Injection Therapy for Pain
Regenerative. Anti-inflammatory. Precisely targeted Pain Management
Injection therapy uses targeted injections into joints, muscles, tendons, ligaments, and around nerves to reduce pain and restore function.
At Acacia Health, our naturopathic physician Dr. Jaime de Melo offers a range of injection options — so treatment is matched to your specific injury, not the other way around.
Overview
Targeted relief when other treatments haven’t worked
Injection therapy is often the next step when pain and function haven’t improved with other treatments.
By delivering relief directly to the source — a joint, muscle, tendon, ligament or nerve — it can help settle stubborn pain and get you moving again, on its own or alongside therapies like physiotherapy and massage.
Our Approach
We consider each client’s individual concerns and experiences and work to tailor treatments to your particular needs and therapeutic goals.
Ultrasound Guided Injections
Precision and safety matters.
While many injections can be precise and safe without the use of ultrasound there are times when ultrasound guidance is important. In these situations Dr. Jaime uses ultrasound to see the target tissue in real time and place each injection exactly where it needs to go. Whether using ultrasound or not, safety and efficacy are of utmost importance.
Our Injection Options
No two injuries are the same, so no single injection is right for everyone. Dr. Jaime works with a range of injection options to match the approach to your specific problem.
Prolotherapy
Prolotherapy injects concentrated dextrose (a sugar solution) along with procaine or lidocaine into a weakened or damaged ligament, tendon, or joint. This prompts a localized healing response and, over a series of treatments, can help the tissue become stronger and less painful. It’s sometimes called proliferative or regenerative therapy. Best suited to osteoarthritis, chronic tendon injuries, ligament laxity and areas with scar tissue. Dr. Jaime will tell you honestly whether it’s a good fit for your case.
Perineural Injections
Perineural therapy uses diluted dextrose injections around irritated or over-sensitized nerves to calm nerve-driven pain. It can help with sciatica, nerve entrapments, muscle pain and knots, carpal tunnel, and some persistent nerve-related headaches. It’s an established approach with a growing evidence base, often considered when nerve pain hasn’t responded to other treatments.
Corticosteroid Injections (low and high dose)
Corticosteroid injections deliver a targeted anti-inflammatory to reduce pain and swelling — often to settle a flare or create a window where you can move and rehab more comfortably. They work well for short-term relief but aren’t the right first choice for every problem, and repeated use has trade-offs, so Dr. Jaime uses them judiciously and will explain when they do and don’t make sense.
Hyaluronic Acid (viscosupplementation)
Hyaluronic acid is a gel-like substance injected into a joint — most often the knee — to supplement its natural lubrication and cushioning in osteoarthritis. Dr. Jaime will talk you through the pros and cons and discuss with you whether you’re a good candidate for this treatment or other therapies at your appointment to help give you realistic expectations.
Learn More
Osteoarthritis — Worn, painful joints are one of the most common reasons people come in for injection therapy. Depending on the joint, options like prolotherapy or hyaluronic acid aim to reduce pain and improves joint health. The use of prolotherapy to treat osteoarthritis is well supported by research.
Chronic tendon injuries — Stubborn problems like tennis elbow and Achilles tendon pain sometimes don’t fully settle with rest and rehab alone. Prolotherapy can prompt a repair response in the tendon, it’s an evidence supported step for those with chronic tendon pain.
Sciatica and nerve-related pain — When pain is coming from an irritated or compressed nerve, perineural injection therapy targets the nerve directly to give it space and calm it down — an option for sciatica, nerve entrapments, and some persistent nerve pain that hasn’t responded to other care.
Injection therapy can also help with:
- Ligament laxity and joint instability
- Chronic or recurring back pain
- Frozen shoulder
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Plantar fasciitis
- Muscle pain, tension and knots
- Recurring pain from old injuries
For select cases, Dr. Jaime also offers caudal epidural injections — a more specialized option for certain low-back and nerve-related pain. It isn’t usually a first step, and he’ll only discuss it if it’s the right tool for your situation.
Benefits vary from person to person and depend on your goals — for some it’s returning to a sport or activity, getting back to work, or moving through the day without pain.
- Reduced pain
- Improved function and mobility
- Few side effects, with little to no recovery time
- Can be combined with other treatments like physiotherapy, massage or chiropractic
You don’t need to be an existing patient of our naturopathic doctors to book. And you can book online for your first appointment. Getting started is straightforward:
30 minute assessment appointment.
Dr. Jaime takes a full health history and does a thorough physical assessment. In most cases no injections are given at this visit — this is where your plan is built. Imaging or blood work may be discussed as well. Book this appointment if you have not been referred by another practitioner or just want and assessment, diagnosis and discussion about treatment options.
60 minute initial appointment.
Dr. Jaime takes a full health history and does a thorough physical assessment. If appropriate an injection can be done in this visit. Book this visit if you have been referred by another health care practitioner for injection therapy, have a need to get started as quickly as possible or have already had a discussion with Dr. Jaime.
Not sure about what to book or if injection therapy is a helpful next step for you?
Book a Free 15 minute meet-and-greet. A no-cost call with Dr. Jaime to see whether you’re a good candidate and answer your questions. Book online anytime.
Follow up injection appointments.
30 to 45 minute treatment appointments.
Depending on your condition and the type of injection therapy most appropriate for your case, follow up appointments may be necessary. Typically these are spaced 3-6 weeks apart. In general 2 to 4 injections are needed. Dr. Jaime is always available to discuss and adjust the treatment course if needed. The goal is the best results with the fewest injections.
A note on billing: Direct billing is available for the appointment (your time with Dr. Jaime), but not for the injection itself — as a naturopathic clinic, we can’t direct-bill treatments involving needles. The injections carry a separate cost, which we’ll make clear up front so there are no surprises.
Our Practitioners
We take an empathetic approach to your care and always provide the most up-to-date information and resources. We want to help you on your journey to recovery.
Not sure where to start? Call 250-475-1522, ext 2. and our patient care coordinators will help.
FAQ
Still have more questions? Check out the tabs below. If your questions are still unanswered, please reach out, we love to help get to the root of things.
Yes. When needed for safety or precision Dr. Jaime places injections under real-time ultrasound rather than by feel alone, which helps get the injection to its intended target — something not offered at every clinic.
It does. It is important to keep in mind thought that there is no single treatment that works for every condition. People can experience pain, weakness and instability for many reasons. Different injection therapies are better suited to different conditions. In general though, for injections like prolotherapy and perineural injection therapy the evidence is strongest for treating osteoarthritis, tendinopathy, ligament laxity, scar tissue, muscle injury and nerve entrapment.
Dr. Jaime will give you a straight assessment of which therapy is best suited and whether it’s likely to help in your case rather than overpromising.
It varies with the injury and injection type. Some people notice benefit within one or two treatments; others need a short series, usually spaced three to six weeks apart. Dr. Jaime will outline a realistic plan after your assessment.
Most people tolerate it well. You may feel brief discomfort during the injection and some short-lived soreness afterward, similar to how a joint feels after a workout.
We can direct-bill the appointment through many extended health plans, but not the injection itself. The injections are a separate cost, explained up front. Coverage for naturopathic visits varies by plan.
No referral needed, and you don’t need to be an existing patient. Start with the free 15-minute meet-and-greet.