Author: Mr Oliver Eaton BSc (Hons), PG.Cert – Orthopaedic Specialist
Reviewed by: Mr William Sharples BSc (Hons) – Pain Management Expert
Last Updated: August 2025
Prolotherapy is a treatment that helps relieve chronic pain by injecting a solution into weakened tissues to trigger healing. If you’re wondering how it works, what conditions it can treat, and if it’s right for you, this article will provide the answers.
Table of Contents
- Key Takeaways
- Understanding Prolotherapy
- Common Conditions Treated
- The Prolotherapy Procedure
- Expected Benefits
- Cost of Prolotherapy
- Recovery and Results
- Potential Side Effects and Risks
- Where to Receive Prolotherapy Injections
- Clinical Research and Efficacy
- Case Studies
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Clinic Information
- Author Bio
- References
Key Takeaways
- Prolotherapy is a regenerative treatment that stimulates the body’s healing processes by injecting an irritant solution into damaged tissues, effectively addressing chronic pain and injuries.
- Commonly treated conditions with prolotherapy include joint pain, ligament laxity, and various musculoskeletal injuries, providing significant relief for patients who have not responded to traditional treatments.
- While typically safe, potential side effects include soreness and bruising, with serious complications being rare; consulting a qualified healthcare provider is essential to assess individual suitability for the procedure.
Understanding Prolotherapy
Prolotherapy, short for proliferative therapy, is a treatment designed to stimulate the body’s natural healing processes. This innovative approach involves injecting an irritant solution into damaged tissues, prompting the body to initiate a healing response. Unlike other treatments that may simply mask the pain, a prolotherapy injection aims to repair the underlying issue.
- Injecting a specially formulated solution—often containing dextrose prolotherapy—into weakened joints, ligaments, or tendons stimulates tissue growth and repair.
- The irritant solution triggers a mild inflammation response.
- This response promotes more effective self-healing.
Prolotherapy can enhance connective tissue repair and regeneration, making it a powerful tool for treating chronic joint and ligament pain. This regenerative approach offers a potential long-term solution, setting prolotherapy apart from other pain management treatments.
Common Conditions Treated with Prolotherapy
Prolotherapy is a versatile treatment that can address a wide range of musculoskeletal conditions. It is particularly effective for chronic pain and injuries that have not responded well to other treatments. Common conditions treated with prolotherapy include:
- Stretched or loosened ligaments
- Low back pain
- Knee pain
- Shoulder pain
- Joint hypermobility due to conditions like Ehlers Danlos Syndrome
In the realm of sports medicine, prolotherapy injections have shown promise in treating conditions such as plantar fasciitis, achilles tendonitis, and achilles tendinopathy. Research indicates prolotherapy can significantly reduce pain levels, offering hope for chronic pain sufferers.
The Prolotherapy Procedure
The prolotherapy procedure is straightforward and typically takes less than an hour to complete:
- Schedule a consultation with a healthcare provider to assess your condition and determine the appropriate treatment plan.
- An irritant solution—often a dextrose-based formula—is injected into the affected area.
- This injection stimulates a mild inflammatory response that promotes healing and tissue regeneration.
Minimal downtime is required, and most patients can resume normal activities shortly after. Local anaesthetic ensures a relatively painless procedure.
Expected Benefits of Prolotherapy
- Significant pain relief and improved functional ability
- Stimulates tissue regeneration and healing
- Can be combined with other treatments for enhanced effectiveness
Cost of Prolotherapy Injections
Costs vary depending on the number of injections and areas treated. A standard course of three injections can reach up to £1,050, with single sets going up to £1,500 in private healthcare settings.
Recovery and Results
Patients may experience soreness and stiffness for a few days post-treatment. Improvement is usually gradual, with most patients reporting benefits after a few weeks. Optimal results often require 3-4 sessions spaced 1-4 weeks apart.
Potential Side Effects and Risks
- Bruising, discomfort, swelling, stiffness
- Rare complications include localized bleeding, hematomas, headaches, infection, nerve damage, or spinal cord irritation
Where to Receive Prolotherapy Injections
- Phoenix Hospital Group in Marylebone
- Cromwell Hospital in Central London
- The Wellington Hospital in St John’s Wood
- LycaHealth Canary Wharf
Clinical Research and Efficacy
Studies suggest prolotherapy is a safe and effective method for managing chronic pain. Further research continues to explore long-term outcomes and optimal protocols.
Case Studies
Case Study 1: Knee Osteoarthritis
A 58-year-old patient with chronic knee osteoarthritis experienced significant pain reduction after three prolotherapy sessions, enabling improved mobility and daily activity.
Case Study 2: Achilles Tendinopathy
A professional athlete with chronic Achilles tendinopathy returned to training within six weeks after receiving targeted prolotherapy injections, with sustained pain relief for months.
Frequently Asked Questions
What conditions can prolotherapy treat?
Prolotherapy treats chronic pain, joint pain, ligament laxity, plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendonitis, and low back pain.
How much does prolotherapy cost?
Costs range from £540 for a single treatment to £1,500 for a series, excluding consultations and follow-ups.
What are the potential side effects of prolotherapy?
Bruising, soreness, swelling, stiffness; rarely infection, nerve damage, or spinal cord irritation.
How long does it take to recover?
Recovery generally involves 2–7 days of soreness, with gradual improvement over several weeks. Multiple sessions may be required.
Where can I receive prolotherapy injections?
Reputable clinics include Phoenix Hospital Group, Cromwell Hospital, The Wellington Hospital, and LycaHealth Canary Wharf.
Clinic Information
Contact ProHealth Clinic Today for Your FREE 15-Minute Discovery Call
Don’t let pain control your life any longer. Join the thousands of patients who have found lasting relief through prolotherapy at ProHealth Clinic.
Get in Touch
Phone: +441234380345
Email: info@prohealthclinic.co.uk
Our Clinic Locations
London: 104 Harley Street, Marylebone, W1G 7JD
Manchester: The Hadley Clinic, 64 Bridge Street, M3 3BN
Bedford: The Village Medical Centre, Kingswood Way, MK40 4GH
All clinics offer the same award-winning prolotherapy treatment with convenient appointment times, including evenings and weekends.
Author Bio
Having performed over 10,000 procedures, Mr Eaton is one of the UK’s leading practitioners in the field of treating pain, with patients travelling to see him from across the UK, Europe, and the Middle East.
With over 12 years of clinical experience, Oliver is dedicated to helping patients understand their symptoms associated with Prolotherapy and providing effective treatment options to alleviate them.
He qualified in Prolozone Therapy and Prolotherapy in America with the American Academy of Ozonotherapy. He continued on to complete further qualifications at the Royal Society of Medicine, Charing Cross Hospital in London, Keele University’s Anatomy & Surgical Training Centre, and the medical department of Heidelberg University in Germany.
Over the years he has had the privilege of treating many elite-level athletes, including both Olympic and Commonwealth medallists.
Linkedin profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/oliver-eaton-4338225b/
References
- Rabago D, et al. “Dextrose Prolotherapy for Knee Osteoarthritis: A Randomized Controlled Trial.” Annals of Family Medicine, 2013.
- Klein RG, et al. “Prolotherapy for Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain: A Systematic Review.” Journal of Prolotherapy, 2015.
- Topol GA, et al. “Efficacy of Prolotherapy in the Treatment of Chronic Low Back Pain.” Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine, 2005.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider before making treatment decisions.