How Should I Prepare for My
PRP or Prolotherapy Treatment?

Please review each of the sections below regarding What We Need to Know About You, and the “Do’s” and “Don’ts” as you prepare for your PRP or Prolotherapy treatment.

What We Need to Know About You in Advance
of Your PRP or Prolotherapy Treatment

• Has a doctor or technician ever had difficulty drawing your blood? If so, we can have our professional phlebotomist on-site during your PRP treatment.
• Do you have any issues with anemia, including a history of anemia? If yes, or even the possibility of anemia and you are having a PRP treatment, be sure you are taking iron. We recommend carbonyl iron, as it is the most easily absorbed.
• Do you have any allergies to medications with corn or “caine” anesthetics?
• Are you on any blood thinners?
• Do you desire pain killers for your treatment? If so, please call us at least two working days in advance of your appointment so we can send a prescription to the pharmacy of your choice.

“Do’s” in Advance
of Your PRP or Prolotherapy Treatment

• Take 1,000 mg of vitamin C the evening before, and the morning of, your appointment. This helps with your healing process. Ideally, take 1,000 mg of vitamin C daily as soon as you know you’ll be having the procedure done, even if it’s months away. Take the vitamin C with food, and stop taking it if it upsets your stomach. If you have acid reflux, take enteric-coated vitamin C. Please call us if you have any questions about this.
• Have a nutritious (caffeine-free) breakfast before coming in for your treatment and drink plenty of fluids throughout the day.
• Make sure you’re getting the proper amount of protein: at least 1 gm per kg of your body weight (that’s 1 gm for approximately every 2 lbs. of body weight). Vegetarians may need to use a protein supplement.
• For your comfort, you may take 650 mg of Tylenol (acetaminophen) one hour before your appointment, and you can repeat this every six hours after your treatment if needed.
• 81mg low-dose aspirin (“baby aspirin”) at bedtime is fine. Enteric-coated (also referred to as “safety-coated”) is best.
• If we are treating your ankle or foot, please soak it in warm soapy water for an hour the day of your procedure. It’s best to do the soaking as close as possible to the time of your appointment. This step helps avoid infections in the foot or ankle after treatment. Also, please bring a pull-on ankle support to your appointment. You will wear the support for 6 weeks after your treatment.

“Don’ts” in Advance
of Your PRP or Prolotherapy Treatment

• No anti-inflammatory medications or herbs for 48 hours prior to your treatment, and ten days afterward. This includes:
  – No anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs) such as aspirin, diclofenac, ibuprofen, nabumetone, naproxen, piroxicam, sulindac, Advil, Aleve, Clinoril, Feldene, Motrin, Naprosyn, Nuprin, Relafen, and Voltaren
  – No anti-inflammatory herbs and minerals such as ginger, lavender, magnesium, peppermint, rosemary, tulsi (holy basil), and turmeric
• No alcohol or cannabis products for at least 48 hours before treatment and ten days afterward.
• No caffeine, including coffee and tea for at least 48 hours before treatment and ten days afterward.
• No cortisone, prednisone, or other steroids for six weeks prior to the procedure. These medications (and all steroids) interfere with the inflammatory process. They have to be out of your system for 6 weeks. If you are on long-term steroids, please call us to discuss.