How many injection treatments are needed?
The average number of treatments necessary for healing is three. Some people may have adequate improvement after just the initial appointment and some may obtain 5 or more treatments. The reason that a person may proceed with more treatments is that they continue to improve after each series. The healing, in part, is determined and affected by the level of injury and the proper adherence to post-treatment instructions.
Why other treatments may have failed
Physical therapy is primarily directed at the strengthening and stretching of the muscles following injury. This totally misses the real cause of the pain…loose damaged ligaments.
Joint manipulation often results in temporary help, but again because of the root problem being ligamentous laxity, the manipulated joint quickly goes out of position, and the pain returns.
Pain management also is only trying to minimize the pain and limitations of ligamentous damage, but offers no long-term help and does not deal with the root problem of ligament looseness.
A personal note
Many patients who are exposed to Prolotherapy have obtained information from literature found in alternative medicine newsletters, articles, and magazines. There are many very good treatment possibilities offered by alternative medical doctors that are not recognized by the traditional medical society. However, just because I am a Prolotherapist, I do not consider myself an alternative doctor. Prolotherapy is the only real treatment for damaged loose and unstable ligaments, whether viewed from an alternative or traditional perspective.
Other sources of information on Prolotherapy