Prolotherapy is an injection treatment used to relieve pain by injecting a small amount of a “sugar” solution into a specific area. This acts as an irritant and jumpstarts your body’s natural healing abilities in that specific area, potentially healing damaged tissues. This can be used to help people with musculoskeletal conditions.
Prolotherapy injections are guided by a live x-ray (fluoroscopy) and x-ray contrast (dye) or Ultrasound to confirm the correct location.
Once you arrive at the clinic you will be asked to complete a few forms about the appointment. To allow adequate time for this, please arrive 15 minutes before your scheduled appointment time. You may be instructed to change into a gown for your procedure.
You will be taken back to a private exam room for your procedure. One of our technologists and a Radiologist will review your previous diagnostic imaging, discuss the reason for your referral to Beam Radiology, and explain the details of the recommended pain management treatment.
Communication is very important to Beam, and you will be allowed to ask any questions you may have before beginning. You will be asked to lay down on the exam table on your back or your front with the joint/area being injected exposed. The targeted area will be cleaned and sterilized. To ensure effectiveness and accuracy, ultrasound or fluoroscopy will be used in real-time to guide the injection. Fluoroscopy is a type of X-ray imaging. The Radiologist will inject a local anaesthetic to numb the area, followed by Prolotherapy.
Following your injection, you will be directed to our recovery area for a brief observation period. One of our Nurses will review the post-procedure care with you, and then you will be free to leave the clinic.
This procedure is designed to create a controlled inflammatory response with the goal of providing symptom relief. Prolotherapy provides a gradually onset of relief that may take up to 4 weeks to notice as well as multiple treatments. With sufficient pain relief, a physiotherapy regime is then recommended to strengthen muscles and prevent future flare-ups.
This procedure is performed using a sterile technique, very rare complications include allergic reaction, infection, and bleeding.
Keep the area clean and dry. Avoid hot tubs, pools, or baths for 48 hours. You can shower normally.
You can perform your normal daily activities but avoid strenuous activities for the next 3-4 days following the treatment.
If you have any questions or would like to learn more, please
contact us. We look forward to supporting your journey to better health.
Dr. Clerk is a radiologist and fellowship-trained interventional radiologist with a wide array of experience in both interventional pain management and diagnostic imaging. In addition to providing expert patient care, Dr. Clerk places utmost importance on building a compassionate practice that recognizes patients as people, not numbers.
When you choose Beam, you can be confident that Dr. Clerk will stay with you throughout your care journey and help you make smart decisions about your pain and imaging needs.
Université de Sherbrooke
Medical School
Université de Sherbrooke
Residency | Diagnostic Radiology
Harvard Medical School
Fellowship | Neuroradiology
The Spine Fracture Institute
Fellowship | Interventional Pain Management