Q & A Library

Updated on 6/20/2005

Prolotherapy, also called sclerosant therapy, proliferative injection therapy, and regeneration injection therapy, is a treatment that involves injections of dextrose and sodium morrhuate (extracted from shark liver) or dextrose, glycerin, and phenol into ligaments. Proponents claim that the injections trigger growth of new, healthy tissue to stabilize bones and joints, thus relieving musculoskeletal pain and stiffness. They believe that "loose" ligaments or tendons allow joints to wobble giving rise to conditions ranging from arthritis to migraines.

Although prolotherapy has been around for a long time, there are very few studies of its safety and efficacy and no proof that the theory that underlies it is scientifically sound. I have no first hand experience with prolotherapy although I have heard positive reports from a few patients who have tried it.

A study published in the May/June 2003 issue of Alternative Therapy Health Medicine, tested prolotherapy on 16 patients who had had knee pain and instability for six months or more. The patients were treated for a total of 36 months after which the researchers found an improvement of 45 percent in pain at rest, a 43 percent improvement in pain with walking, and a 35 percent improvement in pain with stair use. I've found no studies comparing prolotherapy to total hip replacement.

Although prolotherapy is promoted as safe and inexpensive, there are risks, including localized inflammation, pain, swelling, redness, soreness, temporary stiffness and bruising. Temporary numbness, tingling or itching at the injection site may also occur.

Some insurance plans cover the cost of prolotherapy, but Medicare does not. The Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA) has asked for more research in order to determine whether to add prolotherapy to the list of procedures Medicare covers. Costs depend on the number of treatments needed.

I can't say whether or not prolotherapy will help your husband's arthritic hip. At this time, there is better evidence for the success of the surgical approach.

Andrew Weil, M.D.