Prolotherapy

Blood flow (and healing) has stopped in torn or chronic connective tissue. When dense Dextrose (sugar) water is injected into that area, the body intentionally and controlledly initiates a "micro-inflammation" in that area. The brain says "there is a new damage there" and sends fibroblasts and reparative blood cells to that area. Thus, the ligaments thicken and get stronger by producing brand new collagen.

It is exactly the opposite. Cortisone injections instantly stop the pain by suppressing the inflammation (and therefore the repair process) in that area, but in the long run, they can weaken the ligament even more. Prolotherapy, on the other hand, deliberately creates inflammation (repair) in that area. For this reason, pain "increases" for the first few days after prolotherapy, and actual healing occurs permanently within weeks.

Because it takes time for the tissue to renew itself, sessions are usually applied at 3 or 4-week intervals. A plan of 3 to 6 sessions in total is made depending on the healing response of the patient. During the treatment, the patient is forbidden to use anti-inflammatory (ibuprofen, etc.) painkillers because these drugs stop the intended healing inflammation.