Prolotherapy Research - Unresolved Elbow Pain

Treatment Outcomes
Patients received an average of 4.3 prolotherapy treatments per elbow. The average time of follow-up after their last prolotherapy session was 31 months.

Patients were asked to rate their pain and stiffness levels on a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being no pain/stiffness and 10 being severe crippling pain/stiffness. The 36 patients had an average starting pain level of 5.1 and stiffness of 3.9. Their ending pain and stiffness levels were1.6 and 1.4 respectively. Sixty-one percent had a starting pain level of 6 or greater, while only 11% had a starting pain level of three or less whereas, after prolotherapy,only 5% had a pain level of 6 or greater and 94% had a pain level of three or less (see Figures 3a and 3b).



One hundred percent of patients stated that the pain and stiffness in their elbows was better after prolotherapy.Over 78% percent said the improvements in their pain and stiffness since their last prolotherapy session have continued 100%. Sixty-three percent received greater than 75% pain relief. Ninety-four percent of patients stated prolotherapy relieved them of at least 50% of their pain (see Figure 4). Ninety-seven percent of patients reported at least 25% relief of their pain with prolotherapy.In regard to pain medication usage: before prolotherapy, the average patient was taking one pain medications but this decreased to an average 0.2 medications after prolotherapy.Of the 22 people taking medications, 21 of them were able to eliminate them or reduce their usage after receiving prolotherapy. No one had to subsequently resume on medications because of elbow pain.



Twenty people stated their elbows did not have normal range of motion before prolotherapy. After prolotherapy, only six patients still did not have normal range of motion (see Figure 5).



In regard to quality of life issues prior to receiving prolotherapy: 77% were totally independent in activities of daily living, but this increased to 94% after prolotherapy. In regard to exercise ability before prolotherapy, only 33% could exercise greater than 30 minutes but, after prolotherapy, this increased to 87% (see Figures 6a and 6b).



Prior to prolotherapy, 44% of patients expressed feelings of depression and 56% feelings of anxiety. After prolotherapy, only 14% reported depressed feelings and 19% feelings of anxiety (see Figures 7a and 7b and Figures 8a and 8b).





In regard to sleep: prior to prolotherapy, 61% of patients felt their pain interrupted their sleep. After prolotherapy, 79% of this group reported improvements in their sleeping ability. To a simple yes or no question: “Has prolotherapy changed your life for the better?” 100% of the patients treated answered “yes.” Eighty percent of the patients noted that greater than the 75% of the results from the prolotherapy had remained. All of these patients knew someone who had received prolotherapy. Seventy percent of these patients came to receive their first prolotherapy treatment because of a recommendation from a friend. All of these patients report they have recommended prolotherapy to someone else.

Of those whose pain/disability had increased since stopping the prolotherapy, 82% noted there were reasons for this happening. The number one reason being that 55% claimed they stopped the prolotherapy too soon before 100% of their pain was gone.