PROLOTHERAPY VS ROOSTER COMB INJECTIONS

BY FRED G. ARNOLD, NMD

A question that is frequently asked by many patients is “What is the difference between Prolotherapy and Rooster Comb Injections”? Although both treatments are used to treat painful arthritic knees, there are distinct differences between the two treatments.

Both Prolotherapy and Rooster Comb Injections are injection therapies to reduce pain in the knee affected by osteoarthritis, increasing mobility and allowing more activity.

HOW DO THESE KNEE INJECTIONS WORK?
Prolotherapy stimulates the body's natural healing processes to strengthen joints weakened by trauma or arthritis. Joints weakened when ligaments and tendons are stretched, torn, or fragmented, become hypermobile and painful.  Prolotherapy has the unique ability to directly address the cause of instability and repair the weakened sites, resulting in permanent stabilization of the joint.  Prolotherapy injections creates a mild, controlled inflammation which stimulates the body to lay down new cartilage, tendon and ligament fibers, resulting in a strengthening of the weakened structure.  When the joint becomes strong, pain will be relieved.

Rooster Comb Injections cushions and lubricates the knee the same way synovial fluid — secreted naturally by the lining of the joint — does. These injections work like brake fluid in your car by lubricating the parts to prevent them from grinding against one another as they move. The treatment may help reduce pain and improve mobility. The injections do not cure osteoarthritis, stop the progression of the disease or heal worn cartilage. Rooster Comb Injections may temporarily improve pain and stiffness in many patients.

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE IN THE SOLUTIONS USED?
Prolotherapy injections normally contain an anesthetic such as lidocaine and an irritant such as dextrose to treat most joints of the body. The treatment method is also referred to as RIT or Regenerative Injection Therapy.

Rooster Comb Injections contain hyaluronic acid (Hyaluronan) and are injected into the knee joint to provide lubrication and relief from osteoarthritis symptoms. The treatment method is also known as viscosupplementation.

WHAT JOINTS CAN BE TREATED WITH THESE OSTEOARTHRITIS INJECTIONS?
Prolotherapy is used to treat most all the joints in the body including the knees, shoulders, spinal joints, hands, feet, pelvis and hips. Rooster Comb injections are only approved for treatment of mild to moderate knee arthritis.

ARE THERE SIDE EFFECTS OF KNEE OSTEOARTHRITIS INJECTIONS?
Serious side effects are rare with both types of injections. Prolotherapy injections should be avoided if the patient has known allergies to the solutions used: lidocaine, dextrose or B12. Rooster comb injections should not be used in people with egg or poultry allergies. Occasionally, a severe reaction with swelling, redness and pain, call a pseudoseptic reaction can occur with some rooster comb injections.

HOW LONG DO THE INJECTIONS LAST?
Since prolotherapy causes a regeneration of cartilage, ligament and tendon tissue, the results can be permanent. Rooster Comb injections provide temporary relief of arthritic pain. Pain relief is usually obtained by four to 12 weeks, and the effect has been shown to last for up to several months. The treatment is then repeated as necessary.

WHAT CAN BE EXPECTED WITH EACH OF THE INJECTIONS?
Prolotherapy injections are initially provided every 2-4 weeks, dependent upon the severity of the condition. Usually, 4-6 injections are needed to provide stability and pain relief. Pain relief may be immediate or slowly over a course of many weeks as actual regeneration of cartilage, tendon and ligament tissue occurs.

Rooster Comb injections for knee osteoarthritis ranges from a one-time injection to weekly injections for three to five weeks over the course of several weeks. These injections can be repeated once a year in most patients.

CONCLUSION:
Both Prolotherapy and Rooster Comb injections are used to treat painful arthritic knees. Prolotherapy injections are used to treat most of all the joints in the body and Rooster Comb injections, at this time, are only used to treat knees. Each injection procedure utilizes a specialized solution to reduce pain, improve mobility and improve functioning. Both treatment methods normally require multiple treatments over a matter of weeks with minimal to any side effects. The main difference between the two treatments is that prolotherapy effects can be permanent and Rooster Comb injections are temporary. Prolotherapy injections cause an actual regeneration of tissue such as cartilage, tendon and ligaments and Rooster Comb injections provide a temporary lubricating effect to the knee joint.