Chronic Pain in Calgary: What Regenerative Injection Therapy Is (and Isn't)
If you've been living with pain for months or years, you've probably heard a lot of opinions about what you should try next. Maybe you've done physio, chiropractic care, massage, rest, or a cortisone shot, and you still find yourself back at square one.
That doesn't mean you've failed, and it doesn't mean nothing will help. It may mean the approach so far hasn't looked at the full picture.
With National Pain Awareness Week coming up (November 2 to 8), we want to clear up one of the treatment options we get asked about most: regenerative injection therapy. Here's what it is, what it isn't, and how to tell whether it might be a fit for you.
What regenerative injection therapy is
Regenerative injection therapy is a group of injection-based treatments that work with your body's own repair systems. The goal is to calm an irritated pain system, support healing in tissues that haven't recovered on their own, and help you get back to moving.
At BioRevive, we use several different therapies, because chronic pain is rarely just one problem:
Trigger point injections target tight, irritable muscle bands to help break the pain-spasm cycle and improve range of motion.
Neural therapy uses procaine to help calm abnormal nerve signalling, which can be helpful when pain seems out of proportion or keeps coming back.
Perineural injection therapy uses a dilute dextrose solution along nerve pathways to help settle sensitized nerves. Benefits tend to build over a series of treatments.
Prolotherapy uses a dextrose solution at ligament and tendon attachment points to stimulate your body's own healing response in connective tissue.
Prolozone and ozone therapy use medical-grade ozone to support repair in joints and tissues where healing has stalled.
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) uses concentrated platelets from your own blood. PRP is currently available at our Fernie, BC location only.
Often, we combine more than one in a single visit. For example, we might calm protective muscle guarding first, then treat the underlying ligament in the same appointment.
What it isn't
It isn't the same as a cortisone shot
Cortisone is a steroid that calms inflammation, and it has its place for short-term relief. Regenerative injection therapy works differently. Rather than turning down inflammation, it's designed to support your body's own healing and repair processes in the tissue that's causing the problem.
It isn't a quick fix
Some people notice changes right away, especially with treatments that calm muscles and nerves. But repairing ligaments and tendons takes time. Prolotherapy, for example, is usually done as a series of three to six sessions spaced three to four weeks apart. Your plan will depend on what's going on and how your body responds.
It isn't a replacement for rehab
Injection therapy is a tool that makes rehabilitation more effective, not a substitute for it. When guarding is reduced and tissue is better supported, movement and strength work tend to stick. That's why we often coordinate with physiotherapists, chiropractors, athletic therapists and our own osteopathic manual therapist on timing.
It isn't only for athletes
We see men and women of all activity levels: people with a sore back from years at a desk, knees that ache on the stairs, a shoulder that never quite recovered, or pain that keeps returning after every flare. You don't need to be training for a race to benefit from feeling better.
It isn't one-size-fits-all
Chronic pain usually has several layers at once: muscle tension, irritated nerves, unstable or under-healed tissue, and a nervous system that's been on high alert for a long time. We use a four-stage approach to work through them in the right order:
Calm the irritated system (muscles, trigger points, sensitized nerves).
Correct how your body is moving and loading, often with manual therapy or rehab.
Repair structural issues like lax ligaments or degenerated tendons.
Rebuild strength and resilience so your body can handle everyday life again.
Most people come in with a mix of stages, so we start where it makes the most sense for you.
Who it can help
Regenerative injection therapy may be a good option if you're dealing with:
Chronic back, neck or joint pain that hasn't fully resolved with other care
Joint instability, ligament laxity or recurrent sprains
Tendon pain, including tennis or golfer's elbow, rotator cuff issues or plantar fasciitis
Osteoarthritis or degenerative joint changes
Nerve pain or pain that feels out of proportion
Pain that keeps coming back even though you're doing everything right
Who might not be a good fit
Because these therapies work with your body's own healing response, your overall health matters. Healing may be slower if you have uncontrolled blood sugar, if inflammation from diet or lifestyle is high, or with certain autoimmune conditions. What you do between visits, like eating well and staying consistent with your rehab, makes a real difference too.
That's why every plan starts with a thorough assessment of your health history, not just the sore spot.
What a visit looks like
Assess. We look at range of motion, movement and what provokes your pain to find the main drivers.
Select. We choose the therapy or combination that fits where you are right now.
Treat. We often combine techniques in one appointment.
Re-test. Before you leave, we re-check the same measures to see how your body responded.
Coordinate. If you're working with another provider, we'll let you know the best timing for your next session with them.
A note from Dr. Breckon
Our founder, Dr. Tricia Breckon, ND, was once on the other side of the table, dealing with a year of recurring back pain after a sports injury. You can read her story in Why I Use Prolotherapy for Chronic Pain.
Regenerative injection therapy FAQ
Is regenerative injection therapy the same as cortisone? No. Cortisone is a steroid that calms inflammation. Regenerative injection therapies are designed to support your body's own repair processes.
How many treatments will I need? It depends on the therapy and what's causing your pain. Some changes can be felt quickly, while tissue repair takes longer. A typical prolotherapy course is three to six sessions, three to four weeks apart.
Can I keep doing physio or chiropractic care? Yes, and we encourage it. Injection therapy and rehab work best together, and we'll help you time your sessions.
Is PRP available in Calgary? Not at this time. PRP is currently offered at our Fernie, BC location. In Calgary, we offer prolotherapy, perineural injection therapy, neural therapy, trigger point injections, prolozone and ozone therapy.
Find out if regenerative injection therapy is right for you
If you're tired of pain running your life, the first step is a conversation. Learn more about our regenerative injection therapies, book a complimentary 10-minute strategy call, or book a full initial consultation at our SE Calgary clinic or in Fernie, BC.
This article is for general educational purposes and doesn't replace an individualized assessment or advice from a qualified healthcare professional. Results vary from person to person.