Average Cost of Prolotherapy

Prolotherapy, also known as proliferation therapy and nonsurgical ligament reconstruction is an effective therapy that supports the healing ability of the body. It strengthens the weakened ligaments in the body and also heals the accompanying pain to a certain extent. It effectively treats joint pain of the neck and the back region, fibromyalgia, arthritis, chronic tendonitis, degenerated and herniated disks, etc., It is also effective in treating the injuries that commonly affect sports persons like the injuries of the ankle, knee and shoulder region. Most of these injuries result due to harm to the ligaments and tendons. Aging also causes weakening of the ligaments, hence prolotherapy sessions strengthen the weakened tendons and ligaments.

Injury of any kind is accompanied with pain and inflammation. The immune system of the body is capable of healing the minor effects of injuries. But in the severe cases of pain, the immune system needs some support to aid it in the healing process. Pain killers, application of ice packs and in the severest of cases surgery are the treatment options to heal the pain. Prolotherapy is one of the numerous techniques that help mitigate the pain. The technique was formulated by Dr. George S. Hackett in the year 1940. Many people prefer taking these sessions to cure the pain and strengthen the injured area, or just for a better life. The reason for the popularity of the therapy is its cost-effectiveness as compared and proven results.

Factors Influencing the Cost of Prolotherapy

An important point to note is that most insurance companies do not provide insurance cover for prolotherapy. There are very few companies that cover this treatment under their insurance cover. This makes the cost of prolotherapy even more variable. The factors that influence the cost of prolotherapy are given below.

• The nature of injury: the more serious the injury, the higher the cost. In severe cases of damage to the ligaments the person has to take more than 10 sessions.
• The patient's response to the treatment is also a factor that influences the cost of the therapy. Some patients show a fast response to the treatment, while some may show a slow one. This influences the number of sessions the person has to take for the treatment, and thus the cost.
• Place of treatment, the cost also varies as per the country of residence, and the clinic.

The above three factors contribute to determine the cost of prolotherapy. Also there is no fixed cost of treatment for a person, as it depends on the nature of injury that has affected the person. But one thing that can be surely said about the treatment cost is that, it is far lesser than the cost of a surgery. As per the available data the average cost of treating the injuries of the hand, wrist and feet is around $1,200. And the average cost of treating an ankle, elbow, knee, hip and back injury is around $1,800. Whereas the cost of treating back and neck injuries is around $2,500. These figures are for 3-4 sessions, that is the average duration for which the treatment continues. A single session might cost you around $250, as per the available figures.

The reason for the popularity of the technique is its nonsurgical nature; it is based on injecting a sugary solution in the affected pain causing region. Prolotherapy is also comparatively low priced than other techniques that facilitate similar benefits. You should consult a physician to determine the appropriateness of the treatment for you. Prior to recommending prolotherapy, the physicians conduct a physical examination and procedures like X-ray to determine if it is needed for a particular patient or not.

As you see, plenty of factors affect the cost of prolotherapy. You should opt for this treatment under proper guidance, and it will prove to be a boon for you.