About Dr. Franchi: Prolotherapy Pain Management

Orthopedic Medicine Physician | Prolotherapy Specialist | Boston, MA

Dr. Albert Franchi is a classically trained board-certified orthopedic physician based in Stoneham, Massachusetts, with more than 40 years of experience treating musculoskeletal injuries and chronic joint pain. He has specialized for the past 20 years in prolotherapy -- a regenerative injection technique for ligament and tendon repair. He is one of the most experienced prolotherapy practitioners in New England.

Training and credentials

Dr. Franchi earned his medical degree (MD) from the University of Guadalajara and completed his residency at Mount Sinai School of Medicine, in New York City. He went on to practice orthopedic medicine with a focus on non-surgical treatment of joint instability, torn ligaments, and chronic pain conditions. He holds active medical licensure in Massachusetts and has currently practices at his offices in Stoneham, MA.

For 25 years, Dr. Franchi served as Team Physician for Bentley University, providing orthopedic care to their collegiate athletes across all sports programs. This role has deepened his expertise in sports-related soft tissue injuries - rotator cuff tears, hamstring strains, plantar fasciitis, groin instability, and ligament damage - precisely the conditions that respond best to prolotherapy.

What Dr. Franchi specializes in

Dr. Franchi treats patients who have been told they need surgery, who have had cortisone injections with diminishing returns, or who are living with chronic pain that conventional medicine has not resolved. His clinical focus includes:

  • Knee pain, including ligament tears, joint instability, and osteoarthritis
  • Shoulder instability, rotator cuff tears, AC separations, and chronic dislocations
  • Hip pain and sacroiliac joint instability
  • Plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendon injuries, and unstable ankles
  • Tennis elbow, golfer's elbow, and bicep tendon instability
  • Lower back pain from sacroiliac instability and interspinous ligament laxity
  • Hypermobility syndrome, including Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS)
  • Groin strains and pubic instability in athletes
  • Osteoarthritis in weight-bearing joints

 

Representative sports where he has treated injuries using prolotherapy include the following: football, baseball, basketball, hockey, tennis, volleyball, cross country, swimming, golf, soccer, judo, karate, and track & field.

Prolotherapy is not effective for every condition

Dr. Franchi believes in honest assessments. Prolotherapy does not treat herniated disks, spinal stenosis, carpal or tarsal tunnel syndrome, Morton's neuroma, or fibromyalgia. It is also not appropriate for most torn meniscus injuries unless the tear is at the periphery. If prolotherapy is not the right treatment for your situation, Dr. Franchi will tell you so - and refer you to the physician best suited to help.

Experience in prolotherapy

Prolotherapy requires precision: the physician must identify the exact ligament or tendon origin causing instability, then inject a proliferant solution - a combination of 50% dextrose and 2% lidocaine - at the correct insertion point to stimulate the body to repair itself. This is a skill that develops over thousands of patient encounters . Dr. Franchi does not use the multiple-injection technique common among other practitioners; his approach uses fewer, more precisely placed injections that are less painful and equally effective.

"Experience matters enormously in prolotherapy," Dr. Franchi explains. "Knowing exactly where to inject - and how many treatments a patient needs - comes from years of doing this work."

Community involvement

Dr. Franchi is the title sponsor of the Boston Dragons, the U.S. Legends Senior Pro Pickleball team, reflecting his commitment to keeping active adults moving and pain-free. He is also actively involved in helping pickleball players, golfers, tennis players, and people that run and hike get back to what the activities they love to do.

Patients heard Dr. Franchi on:

  • WBZ News Radio 1030 AM
  • WEEI 93.7 FM (Teddy Johnson)
  • WBZ FM

 

Schedule a complimentary phone consultation

Dr. Franchi personally advises prospective patients on whether prolotherapy is appropriate for their condition. Call 833-Go-Prolo (833-467-7656) or 781-299-7521, or fill out the contact form on this page. Dr. Franchi will call you back typically within 48 hours or less.

92 Montvale Avenue, Suite 4650, Stoneham, MA 02180 Wednesday and Thursday, 7:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. | Free parking

Welcome!

Dr. Franchi’s Experience with Patients

  • Freedom from joint pain without surgery!

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    • Complimentary Phone Consults Available

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  • Radio Spots

    • “Prolotherapy changed my life!”
    - Dan Rea, WBZ