Prolotherapy Injections at Integrative in Vancouver
Improving the health of your joints with proliferation therapy
Prolotherapy is a nonsurgical regenerative injection therapy used to stimulate the healing of musculoskeletal conditions and pain.
OverviewA regenerative injection therapy (RIT), Prolotherapy is used to stimulate healing of injured tendons, ligaments and joints. | BenefitsProlotherapy improves joint function, increases range of motion, and decreases pain. |
About
About Prolotherapy in Vancouver
The incomplete healing of joints leads to chronic weakness and pain
Due to limited blood supply, tendons and ligaments struggle to completely heal following injury. As a result, injuries can become chronic, resulting in joint dysfunction.
Prolotherapy stimulates your own healing mechanisms
Prolotherapy creates localized inflammation, triggering the body’s own healing mechanism to treat musculoskeletal conditions and pain.
Our Approach
An Integrative Approach to Prolotherapy
At Integrative, prolotherapy treatment protocols vary with each patient based on their individual needs, immune status, and severity of injury. The average person requires 3-6 treatment sessions given at 2-6 week intervals, although many patients report experiencing relief after only one session. More serious or chronic injuries require longer courses of treatment.
Optimal nutrition, supplementation, stress management, adequate sleep, and physical manipulation are all factors that influence healing. Your doctor will help guide you through this process to optimize your response to prolotherapy.
Your doctor may include testing methods, to evaluate whether you are a good candidate for prolotherapy. These methods may include:
Applications
Applications of Prolotherapy
Clinically, prolotherapy has a high success rate for most types of musculoskeletal pain, and is effective on a wide variety of joints including the neck, shoulders, hips, knees, ankles, and spine.
Prolotherapy can also be used to treat a wide variety of conditions such as:
- Acute tendon or ligament injury
- Sports injuries
- Tendonitis
- Arthritis
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Degenerated/herniated discs
- Joint dislocations
- Fibromyalgia
- Headaches
- Sciatica
- Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) syndrome
- Whiplash
How it Works
How does Prolotherapy work?
Overview of Prolotherapy
A proliferant solution (typically 15-25% dextrose) is injected directly into damaged tendons or ligaments where they attach to bone. This initiates inflammation, and the body’s own wound healing response.
Targeted Area of the Body
Prolotherapy can be used anywhere that a tendon or ligament has become strained, sprained, or overstretched.
Health Benefits of Prolotherapy
Prolotherapy enhances blood flow, nutrient delivery, wound contraction, and collagen formation at the injection site. Tendons and ligaments are remodeled, and may be strengthened and functionally restored in the process.
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First Visit
What does your first visit look like?
Your first visit is the opportunity for you to share your health goals, and for your doctor to gather vital health information that will help them to determine the root cause of your health concerns, and the best treatment plan for you.
One
Complete Medical and Lifestyle History
Your doctor will take a complete history, gathering details regarding your current and past health concerns, lifestyle, as well as current supplements and medications.
Two
Testing
If needed, your doctor will recommend tests, either at Integrative or with your medical doctor. They may also requisition results from tests you’ve completed in the past.
Three
Physical Exam
Within your first visit, your doctor will also perform a physical exam, assessing the site of your pain as well as connected structures. This may include a gait assessment, Applied Kinesiology, and orthopedic tests. They may also assess the injured tissue with an ultrasound machine.
Practitioners
Your Participating Practitioners
The Naturopathic Doctors at Integrative are primary care providers with expertise in a wide variety of functional medicine techniques, including Pharmacology, herbal medicine, nutritional science, and acupuncture. This knowledge allows them to apply a truly Integrative approach to each of their unique patients.
Frequently Asked Questions
View all FAQs 
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What does prolotherapy treat?
Prolotherapy can treat many types of musculoskeletal pain, including but not limited to degenerative joint disease, arthritis, back pain, neck pain, fibromyalgia, SI joint pain, knee pain, herniated discs, carpal tunnel syndrome, soft tissue injury associated with whiplash, chronic tendonitis, and sciatica.
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Am I candidate for prolotherapy?
Only a practitioner trained in Advanced Injection Therapies, including prolotherapy, can determine whether or not you are a good candidate. At your first visit, your Doctor will determine if you are a good candidate and will recommend a treatment plan.
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How much does prolotherapy cost?
The cost of prolotherapy will vary depending on how many injections are required; whether ultrasound is utilized; the number of total treatments required; and the utilization of any other injection methods. At your first visit, your Doctor will provide a quote for your subsequent visit and treatment.
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How many prolotherapy treatments are typically required?
The response to treatment varies, depending on the overall health of the patient, severity of injury, and chronicity of injury. Most people only require a few treatments, but some may require many more. The average is 3-6 treatments. Once you begin treatment, your Doctor will be able to monitor how you respond and provide a better estimate of how many treatments may be required.
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What are the side effects of prolotherapy treatment?
Typical side effects of prolotherapy treatment include pain; swelling of the area; mild bruising; reduced range of motion; and stiffness. These side effects are typically transient. Your Doctor will do a full review of potential side effects prior to your treatment.
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Is prolotherapy covered by MSP or Extended Health Plans?
No, prolotherapy is not typically covered by insurance providers. Your visit will be with a Naturopathic Doctor; an extended health plan may cover the cost of the visit but rarely covers the cost of the injection itself. We recommend contacting your insurance provider directly prior to your visit to determine your coverage.