Success with Prolotherapy is a joint effort between you and us! While we administer treatments like Prolotherapy to kickstart the healing journey, you play a critical role in maintaining and amplifying the healing process. We understand that staying the course demands patience, dedication, and perhaps a few lifestyle adjustments. Sometimes it leads to a whole new way of thinking about yourself and how amazing you are!
To enhance the effectiveness of Prolotherapy for individuals battling chronic pain, you were given post-Prolotherapy instructions from your clinical assistant. To expand on that a little further, here are the top 9 ways to maximize your success:
1.Optimize your treatment sessions.
Prolotherapy typically involves three to six treatments, with some experiencing significant relief after just one session. However, most chronic pain or severe joint damage cases require multiple visits. It’s important to complete the recommended treatment sessions discussed by your provider (usually around 3-8 total sessions) for Prolotherapy to work effectively.
The treatment process triggers stages of inflammation over months, including an initial inflammatory phase lasting a week, followed by a six-week proliferative phase and an 18-month remodeling phase. Optimal treatment intervals are around six weeks apart to maximize healing phases. For more severe cases or athletes in-season, more frequent treatments (every 1-2 weeks) may be appropriate.
2. Treat all areas of discomfort at each visit.
For comprehensive healing, it’s ideal to address all areas of discomfort during each session. Our bodies are interconnected by a network of nerves and tissues. Focusing solely on one area, when multiple areas are causing pain, can hinder complete recovery. Surprisingly, pain in one area, such as the shoulder, can impact the resolution of pain in another area like the knee. For instance, shoulder pain affecting sleep quality can delay the healing of knee pain.
3. Attain a full night’s rest.
To ensure proper healing and regeneration, it’s vital to aim for 7 hours of sleep per night. During deep sleep, our bodies release human growth hormone, necessary for the repair of connective tissues. Without adequate deep sleep, the ability to mend joint damage is compromised. Neglecting sleep can impact the effectiveness of Prolotherapy. Don’t be misled by poor sleep quality into doubting the efficacy of your Prolotherapy treatment. If you struggle with falling or staying asleep, ask our team for our handout on Sleep Tips.
4. Remember, inflammation is part of the healing process.
Don’t let this one fool you. Prolotherapy works by inflammation. The solution intentionally triggers inflammation because it’s a key part of the body’s natural healing process. The introduction of the irritant solution activates the immune system, leading to the release of substances that promote tissue repair. This means that you should not be taking any anti-inflammatory medications or narcotics, as they inhibit the immune system’s ability to do its job. In most cases, foods/supplements that have an anti-inflammatory effect, like turmeric, ginger, and fish oils are fine to consume as they do not have the same severe effect as taking ibuprofen or narcotic pain medications.
5. Be cautious of stretching and yoga
While exercise can aid in the healing journey, it’s crucial to avoid overstretching ligaments during the tightening and healing phase. Refrain from excessive stretching or engaging in deep yoga poses that may strain the ligaments. If you experience pain in a joint while stretching, like the knee or hip, you might be overextending the ligament, potentially working against the strengthening effects of Prolotherapy. If you have questions about certain exercises that you wish to take part in, reach out to our team.
6. Refrain from “high-velocity” chiropractic adjustments and manipulation
It’s essential to refrain from receiving high velocity chiropractic adjustments, or self-manipulation (popping, cracking your own joints) in areas that have undergone Prolotherapy treatment. Manipulating these areas can inadvertently harm the ligaments that Prolotherapy aims to strengthen. Learn more about Overmanipulation Syndrome in our studies and on our website, and watch a video demonstration on our YouTube channel for further insights.
7. Eat whole foods and limit processed foods.
The immune system is what proliferates the tissue after Prolotherapy, which means that we should be focusing on eating foods that fuel our bodies in a positive way! When we fuel our bodies with whole foods, we provide ourselves with the necessary building blocks for vitality, health, and healing. This includes fresh vegetables, fruit, and meat. It limits boxed, packaged, and pre-made foods. Whole foods offer sustained energy levels, promote healthy digestion, and support immune function, which is exactly what we need when our bodies are healing!
8. Perfect your posture!
Proper joint forces are as important after Prolotherapy as the treatment itself. If your job requires working on the computer, sitting, bending over, or other postures that may have led to or aggravated your current condition, it is imperative that you adjust your workstation or posture that will ease tension on the joints as they repair. Additionally, we do not want you to reinjure the area by putting the same destructive forces on the joint. The goal is long-term success and to see you “graduate” from treatment. Take a good, honest inventory of your posture and the demands on your body for the work and activities you perform. Are there times when you look down too much and strain your neck, slouch and strain your low back, etc.? For some people, simple changes in ergonomics are required, and for others a more in-depth curve correction, exercise, or posture program is necessary.
9. Think and speak positively about yourself and see the good in life.
What we think, speak, hear, believe, and say about ourselves and others has a profound impact on our overall health! When you consistently engage in gossip, have negative thought patterns about yourself and others, watch cable news, doom scroll, etc. it can trigger a stress response in the body, leading to the release of stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline. While our bodies are in healing mode, our brain should be there as well! When your thoughts are engaged with hopefulness, positivity, and confidence, your brain releases dopamine and serotonin (the happy hormones!), communicating those emotions to your body, where your body can relax, and your immune system is boosted. On a physical level, positive thinking has been linked to a stronger immune system, lower blood pressure, reduced risk of cardiovascular disease, and even increased longevity. Positive emotions trigger the release of feel-good hormones like endorphins and oxytocin, which can promote relaxation and enhance our mood.
Our team would be happy to provide you with resources on this, including the book The Missing Commandment: Love Yourself by Jerry and Denise Basel.