Neural Prolotherapy in Vancouver
An effective treatment of acute and chronic musculoskeletal injuries and pain
Neural Prolotherapy treats pain by decreasing inflammation of the subcutaneous nerves – the small nerves that lie just underneath the skin.
OverviewA superficial injection of glucose solution along subcutaneous nerves. | BenefitsNeural prolotherapy may assist repair of the perineurium or outer covering of the nerve, decreasing inflammation of the nerve and the structures deep beneath it. |
About
About Neural Prolotherapy in Vancouver
Via neurogenic inflammation, disruption of superficial nerves can affect deeper structures.
Pain we attribute to deeper structures, such as joints and muscles, may be connected to complex branches of nerves just underneath the skin known as subcutaneous nerves.
Treating the subcutaneous nerves influences the health of the deeper connective tissues.
Small, superficial injections into subcutaneous nerves may promote healing of the nerve, positively influencing the neurogenic inflammatory process.
Our Approach
An Integrative Approach to Neural Prolotherapy
At Integrative, neural prolotherapy treatment protocols vary with each patient based on their individual needs, immune status, and severity of injury. The average person requires 4-6 treatment sessions, although many patients report experiencing relief after only one session.
Typically, this improvement will last a few hours or days, indicating that the treatment is beneficial but more treatment sessions are required. Time between treatments will vary depending on response to treatment. More serious or chronic injuries generally require longer courses of treatment.
Optimal nutrition, supplementation, stress management, adequate sleep, and physical manipulation are all factors that influence healing. Your doctor will help guide you through this process to optimize your response to neural prolotherapy.
Your doctor may include testing methods, to evaluate whether you are a good candidate for prolotherapy. These methods may include:
Applications
Applications of Neural Prolotherapy
Clinically, neural prolotherapy has a high success rate for many types of musculoskeletal pain. Often, neural prolotherapy is combined with other injection therapies, such as neural therapy, prolotherapy, or PRP, as needed.
You may benefit from neural prolotherapy if you are experiencing:
- Acute Strain or Sprain
- Whiplash Injury
- Chronic Knee, Joint, Wrist, Ankle, or Shoulder Pain
- Chronic Low Back Pain
- Chronic Migraines
- Chronic Hamstring Strain
- Chronic Achilles Pain
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Osteoarthritis
- Fibromyalgia
How it Works
How does Neural Prolotherapy work?
Overview of Neural Prolotherapy
The working hypothesis of Neural Prolotherapy is that superficial injections of glucose solution assists in the repair of the perineurium of the nerve, decreasing neurogenic inflammation of the structures beneath it.
Targeted Area of the Body
Neural Prolotherapy injections are administered using a short needle as the injection is targeted at subcutaneous nerves - nerves just below the skin. Injections are administered to the area of the body where you are experiencing pain.
Health Benefits of Neural Prolotherapy
Neural prolotherapy injections have been shown to decrease pain in various musculoskeletal structures, thereby increasing range of motion.
Resource Centre
Explore Research Articles
First Visit
What does your first visit look like?
Your first visit is the opportunity for you to share your health goals, and for your Doctor to gather vital health information that will help them to determine the root cause of your health concerns, and the best treatment plan for you.
One
Complete Medical and Lifestyle History
Your doctor will take a complete history, gathering details regarding your current and past health concerns, lifestyle, as well as current supplements and medications.
Two
Testing
If needed, your Doctor will recommend tests, either at Integrative or with your medical doctor. They may also requisition results from tests you’ve completed in the past.
Three
Physical Exam
Within your first visit, your Doctor will also perform a physical exam, assessing the site of your pain as well as connected structures. This may include a gait assessment, Applied Kinesiology, and orthopedic tests.
Practitioners
Your Participating Practitioners
The Naturopathic Physicians at Integrative are primary care providers with expertise in a wide variety of functional medicine techniques, including Pharmacology, herbal medicine, nutritional science, and acupuncture. This knowledge allows them to apply a truly Integrative approach to each of their unique patients.
Frequently Asked Questions
View all FAQs 
-
What does neural prolotherapy treat?
Neural prolotherapy treats inflammed peripheral nerves. By treating the peripheral nerves, pain beneath the areas of these nerves may lessen. Neural prolotherapy is typically utilized when a nerve has been sheared or stretched, during an injury, or when pain follows specific nerve pain patterns, such as migraines, tension headaches, whiplash injuries, low back pain, sciatica, knee pain, groin strain, IT band pain, and shoulder pain.
-
Am I candidate for neural prolotherapy?
Only a practitioner trained and certified in neural prolotherapy can determine whether or not you are a good candidate. At your first visit, your Doctor will determine if you are a good candidate and will recommend a treatment plan.
-
How much does neural prolotherapy cost?
The cost of neural prolotherapy will vary depending on how many injections are required; the number of total treatments required; and the utilization of any other injection methods. At your first visit, your Doctor will provide a quote for your treatment.
-
How many treatments of neural prolotherapy are typically required?
The response to treatment varies, depending on the overall health of the patient, severity of injury, and chronicity of injury. Typically, patients require 4-6 treatments overall. However, many notice significant improvement following the initial treatment. Once you begin treatment, your Doctor will be able to monitor how you respond and provide a better estimate of how many treatments may be required.
-
What are the possible side effects of neural prolotherapy treatment?
Typical side effects of neural prolotherapy treatment include pain; mild swelling of the area; and mild bruising. These side effects are typically transient. Your Doctor will do a full review of potential side effects prior to your treatment.
-
Is neural prolotherapy covered by MSP or Extended Health Plans?
Your visit will be with a Naturopathic Doctor; depending on your coverage, MSP or an extended health plan may cover a portion of the cost of the visit but rarely covers the cost of the injection itself. We recommend contacting your insurance provider directly prior to your visit to determine your coverage.