Regenerative Treatments

The Alberta Pain Clinic proudly specializes in regenerative injection therapies. These treatments harness the natural healing ability of your body to provide lasting pain relief. After your initial consultation visit, we may recommend one or more of these therapies as part of your rehabilitation plan. The differences between each of these therapies is explained in further detail on our Treatment Comparison page.

Prolotherapy

Many injuries will damage the ligaments and tendons that support our joints. Inadequate repair of these tissues after such injury will result in chronic or recurrent pain even with proper rehabilitative therapy. Prolotherapy (also known as proliferation therapy) is a specialized technique that uses dextrose injected into affected ligaments and tendons to trigger a new healing cascade. As this cascade progresses, new collagen forms to stabilize and repair these affected tissues, leading to lasting pain relief.

Injectate: Dextrose

Treatment frequency: Every 1-3 months as needed

Indications (partial list only): Tendinosis/tendinitis, partial tendon tears, whiplash (and other injuries from ligament trauma), osteoarthritis, etc.

Cost: Private pay (eligible for Health Spending Account coverage)

Platelet-rich plasma

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is an alternative form of prolotherapy that uses concentrated platelets and growth factors isolated from your own blood. This product is then injected into affected tendons and ligaments to trigger a new healing cascade and tissue repair. PRP can often result in more rapid pain relief and return to function compared to dextrose prolotherapy.

PRP sample preparation is a complex process with many variabilities that can affect outcomes. We have therefore partnered with MDBiologix to exclusively use their Cervos KeyPRP system, which is an industry leader in providing high-quality PRP using a standardized protocol.

Injectate: Autologous platelet-rich plasma

Treatment frequency: Every 1-3 months as needed

Indications (partial list only): Tendinosis/tendinitis, partial tendon tears, whiplash (and other injuries from ligament trauma), osteoarthritis, etc.

Cost: Private pay (eligible for Health Spending Account coverage)

Arthrosamid®

Osteoarthritis is associated with the loss of joint space and increased mechanical pressure. These changes cause persistent and progressive inflammation and pain. Arthrosamid® is a cutting edge novel injection for the management of osteoarthritis that works by incorporating into the joint membrane (synovium) to restore its elasticity and thus reduce inflammation and pain.

Injectate: Polyacrylamide hydrogel (2.5% iPAAG)

Treatment frequency: Once only ***

Indications: Osteoarthritis

Cost: Private pay (some private insurance companies may provide reimbursement) - SPECIAL ORDER ONLY