Proliferants

For over 75 years, proliferant injections have proven useful for resolving spine and joint pain. Proliferant solutions induce a repair process to regenerate damaged connective tissue. It is believed that growth factors released by the injection process and by the solutions themselves stimulate stem cells to develop into fibroblasts, which produce collagen. The new collagen crosslinks with older collagen molecules to build stronger, thicker tendon and ligaments. The collagen matrix self-aligns along the vectors of stress as the patient goes through normal activities of life. There are many safe and effective solutions that have been used over the years.

Some doctors use mild chemical irritants, such as phenol, guaiacol or tannic acid, to trigger the healing process. These substances attach themselves to the walls of the cells wherever they are injected and cause the irritation that stimulates the body's reactive healing process. Others prefer to use chemotactic agents, primarily sodium morrhuate, a fatty acid derived from cod liver oil, which attract healing stem cells to the area of injection.

Other solutions include the dramatic sounding "osmotic shock agents," which are actually simple compounds like dextrose and glycerine. These ingredients are the most commonly used in the arsenal of Prolotherapy and are extremely safe and water-soluble. They are easily excreted from the body after having their initial desired effect. They work by causing cells to lose water, leading to cellular dehydration and then inflammation with its subsequent stimulation of the healing response. Recent studies show that Dextrose injected into the joint space causes a substantial release of Mesenchymal Stem Cells (the repairmen of the body) from the joint synovial tissue, which then perform their mission to repair cartilage, meniscus and labral tears, and also strengthen capsular and ligamentous tissue. The evidence continues to grow that something as seemingly bizarre as injecting sugar into the joint and ligaments in fact induces a powerful reparative response with virtually no significant side effects.

Some practitioners add co-factors, such as the anti-oxidant mineral manganese, or variations of glucosamine sulfate and chondroitin sulfate, which are believed to aid in the repair of arthritic joints. Some have preference for other co-factors believed to increase the efficacy of the compounds they are used with. Although the above methods of Prolotherapy work in different ways—motivating the body to heal itself through a variety of natural responses—the end result is the same: To cure pain by repairing old tissue, building new tissue, and stabilizing the joints.