Our Services

The Alberta Pain Clinic offers a range of injection treatments that broadly fall into the categories of therapeutic or regenerative. The decision for which treatment is most appropriate will be determined based on clinical assessment, diagnostic imaging, and patient preference.

Our Services

The Alberta Pain Clinic offers a range of injection treatments that broadly fall into the categories of therapeutic or regenerative. The decision for which treatment is most appropriate will be determined based on clinical assessment, diagnostic imaging, and patient preference.

Therapeutic treatments

Trigger point injection

A myofascial trigger point (more commonly known as 'knots') consists of abnormally contracted skeletal muscle and associated fascia. Trigger point injection therapy aims to release this contraction through targeted insertion of hypodermic needles and injection of lidocaine (local anesthetic).

Injectate: Lidocaine

Treatment frequency: Weekly for 3 weeks, then reassess

Cost: Covered by AHCIP

Perineural injection

The impingement of peripheral sensory nerves, often also at trigger point sites, results in pain and inflammation partly due to oxygen and glucose deprivation. Perineural injection therapy aims to reduce such pain by injection of isotonic dextrose in the affected nerves.

Injectate: Lidocaine + dextrose

Treatment frequency: Weekly for 3 weeks, then reassess

Cost: Covered by AHCIP

Steroid injection

Inflammation of a joint or surrounding bursa contributes to pain in osteoarthritis and bursitis, respectively. Corticosteroid injections aim to reduce such pain by decreasing inflammation. Steroid injections also provide benefit for stenosing tenosynovitis (trigger finger) and carpel tunnel syndrome, among other conditions.

Injectate: Corticosteroid

Treatment frequency: Every 3 months as needed

Cost: Injection covered by AHCIP

Botox® for migraines

Botox® is an effective treatment to reduce the total number of headache days for patients suffering from chronic migraines. Botox® injections for chronic migraine follows the PREEMPT protocol, which specifically targets head and neck muscle areas associated with chronic migraine pain.

Injectate: Botox® (onabotulinumtoxin A)

Treatment frequency: Every 3 months as needed

Cost: Botox® eligible for insurance coverage. Injection covered by AHCIP

Therapeutic treatments

Trigger point injection

A myofascial trigger point (more commonly known as 'knots') consists of abnormally contracted skeletal muscle and associated fascia. Trigger point injection therapy aims to release this contraction through targeted insertion of hypodermic needles and injection of lidocaine (local anesthetic).

Injectate: Lidocaine

Treatment frequency: Weekly for 3 weeks, then reassess

Cost: Covered by AHCIP

Perineural injection

The impingement of peripheral sensory nerves, often also at trigger point sites, results in pain and inflammation partly due to oxygen and glucose deprivation. Perineural injection therapy aims to reduce such pain by injection of isotonic dextrose in the affected nerves.

Injectate: Lidocaine + dextrose

Treatment frequency: Weekly for 3 weeks, then reassess

Cost: Covered by AHCIP

Steroid injection

Inflammation of a joint or surrounding bursa contributes to pain in osteoarthritis and bursitis, respectively. Corticosteroid injections aim to reduce such pain by decreasing inflammation. Steroid injections also provide benefit for stenosing tenosynovitis (trigger finger) and carpel tunnel syndrome, among other conditions.

Injectate: Corticosteroid

Treatment frequency: Every 3 months as needed

Cost: Injection covered by AHCIP

Botox® for migraines

Botox® is an effective treatment to reduce the total number of headache days for patients suffering from chronic migraines. Botox® injections for chronic migraine follows the PREEMPT protocol, which specifically targets head and neck muscle areas associated with chronic migraine pain.

Injectate: Botox® (onabotulinumtoxin A)

Treatment frequency: Every 3 months as needed

Cost: Botox® eligible for insurance coverage. Injection covered by AHCIP

Regenerative treatments

Viscosupplementation

Osteoarthritis is associated with the loss of synovial fluid (lubricant) in affected joints. The injection of hyaluronic acid (viscosupplementation) can replenish this lost volume and restore the viscoelastic properties of remaining synovial fluid.

Injectate: Hyaluronic acid

Treatment frequency: Every 3-6 months as needed

Cost: Private pay (some private insurance companies may provide reimbursement)

Prolotherapy

Inadequate repair of connective tissue after trauma results in pain secondary to ligament and tendon laxity. Prolotherapy (also known as proliferation therapy) stimulates inflammation and subsequent tissue repair.

Injectate: Dextrose

Treatment frequency: Every 1-3 months as needed

Cost: Private pay (some private insurance companies may provide reimbursement)

Platelet-rich plasma

An alternative form of prolotherapy that utilizes platelet-rich plasma (PRP) from autologous blood can also treat pain secondary to ligament and tendon laxity. This approach results in a more rapid inflammatory response in comparison to dextrose prolotherapy.

Injectate: Autologous platelet-rich plasma

Treatment frequency: Every 1-3 months as needed

Cost: Private pay (some private insurance companies may provide reimbursement)