Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)Am I a candidate for prolotherapy?
A.: You are a candidate for prolotherapy if the doctor believes that prolotherapy is likely to help you. If he believes that prolotherapy is not likely to help you or that surgery or another treatment is a better option for you, he will tell you so after his evaluation.
Severe medical conditions, high levels of anticoagulant medication, malnutrition, current use of anti-inflammatory medication and recent administration of cortisone may prevent you from receiving prolotherapy
Automobile accident injuries, industrial injuries and other legal-related conditions that have not been settled or closed, are not accepted as patients. Once the legal aspects are over and the case is closed, you are invited to call for an appointment.
How much does it cost?
A.: The initial evaluation cost depends on the complexity of the problem and how much time is needed to do the evaluation. One hour is usually the time set aside for the first visit. A few first visits are less complex, taking 30 minutes, while a few may require 90 minutes. A call to the office will allow us to give an estimate of a consulation/evaluation fee.
When treatment is given during the office visit, there will be an additional charge for the treatment. Charges vary according to the area(s) treated.
Is the doctor on my insurance plan?
A.: The doctor is not on any health insurance plan. This means that you will need to pay the doctor when you are seen and his staff will give you a standard insurance form that will be completed for you, showing that you have paid us. You will be able to mail this to your insurance carrier.
Will my insurance pay for this treatment?
A.: Insurance companies vary a lot. Some pay well for prolotherapy treatments. Some pay part of the time and not other times. Some companies will not pay for it at all.
How many treatments will I need?
A.: It is not possible to tell ahead of time how many treatments a patient might need before they are pain-free. The doctor will give an estimated range of the number of treatments that you will need, depending on the severity of your condition.
How far apart are the treatments?
A.: Treatments are usually given at two-week intervals. There are exceptions to this, depending on other circumstances.
How soon after treatment can I work out or play sports?
A.: If your sports or work-outs involve the area that is being treated, you will get the best results with treatment when you avoid exercising or stressing the area until 3 or 4 weeks after the last treatment. If you must continue to exercise the treatment area, it may take a lot more treatments to get the desired result. You may continue to re-injure it with the exercise or sports activity, preventing it from getting strong enough to protect it.
What is in the medicine that is used in the injections?
A.: There is no cortisone used in prolotherapy. The solution is normally a mixture of a very concentrated dextrose (glucose) with a local anesthetic like lidocaine or Marcaine. A small amount of sodium morrhuate ( a water soluble form of cod liver oil) is added for extra stimulation of the healing reaction in some cases.
What is the success rate with prolotherapy?
A.: Prolotherapy generally has about a 70% good to excellent response among the doctors across the country that keep track of their patients’ responses to treatment. About 10% of the patients are in the poor response, or less than 50% improvement category.
Is there a guarantee that prolotherapy will work for me?
A.: There is nothing in medicine that is guaranteed.
How do I contact the office for an appointment?
A.: Please call our office at 602-912-4996 for an appointment. The staff will be happy to schedule your appointment and give you further information.
What are the office hours?
A.: Our office hours are 8:00 AM to 1:00PM and 2:00 to 5:00PM, Monday through Friday.
What should I bring to the doctor’s office for the initial evaluation?
A.: Please bring the completed paper work that the office sends to you and any X-ray or films of any other studies that you may have had.
What happens at the first visit?
A.: Phyllis will greet you, collect your paper work and take you to the examination room. The doctor will review your paper work, ask you questions about your problem, examine you, read your X-rays and explain them to you, give you his opinion about what he believes is causing your pain or other problems, order any new studies that may be needed and make recommendations for treatment. He will explain the treatment and answer your questions. If you and he agree, he may start treatment at that time.
Will I get a treatment at my first office visit?
A.: If the doctor has enough information to make a diagnosis of your pain problem and believes that you will benefit from prolotherapy, he may offer to start treatment on that occasion.
Will I need a driver?
A.: Most of the time patients do not need a driver. If you are already in too much pain to drive comfortably, if you may have extensive areas of treatment, or if you have any doubts about your ability to drive safely, please do come with a driver.
Will I need to be off work after the treatment?
A.: Most patients do not need to be off work the day after the treatment if it is sedentary work.
What are the risks with prolotherapy?
A.: There are risks with all treatments and medications, not just prolotherapy. If the doctor feels that you are a candidate for prolotherapy, he will explain the risks to you and try to answer all of your questions.