Prolotherapy

What is Prolotherapy:
According to the American Academy of Osteopathic Medicine, Prolotherapy is a recognized orthopedic procedure that stimulates the body's natural healing processes to strengthen joints weakened by traumatic or over-use injury. Joints become loose and painful when ligaments and tendon attachments are stretched, torn, or fragmented. Traditional approaches with surgery and anti-inflammatory drugs often fail to stabilized the joint or relieve this pain permanently. Prolotherapy, with its unique ability to directly address the cause of the instability, can repair the weakened sites and produce new fibrous tissues, resulting in permanent stabilization of the joint.
Why get Prolotherapy:
Prolotherapy and its more expensive alternative platelet rich plasma injection, are the only non-surgical options for the treatment of pain from ligament or tendon laxity with joint instability. Studies have also show the effectiveness of Prolotherapy in the treatment of pain from some forms of osteoarthritis. Studies on male athletes with chronic groin pain showed dramatic reduction in pain experienced following an average of 3 treatments. Results of a 2005 research review found that Prolotherapy is effective for many musculoskeletal conditions.
What is involved:
Prolotherapy involves a precise injection of a mild irritant solution directly into the site of the damaged tendon or ligament. The solution creates a mild, controlled injury that stimulates the body's natural repair mechanisms to deposit new tissue on the unstable area. As the new tissue matures it tightens and strengthens the unstable and painful structures. Repeated therapy may be necessary to create sufficient new tissue to fully stabilize the weakened structure.
Does it hurt:
Any injection therapy causes some discomfort but many efforts are made to make it as comfortable as possible. The use of the numbing agent means that the discomfort is short lived. The solution injected does lead to a sensation similar to muscle strain for up to 3 days due to the healing process it activates. Individual pain thresholds will vary.
The primary thing to keep in mind is that the alternatives are immensely more painful. Short lived discomfort to prevent surgery or permanent pain is a small price to pay. Having had Prolotherapy done on myself, multiple times,  I can say that I am grateful for the benefit and would endure far worse for the relief it brought. 
For further information look at the following websites:
http://www.aaomed.org/Injection-Therapy-FAQ
http://www.prolotherapy.org/
http://www.prolotherapy.com/