help.
What to expect after a treatment
There are usually a couple of days of minor soreness following the treatment. This is generally so small that Tylenol alone is an adequate remedy. Then over the next two weeks, things may be pretty much as they were before the treatment. It takes approximately 2 weeks for the healing inflammation to get started. Between the 2nd-4th weeks, there is generally a minor aching caused by the inflammation. This is a good thing. The treatment is trying to create this low-grade response. By the end of the 6th week, whatever level of improvement that will occur from that treatment is complete. Depending on the level of progress, it will be determined if other treatments are needed.
After treatment instructions
Following the treatment, I commonly place the patient on a 20-25 lb wt restriction. No bending and twisting at the waist if the low back is involved. Avoid all activities that recreate the original pain. Let pain be your guide…if it hurts, don’t do it. Gentle stretching is okay as long as it doesn’t cause pain. Of course, no anti-inflammatory medications are to be used for the 6 weeks following treatment.