These past few months, there have been many injection options thrown at me. For the hip, it started with Cortisone. You can only do so many injections of Cortisone before it weakens the ligaments. Mine are already crappy to begin with, when I do opt for cortisone, I only do one to see if it helps. My back was the painful recipient of fluoroscopy-guided injections of an anti-inflammatory. Then a few months later, it was injected for medial branch blocks. The first round of injections provided some relief, the second round, not a single thing.
My dentist recommended Prolotherapy to help firm up my jaw to decrease dislocations. My chiropractor also suggested Prolotherapy for my hip and back. I briefly spoke with an oral surgeon about how he might be able to help with my jaw and he suggested PRF injections. He said most doctors no longer do PRP. He has treated several EDS patients and the PRF has been successful.
With all these injection options, my head was spinning. I was questioning which would be right for me. None of these can change the main issue, my faulty DNA that doesn’t make enough collagen. So, the research began. I had two doctors say don’t do any, they aren’t FDA approved and not tested on EDS patients. These injections are ideal for healthy athletes that can heal quickly and don’t have faulty DNA. What was I to do, continue to sit here in pain? Do a surgery on my hip that takes me out of commission for a year. Do a surgery on my jaw that will damage all the nerves in my face. NO, I want to continue to enjoy the life I have and need to do what’s right for me. In the end, Prolotherapy was the path I chose.
So, what is the difference?
They are all an injection into the painful joint or tissue. Cortisone is the only one that masks inflammation. This can help you through PT to strengthen the area and decrease your pain for a short period of time.
PRP uses your own platelets. The doctor draws your blood and then runs it through a centrifuge to separate red blood cells from liquid plasma. The platelets are then injected into the torn ligament or area of arthritis. Platelets contain growth factors which contribute to rapid healing of the tissue, withing 24 hours. Often times, you require up to three rounds of injections. These injections are not covered by insurance. My orthopedic charges $800 per injection.
PRF is the next generation of PRP. It’s thicker and includes white blood cells and stem cells. This gives the doctor more of a spongy fiber that releases growth factors several days to weeks.
Prolotherapy does not require taking blood from a patient. It is a sugar water mixture that causes an irritant. It is also injected into the tendon or ligament. This irritant then tricks the body into localized healing and builds collagen. These injections are ideal for loose ligaments, joint instability, and mild tendon pain. My Osteopath charges $125 for the first injection and $25 injection after that. These are also not covered by insurance and may require two rounds of injections. These injections are the opposite of Cortisone, instead of reducing inflammation they cause an inflammation, making the body heal itself.
Disclaimer: I am sharing my personal journey with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome for community and educational purposes. I am not a medical professional, and this content should not be taken as medical advice. Always consult your healthcare team regarding your own health.
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