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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

Our physicians have worked with professional athletes, amateur athletes, and professionals whose safety relies on strong physical performance.

We have treated kick boxers, soccer players, golfers, dancers, police officers, fire fighters, paramedics, and more.

Over-training can lead to chronic muscle tightness and imbalance. Trigger point injections are a powerful way to restore your muscle balance.

Chronic injuries for athletes can involve deeper structures such as ligaments, tendons, and joint capsules. If you are not a surgical candidate, our regenerative injections (prolotherapy or PRP) can address these issues and improve your performance.