If you’ve been battling headaches or migraines and suspect your neck might be involved, you’re not alone—and you may be closer to relief than you think. One lesser-known, yet increasingly discussed treatment option is prolotherapy—a regenerative injection therapy designed to stimulate healing in joints, ligaments, and tendons. While not widely adopted in mainstream healthcare, prolotherapy offers a compelling solution for those with chronic pain, especially when it’s tied to neck instability.
What Is Prolotherapy?
Prolotherapy is short for proliferative therapy, a treatment that intentionally triggers a mild, localized inflammation to stimulate the body’s natural healing response. The procedure involves injecting a solution—often dextrose (a sugar water mixture)—into targeted tissues like ligaments or tendons. This controlled irritation promotes collagen production, increases tissue stability, and encourages long-term healing.
The treatment is designed to improve the strength and resilience of soft tissues, helping reduce irritation and improve structural support in the affected area.
How Does It Relate to Headaches and Migraines?
At Novera: Headache Center, the underlying cause of most headaches and migraines often leads back to the neck, particularly due to instability or dysfunction in the joints, muscles, and ligaments of the cervical spine. In some cases, people experience hypermobility in their neck—when joints move more than they should, leading to overcompensation by surrounding muscles, increased tension, and ultimately referred pain in the head or face.
Prolotherapy may be beneficial in cases like:
-
Hypermobility syndromes (e.g., Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome)
-
Chronic instability following trauma (like whiplash or repeated strain)
-
Long-term cases of neck-related headaches where other conservative methods have plateaued
These situations involve mechanical issues—what Novera defines as the first spoke of its 3-spoke framework—that may benefit from the collagen-boosting, stabilizing effects of prolotherapy.
How It Fits into Novera’s 3-Spoke Framework
Novera’s treatment model considers:
- Mechanical problems: like restricted movement or joint instability in the neck.
- Developmental factors: such as structural imbalances or barriers from how the body developed.
- Systemic factors: including inflammation, hormonal imbalances, or other health issues that lower your body’s threshold for managing pain.
Prolotherapy is positioned within the mechanical spoke, particularly in cases of ligament or joint instability that persist despite attempts at physical therapy or dry needling.
Prolotherapy vs. Dry Needling
While both prolotherapy and dry needling stimulate healing, the methods differ:
-
Dry needling uses a needle alone to activate tissue and blood flow—typically targeting muscle.
-
Prolotherapy injects a solution (usually dextrose) to provoke healing in ligaments and tendons.
Dry needling is more commonly used and widely accessible, making it a great starting point. If conservative treatments like this aren’t enough, prolotherapy may be the next step.
When to Consider Prolotherapy
Dr. Taves emphasizes that conservative treatment should come first. This means assessing the neck’s movement and function, addressing joint restriction or instability, and ensuring muscles and posture are balanced. Prolotherapy may be considered if:
-
Conservative treatments haven’t provided enough relief.
-
There is clear evidence of instability in the neck.
-
A physical therapy expert has evaluated and identified persistent mechanical issues.
In chronic, neck-driven headache cases, prolotherapy might be a game-changer.
Finding Healing
While Novera: Headache Center does not offer prolotherapy directly (as it falls outside the scope of practice for physical therapists), the team can help determine if you are a good candidate and refer you to a qualified provider if necessary.
If you’re suffering from chronic migraines or headaches and suspect your neck might be part of the problem, prolotherapy could be worth exploring. It’s not a magic bullet—but when used wisely, it may be a missing piece in your healing journey.
Want to learn more about Novera’s approach to headaches and migraines? Visit www.noveraheadachecenter.com to book a consultation.
