Tulane Health System offering ‘prolotherapy’ regenerative joint injections

Orthopedics specialists with Tulane Health System now offer prolotherapy, also known as regenerative joint injections, as an alternative, non-surgical treatment for chronic back or joint pain, as well as several acute conditions.

Although not a new technique, prolotherapy is gaining popularity among healthcare practitioners, said Dr. Jacques Coursesault, who specializes in physical medicine and rehabilitation with the Tulane Institute of Sports Medicine.

“Prolotherapy is essentially a dextrose solution injected into affected joints and ligaments,” Dr. Courseault said. “This injection stimulates the body’s natural healing process and creates an intentional inflammatory response that ‘jump starts’ the healing process, while also helping strengthen ligaments, enhance cartilage and increase the overall stability of the joints.”

Regenerative joint injections are a permanent treatment, he added, as they rely on the body to heal itself to reduce pain. Pain relievers and anti-inflammatory medications only provide temporary relief, he said, while surgical options do not always fully stabilize a joint.

Prolotherapy can be used to treat a variety of conditions, including back pain, hip or knee pain, shoulder pain, osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia, plantar fasciitis, sciatica, tendinitis, tension headaches, degenerative disc disease and a wide range of sports injuries.

The procedure is performed on an outpatient basis and usually consists of three-to-four treatments administered every three-to-four weeks.

Prolotherapy might not be the best or most appropriate option for all patients. To schedule an appointment or discuss pricing options, please call the Tulane Institute of Sports Medicine at 504.988.8476. And to learn more about this procedure and other orthopedic services offered by Tulane Health System, please visit Tulane Healthcare.