Chronic knee pain can be a life altering condition that leaves a person struggling with mobility and quality of life issues. Knee pain along with the common symptoms of stiffness and swelling are most frequently associated with arthritis or injury. These symptoms can have a significant impact on the ability to accomplish daily tasks and to enjoy recreational activities. There are nonsurgical regenerative treatments available that are an excellent alternative to surgery, including PRP (platelet rich plasma) therapy, ozone and prolotherapy (prolozone), which offers lasting relief and healing for many patients.
The role of ozone in regenerative therapy for knee pain
Prolozone and PRP (Platelet Rich Plasma) are two powerful regenerative treatments offered to patients for a variety of painful knee conditions. Some of these conditions include partial meniscal tears, LCL and MCL ligament tearing and laxity, joint space narrowing, joint degeneration from osteoarthritis, and general knee pain. “Prolozone Injections take the power of prolotherapy and combines it with medical grade ozone to create a non-surgical treatment for conditions causing knee pain,” explains Hawthorn Healing Arts Regenerative Medicine expert, Dr. Sonja Halsey ND.
Prolotherapy injections combine an irritant called dextrose with procaine which decreases pain signals, and B vitamins which supports cell regeneration. Together these components work to create a localized inflammatory response. The patient’s own immune system naturally responds to these signals and is prompted to begin repair at the site of injury.
Adding ozone to prolotherapy further increases the repair response by increasing cell utilization of oxygen and supercharging immune cells, stimulating cells to work more efficiently. This elevated oxygen environment helps to reduce inflammation while increasing collagen production and balancing free radicals. This process reduces joint pain quickly and decreases the risk of infection. It also hastens the healing time following treatment. The result is restoration of injured tissues, improved strength of ligaments, reduction of pain, and better quality of life.
Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) is a technique used for more severe joint degeneration, osteoarthritis, and ligament tearing. This procedure uses the patient’s own platelets in a very concentrated sample by spinning the patient’s own blood and re-injecting the cells back into the site of injury or degeneration.
Platelet rich plasma has many beneficial properties including increasing stem cell activity, improving growth factors and supporting the body’s own natural ability to heal. It also carries proteins that provide the scaffolding for new tissue growth. “Concentrating platelet poor plasma is also an option during PRP procedures,” explains Dr. Halsey. “This process takes the remaining plasma after the platelets are collected from the original blood sample and concentrates it into a solution rich in beneficial proteins.”
Powerful healing with concentrated plasma protein
Concentrated plasma protein is especially helpful for osteoarthritis as it provides a high amount of A2M, the most beneficial protease inhibitor used for stopping and reversing osteoarthritis and degeneration in the joint. “Ozone is also an option with PRP treatments, having the same benefits as it does with prolotherapy.”
Dr. Halsey uses a PRP collection process that guarantees the highest level of platelets in each sample. By using equipment which allows larger samples to be processed within a closed system, the end product ensures maximum concentration of healing properties while also reducing the risk of contamination. A win-win for regeneration and joint repair.
Any of these treatments or a combination of these treatments may be used to support joint and connective tissue regeneration and the alleviation of pain due to aging or injury. Dr. Halsey is available by appointment and she also offers free 15-minute consults to learn more about both Prolozone and PRP.