Prolotherapy and PIT for Joint Pain: Injections That Help Your Body Repair Itself
By Dr. Heather Krebsbach, ND, LAc, Origins Integrative Health, Portland
Joint pain changes how you move through your day. You take the elevator instead of the stairs. You skip the long walk. You start planning around the knee, shoulder or back that keeps flaring up.
If rest, stretching and pain relievers haven't been enough, there is another option. Prolotherapy and perineural injection therapy (PIT) are gentle injection treatments that work with your body's own repair process. This article explains what each one is, who they can help, and what a visit at our SE Portland clinic is like.
What prolotherapy is
Prolotherapy uses a natural dextrose (sugar) solution. We inject it into tendons, ligaments and joint tissue that have become weak, loose or injured.
That small injection gives your body a clear signal to start repairing the area. Over time, the tissue can lay down new collagen and become stronger and more stable. Instead of masking pain, prolotherapy supports the healing your body already knows how to do.
What perineural injection therapy (PIT) is
PIT also uses a gentle dextrose solution. This time it is placed just under the skin, along nerves that have become irritated or sensitized.
Many long-lasting pain problems involve nerves that stay on high alert. PIT helps calm them down. Patients often like that the injections are shallow and quick.
Prolotherapy and PIT work well together. One supports the deeper joint and connective tissue, and the other eases the nerves around it.
What these joint injections can help with
People come to us for prolotherapy and PIT when pain has lingered and hasn't responded to other care. Common reasons include:
- Knee pain and knee osteoarthritis
- Shoulder pain
- Low back and sacroiliac (SI) joint pain
- Neck pain
- Loose or unstable joints
- Tendon and ligament injuries
- Nerve-related pain that keeps coming back
Research on prolotherapy for the knee is encouraging. A 2024 systematic review and meta-analysis found that dextrose prolotherapy was linked with less joint pain and stiffness and better function in people with knee osteoarthritis.
Your visit at Origins
Your first visit starts with a conversation and a careful exam. We want to understand what is driving your pain, how it affects your life and what you have already tried.
If prolotherapy or PIT is a good fit, we explain the plan before we begin. The injections themselves are quick, and we take steps to keep you comfortable throughout. Most people go back to their usual day afterward, and you will leave with clear aftercare guidance.
Your plan is built around you. We check in on your progress at each visit and adjust as you go.
Who provides these treatments
Dr. Heather Krebsbach, ND, LAc offers both prolotherapy and perineural injection therapy at Origins. Dr. Carly Martin, ND also offers PIT. Both take the time to understand your goals and build a plan that fits your body and your activity.
Care that works together
Joint injections are one part of our musculoskeletal care. Many patients pair them with shockwave therapy or acupuncture to support healing from more than one direction. We'll talk through what makes sense for you.
Frequently asked questions
Do prolotherapy injections hurt?
Most people feel a brief pinch and some pressure. We take steps to keep you comfortable, and the injections are over quickly.
What is the difference between prolotherapy and PIT?
Prolotherapy goes into the deeper joint tissue, such as tendons and ligaments, to help strengthen it. PIT is placed just under the skin along irritated nerves to calm pain. Many patients benefit from both.
Can prolotherapy help knee arthritis?
It can. Knee osteoarthritis is one of the most studied uses of prolotherapy, and research links it with less pain and better function. We'll assess your knee and let you know if it's a good fit.
How much does prolotherapy cost?
Pricing depends on your plan. Please call us at (503) 314-2176 and our front desk will be glad to help.
Ready to feel steadier on your feet?
If joint pain has been holding you back, we'd love to help. Contact us or call (503) 314-2176 to book a visit at our clinic on SE Ankeny St.