What are dextrose injections?
Dextrose injections contain a solution of saline, dextrose, and lidocaine that is injected into the affected joint. Dextrose is a form of the sugar glucose, which is naturally found in the body. The prolotherapy injection causes irritation, resulting in a localized inflammatory response which stimulates the body’s natural healing processes. This facilitates regeneration of damaged ligaments, tendons, and other soft tissues. Growth of new tissues following a prolotherapy injection results in decreased pain, better joint integrity, and reduced inflammation in the affected area. Because these treatments are both non-toxic and safe, treatment can be repeated every three to six weeks, until the inflammation has dissipated, or, in the case of chronic issues, as long as is deemed necessary.
What conditions can they treat?
Numerous acute and chronic pain conditions can be treated with dextrose injections. Our clinic offers dextrose injections for spinal pain, sports and overuse injuries, temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ), sinus headaches, rebound headaches, cranial neuralgia, carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), joint, bursa, and tendon pain, osteoarthritis, lumbago, trochanteric bursitis, bursitis of the knee, ischial tuberosity bursitis, radiculopathy – cervical, thoracic, and lumbar, spinal stenosis, piriformis syndrome, sacroiliac joint dysfunction, Achilles tendonitis, bicipital tendonitis, De Quervain’s tenosynovitis, rotator cuff syndrome, trigger finger, knee ligament tendonitis and tears, calcaneal spurs, plantar fasciitis, Morton’s neuroma, meniscal tears, Baker’s cysts, failed back syndrome, medial and lateral epicondylitis, fibromyalgia, and chronic pain syndrome.
What are the benefits?
Unlike many of the typical treatments for injuries that result in ongoing pain, prolotherapy treatments are non-invasive, restorative, and have minimal side-effects. Pain medications are commonly prescribed to treat chronic pain; however, these medications only mask pain and do not treat the injury itself. Additionally, pain medications are accompanied by a host of negative side effects, including drowsiness, constipation, gastrointestinal discomfort, and possible addiction. Cortisone injections are also offered as treatment for ongoing joint pain; however, long-term use of cortisone injections comes with the risk of developing early osteoarthritis. Surgery is also a possible treatment for various painful injuries, but it is invasive and is associated with its own risks and side-effects.
Prolotherapy injections, however, have rare and minimal side-effects. In addition to being safe and non-toxic, these injections promote the natural healing process within your body, helping to strengthen injured joints and decrease pain and inflammation, rather than masking the symptoms, as pain medications do.
What are the possible side effects?
While prolotherapy treatments are considered very safe, some side effects are possible. Though side effects are rare, they can include:
- Temporary pain, bruising, or swelling around the injections site
- Bleeding
- Infection
- Numbness
- Lightheadedness
- Allergic reaction