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FAQs about our pain management clinic near Vancouver

Get answers to all your frequently asked questions about our pain clinic near Vancouver, BC.

 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.

Do you treat athletes?

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.

What if I have chronic injuries that no other treatments has worked?

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.

Pain can be overwhelming, but we can help

If you are living with chronic muscle pain, you should know that help is available. At White Oak Pain Clinic in Burnaby, BC, we offer innovative treatments in the field of pain medicine, staying up to date with all the newest treatment options. Find answers to questions about the services we offer, MSP coverage, and more below, or contact our office today to schedule a consultation.

  • The following services are fully covered under MSP:

    • Consultations

    • Trigger point injections

    • Nerve blocks and hydrodissection
       

    The following services are not covered under MSP:

    • Prolotherapy

    • PRP
       

    We will always try to solve your pain with MSP covered injections if that's what is best for you.

  • 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, many patients do have injections during the first consultation.

    If you need more time to consider your treatment options, you are welcome to think about it and 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.

    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.

  • If previous treatments have not provided you with long-term pain reduction, it means the the true pain generator has not been treated. For example, if you have a chronic tear in a muscle, massage can temporarily reduce the pain, but the pain will keep coming back. Doing injections to help the body heal the tear would address the root cause and give you long-term pain reduction.

    Our doctors have the expertise to help figure out the true cause of the pain and treat it with the most appropriate method. We have helped many patients achieve pain reduction even though they have been in pain for decades.

Our Recommendations for Trusted Allied Health Professionals

A skilled physiotherapist or kinesiologist can make a big difference in your recovery. See below for recommended health professionals that are trusted by our doctors. These professionals have a proven track record of providing excellent care.

White Oak Pain Clinic does not benefit financially from making these endorsements. We just want to connect our patients with the right care to help you get better!

Tennis Match

Embodied Dynamics – Kinesiology

At Embodied Dynamics, your rehabilitation leads to long-term health and well-being. Our goal is to help you accelerate your recovery, enjoy the process of recovery, and transform that experience into a strategy for staying in your best shape while continuously improving your performance. Here are the steps we take to achieve this goal.

Embodied Dynamics
  1. Provide a thorough assessment of posture, movement, and neuro-musculoskeletal system

  2. Design customized movement training that facilitates optimal conditions for your recovery

  3. Share knowledge and resources that help you enhance your understanding of your body system

  4. Establish strategies to adapt your training according to your unique environment

  5. Connect you with the right practitioners when necessary, so that you can manage your integrative health and well-being

For more information, please visit www.embodieDDynamics.net or contact 778-873-3135 / info@embodieDDynamics.net

To book appointments, visit https://embodieDDynamics.janeapp.com

Location: near Lougheed Mall

Anderson Performance Clinic – Physiotherapy and allied services

We are passionate about helping people be the best version of themselves.

Anderson Performance Clinic delivers knowledge and services developed from many years of experience working with elite performers to anyone interested in learning and applying it.

Anderson Performance Clinic

For more information, please visit www.performanceclinic.ca

Location: Downtown Vancouver and Granville Island

Yoga at Home

Our clients gain greater insight into how physical and mental strategies are best integrated for maximum healing, wellness, and performance. We help our clients fulfill their potential and purpose. Whatever your goals may be — we look forward to helping you achieve.

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