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What are the risks or complications of Prolotherapy?

What are the risks or complications of Prolotherapy?

The potential risks or complications of Prolotherapy are the same as for any medical injection therapy (e.g., flu shot, penicillin shot, cortisone shot):

No effect from the treatment
Immediate pain at the injection site, lasting 100 hours (3-4 days) or more
Bruising of the general treatment area
Bleeding at the injection site
Fainting or dizziness
Post-therapeutic tendinosis pain flare
Post-therapeutic muscle spasm
Similar to risk of surgical intervention, temporary (transient) or permanent injury to cutaneous nerves or muscles at the injection site
Autonomic nervous system-related skin and sensory changes
Sensory numbness or pain, aching, or burning sensations, or
Motor paralysis
Spinal cord injury during back injections
Pneumothorax (air on the outside of the lung) during chest injections
Allergic reaction to one of the components of the proliferant solution. This may be in the form of mild skin reactions or severe anaphylactic shock. Consequently, a careful allergic history needs to be taken and if there is any question, skin testing is advisable and available.
Death from allergic complications of the treatment.

Is anticoagulation therapy a contraindication to receiving Prolotherapy?
Any patient who is taking any anticoagulation therapy, e.g., heparin, Coumadin (Warfarin), Plavix (Clopidogrel), is not a Prolotherapy candidate. Note: 80 mg of Aspirin a day is acceptable.

The Latest Questions

What is the scientific basis for Prolotherapy?

Prolotherapy is an established technique for healing lax, stretched, or torn joint ligaments and muscle tendons. The technique consists of injecting a proliferant solution at the site of attachment of the ligament or tendon to the joint bone.

Is Prolotherapy an “off-label” use of Procaine™ and Glucose?

Dr. Clark uses the components of the proliferative solution in an “off-label” fashion, extended beyond the usual and customary recommendations of the Federal Drug Administration (FDA).

To what diagnoses is Prolotherapy applicable?

Prolotherapy is an appropriate therapy for treating any ligament or tendon sprain injury resulting in joint laxity, instability, dysfunction, or pain.