FAQ About Our Services
These are our most commonly asked questions. If you have any extra questions, please ask your doctor during the visit.
Are the injections covered under MSP?
The following services are fully covered under MSP:
- Consultations
- Trigger point injections
- Nerve blocks
The following services are not covered under MSP:
- Prolotherapy
- PRP
We will always try to solve your pain with MSP covered injections first.
What is injected?
Depending on the type of injection your doctor thinks would be most effective, the injected medication during your first few visits will most likely include 1% lidocaine or 5% dextrose. If you have a chemical sensitivity, normal saline can be used upon request.
We use a steroid-sparing approach where only 1 in 100 treatments involve injection of cortisone steroids. If your doctor thinks you require a steroid injection, he/she will obtain your consent and explain the risks and benefits before proceeding.
What can I expect during the first consultation?
Before the consultation, your doctor will review your past medical history, medication list, previous imaging, and relevant specialist reports. During the consultation, your doctor will ask you questions and perform a physical examination to determine whether injection treatments are appropriate for you. If so, most patients do proceed with injections during the first consultation.
If you need more time to consider your treatment options, you are welcome to decline injections during your first consultation and call back to book for an injection treatment at a later day. We understand that the concept of having needles can be scary and do our best to start with a gentle approach. In fact, we have helped many patients overcome their needle phobia!
What can I expect to feel during injections?
Most patients say the injections are “not too bad”. Often, the anticipation of the pain turns out to be worse than the injection itself. Most of the time, you feel a small pinch when the needle enters the skin. Sometimes, you don’t feel the needle at all. Occasionally, the needle does hurt a bit more. Since each person’s body is different, we adjust the injections to match what your body can tolerate.
Many patients say trigger point injections hurt less than IMS (dry needling with physiotherapists). Sometimes, you may feel your muscle jump on its own when the needle enters a tight spot in the muscle. This is a normal reaction.
What is the recovery after a treatment?
Each person has a different response to injection therapies. Some patients can tolerate a maximum of 3 to 4 injections per session while others can tolerate hundreds per session. It is normal to feel moderate soreness in the injected muscle for 2 to 4 days after each treatment.
We always start with a gentle approach to minimize the chance of making you too sore from the injections.
Can I go to work after a treatment?
The vast majority of our patients can go to work right after a treatment.
If you are concerned about your ability to function at work after a treatment, consider booking your appointment at the end of the day or before your weekend.
What can I expect at follow-up visits?
Your doctor will ask about your response to the previous treatment and adjust their injection technique according to what your body needs.
Follow up visits will be shorter than the first consultation because your doctor has already formulated a treatment plan.
How many treatments will I need?
The number of treatments required is different from person to person. We have successfully treated some patients in 1 to 4 sessions while other patients have required up to two years of regular treatments. Generally, if you developed your pain more recently, you will require fewer sessions and vice versa.
Your doctor will have a better estimate after your first consultation. If you are not improving within the first few treatments, your doctor may suggest switching to a different type of injection.
What are the potential risks of injections?
Common side effects of our injections are the following:
- Temporary increase in pain
- Bruising
- Fatigue
Rare side effects:
- Fainting
- Hematoma
- Infection requiring antibiotics
Extremely rare side effects:
- Allergic reaction to the injected medication
- Nerve injury
- Collapsed lung (pneumothorax)
- Injury of abdominal organs
Do you prescribe oral medications?
Our special focus is in giving injections. We do not do medication management for oral medications.
If a medication for our injections requires a prescription, we will provide the prescription.
Location
104 – 3965 Kingsway
Burnaby, BC V5H 1Y8
Contact
Need additional assistance? Please contact us:
Phone: (604) 630-2411
Fax: (604) 461-3999
Hours
Mondays: 9am to 5pm
Tuesdays: 9am to 4:30pm
Wednesdays: 9:30am to 4:30pm
Thursdays: 10am to 5:30pm
Fridays: 9am to 4:30pm
Saturdays: 9am to 4:30pm