Prolotherapy techniques and solutions have improved to the point that even severe degenerative hip osteoarthritis can be helped with Prolotherapy.
In general, the number of Prolotherapy treatments will depend on the extent of the arthritis. In my experience it is not uncommon for more advanced cases to need 10 to 14 treatments given one to six weeks apart. Most commonly, I see patients for hip treatments at two-week intervals. One can expect at least a 70% overall success, though with less advanced arthritis the success rate is higher. During the treatment course the patient follows standard post-Prolotherapy instructions. Patients are to be active and exercise to pain tolerance and use heat and avoid ice and other anti-inflammatory medications.
The hip is one of the deepest joints in the body. As is the case with all injections, knowledge of the basic anatomy is important to delivering safe and effective Prolotherapy to the hip joint. It is a ball and socket joint with a large range of motion. Directly in front of the hip joint runs the femoral nerve, artery and vein, all structures that obviously I want to avoid with my needles.