Cortisone works by temporarily reducing inflammation, but it doesn’t repair damaged tissue. In fact, repeated cortisone shots can weaken tendons and ligaments over time. Prolotherapy, on the other hand, strengthens and rebuilds weakened tissue by stimulating your body’s natural healing response.

Most prolotherapy solutions are made with dextrose (a concentrated sugar solution) combined with a local anesthetic. This mixture is safe and works by gently irritating the tissue to trigger a controlled healing response. Unlike biologics or PRP, prolotherapy does not use blood products or stem cells.

During the injection, patients typically feel mild pressure or stinging, which quickly subsides. Afterward, it’s normal to experience temporary soreness or a “heavy” sensation in the treated area for a few days — a sign that the healing process has been activated.

Relief doesn’t usually happen overnight. Prolotherapy works gradually, strengthening ligaments, tendons, and joints over several weeks. Many patients begin noticing improvement after 2–3 sessions, with steady gains as the tissue rebuilds.

Yes. One of the most common uses of prolotherapy in the foot and ankle is treating chronic instability caused by repeated sprains. By tightening and strengthening loose ligaments, prolotherapy can help stabilize the ankle and reduce the risk of future injuries.

For many patients, yes. Prolotherapy is often recommended for people with foot or ankle pain who haven’t found relief from orthotics, therapy, or medications, but who want to avoid invasive surgery. It offers a minimally invasive, low-risk alternative for conditions like plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendon problems, or other soft tissue conditions.