Prolotherapy

Is prolotherapy a corticosteroid?

No. Prolotherapy is an alternative treatment that involves injecting dextrose (a type of sugar) into a specific part of your foot or ankle. The dextrose injection irritates the treatment site, increasing blood flow to the area and promoting healing.

Corticosteroid injections present various side effects. Prolotherapy is considered safer and less risky as a result.

The North Central Texas Foot & Ankle team uses prolotherapy to address various foot and ankle problems, including:

• Bunions
• Neuropathy (nerve damage)
• Heel pain
• Ankle sprains
• Arthritis
• Sports injuries

You might benefit from prolotherapy if you have tendonitis or suffer a tendon injury, such as a tear or rupture.

How does prolotherapy work?

Prolotherapy is an outpatient procedure that takes 30-45 minutes on average.

Before recommending this type of treatment, your North Central Texas Foot & Ankle provider reviews your medical records, asks about your symptoms, and completes a podiatry exam. They might also order diagnostic imaging, like X-rays or an ultrasound, to look at the bones, joints, and soft tissues in your feet and ankles.

If your provider identifies a musculoskeletal injury or disorder, like a sprain or a stress fracture, you qualify for prolotherapy. They prepare several dextrose syringes and then inject them into specific parts of your foot and/or ankle.

When the dextrose enters your bloodstream, it causes inflammation at the treatment site. This spurs your body’s healing response. Specifically, it may increase circulation to the area, relieve pain, and promote the creation of new, healthy tissue.

Does prolotherapy require multiple treatment sessions?

Prolotherapy is a cumulative treatment, so the results add up over time. The North Central Texas Foot & Ankle team typically recommends a series of 3-6 prolotherapy treatments spaced several weeks apart. Your provider monitors your symptoms at each visit and adjusts your care plan as needed.

Some people experience relief immediately after their first prolotherapy session, but for others, it takes longer. To obtain optimal results, follow your provider’s instructions and attend each of your scheduled visits.

Prolotherapy is safe and usually well-tolerated. It’s normal to experience mild swelling and redness near the injection sites after treatment, but these symptoms typically improve within 24 hours.

Call the nearest North Central Texas Foot & Ankle office to schedule prolotherapy treatment, or book your visit online today.

*Results may vary.