Pain Management
Prolotherapy
Nonsurgical ligament reconstruction for chronic pain. Strengthen weakened connective tissues and restore joint stability without surgery at Bair Medical Spa in Albuquerque.
Prolotherapy — also known as nonsurgical ligament reconstruction — is a treatment for chronic pain that encourages the formation of new, stronger connective tissue. The name itself tells the story: “prolo” is short for proliferation, because the treatment causes the proliferation, or growth and formation, of new ligament tissue in areas where it has become weak.
Ligaments are the structural bands that hold bones to bones in joints. When ligaments become weak or injured, they may not heal to their original strength or endurance. This is largely because the blood supply to ligaments is limited, which means healing is slow and not always complete. Over time, this weakness can lead to joint instability, chronic pain, and reduced function.
Prolotherapy addresses this problem directly. The treatment involves the injection of local anesthetics and other commonly available, FDA-approved, safe and effective medications into the weakened areas. These injections cause a controlled inflammatory reaction that increases blood supply and the flow of nutrients, stimulating the body to produce new ligamentous tissue. Through this proliferation of new connective tissue, tendons and ligaments become stronger, joints become more stable, and pain is reduced.
The treatment is useful for many different types of musculoskeletal pain, including arthritis, back pain, neck pain, knee pain, sports injuries, unresolved whiplash injuries, carpal tunnel syndrome, chronic tendonitis, partially torn tendons, ligaments and cartilage, degenerated or herniated discs, TMJ, and sciatica. At Bair Medical Spa, our clinicians evaluate each patient individually to determine whether prolotherapy is the right approach for their specific condition and pain pattern.
Benefits
Why Choose Prolotherapy
Nonsurgical Solution
Treat chronic pain without the risks, costs, or recovery time associated with surgical intervention. Prolotherapy is an office-based procedure.
Strengthens Connective Tissue
Unlike treatments that mask pain, prolotherapy stimulates the growth of new ligament and tendon tissue, addressing the root cause of joint instability.
Wide Range of Applications
Effective for arthritis, back and neck pain, sports injuries, whiplash, carpal tunnel syndrome, chronic tendonitis, herniated discs, TMJ, and sciatica.
Stimulates Natural Healing
The treatment harnesses your body’s own healing response by increasing blood supply and nutrient flow to areas with limited circulation.
FDA-Approved Medications
Prolotherapy uses commonly available, FDA-approved medications with a well-established safety profile, combined with local anesthetics for comfort.
Long-Lasting Results
Because prolotherapy builds new tissue rather than temporarily blocking pain signals, the improvements in joint stability and pain reduction can be lasting.
Ideal Candidates
Is Prolotherapy Right for You?
Prolotherapy may be appropriate for patients experiencing chronic musculoskeletal pain that has not responded adequately to conservative treatments such as physical therapy, rest, or anti-inflammatory medications. It is particularly well-suited for individuals with joint instability, ligament weakness, or tendon damage that contributes to ongoing pain and limited function.
Good candidates include those with chronic back or neck pain, degenerative joint conditions, sports-related injuries, unresolved whiplash, carpal tunnel syndrome, and TMJ dysfunction. Patients who wish to avoid surgery or who have been told that surgery may not fully resolve their pain often find prolotherapy to be a valuable alternative.
During your consultation at Bair Medical Spa, your clinician will review your medical history, evaluate the affected areas, and determine whether prolotherapy is the most appropriate treatment for your condition and goals.
The Process
What to Expect
Consultation & Evaluation
Your clinician reviews your medical history, evaluates the affected joints or tissues, and determines whether prolotherapy is appropriate for your condition. A personalized treatment plan is created based on your specific pain pattern and goals.
Treatment Session
Using precise injection techniques, your clinician administers a solution of local anesthetics and FDA-approved medications into the weakened ligament or tendon attachment points. The number of injections depends on the area and extent of tissue weakness.
Healing Response
The injected solution triggers a controlled inflammatory response that increases blood supply and nutrient flow to the treated area. Over the following weeks, your body produces new connective tissue, gradually strengthening the weakened structures.
Follow-Up & Progress
Your clinician monitors your progress and schedules additional treatment sessions as needed. The average course involves four to six treatments per area, though some patients require fewer and others may benefit from additional sessions.
Recovery & Results
Gradual Healing, Lasting Strength
After a prolotherapy session, it is normal to experience some soreness, mild swelling, or stiffness at the injection sites for several days. This inflammatory response is an expected and necessary part of the healing process — it signals that your body is beginning to produce new connective tissue in the treated area.
Most patients can return to normal daily activities within a day or two, though strenuous exercise and heavy lifting should be avoided for a short period as directed by your clinician. Over-the-counter pain relief may be used as needed, but anti-inflammatory medications should be avoided immediately after treatment, as they can interfere with the healing response that prolotherapy is designed to trigger.
Because prolotherapy works by stimulating your body's own tissue repair mechanisms, results develop gradually over weeks and months. Many patients notice progressive improvement in pain levels and joint stability with each successive treatment. The average treatment course of four to six sessions allows the new connective tissue to build incrementally, creating stronger ligaments and more stable joints over time.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What conditions can prolotherapy treat?
Prolotherapy is effective for many types of musculoskeletal pain, including arthritis, back pain, neck pain, knee pain, sports injuries, unresolved whiplash injuries, carpal tunnel syndrome, chronic tendonitis, partially torn tendons, ligaments and cartilage, degenerated or herniated discs, TMJ, and sciatica. During your consultation at Bair Medical Spa, your clinician will evaluate whether prolotherapy is appropriate for your specific condition.
How many treatments will I need?
The response to prolotherapy varies from individual to individual and depends on your body’s healing ability. Some patients may only need a few treatments, while others may need ten or more. The average number of treatments is four to six for each area treated. Your clinician at Bair Medical Spa will create a personalized treatment plan and adjust it based on your progress.
Is prolotherapy painful?
The treatment involves injections of local anesthetics along with other FDA-approved medications, so discomfort is minimized during the procedure. Some patients experience temporary soreness or mild swelling at the injection sites for a few days following treatment. This inflammatory response is actually part of the healing process and indicates that the treatment is working.
How does prolotherapy work?
Prolotherapy works by injecting a solution into weakened ligament or tendon attachment points. This causes a controlled inflammatory response that increases blood supply and stimulates the body to produce new, stronger connective tissue. As the new tissue forms, tendons and ligaments become stronger, joints become more stable, and pain decreases.
Is prolotherapy safe?
Prolotherapy uses commonly available, FDA-approved medications that have a well-established safety profile. The treatment has been used for decades to address chronic musculoskeletal pain. At Bair Medical Spa, prolotherapy is administered by experienced clinicians who follow precise injection protocols to ensure both safety and effectiveness.
How soon will I notice improvement?
Some patients notice improvement after the first or second treatment session, while others may require several sessions before experiencing significant relief. Because prolotherapy works by stimulating your body’s own healing mechanisms, results develop gradually over weeks as new connective tissue forms. Your clinician will monitor your progress and adjust treatment frequency accordingly.
Book Your Consultation
Ready to Address Your Chronic Pain?
Schedule a consultation at Bair Medical Spa to learn whether prolotherapy is the right treatment for your condition. Our clinicians will evaluate your pain and create a personalized plan.