Brantford Joint Injections Clinic
At Charing Cross Medical Joint Injections Clinic we perform treatment of painful joints due to arthritis, tendonitis and bursitis with cortisone, viscosupplementation injections and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy.
We work with family physicians & nurse practitioners, physiotherapy and imaging specialists to help our patients to achieve their best state of health and sense of well-being.
Patients can be referred by their family doctor or nurse practitioner without penalty to GP billings. Sample referral can be found here
Learn about injection options below:
Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) therapy
Overview:
Patients with chronic pain from tendon, ligament, muscle injuries or osteoarthritis can finally get relief from a safe and effective procedure that uses body’s own healing power. It’s called Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) therapy.
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections, PRP, plasma, osteoarthritis
This advanced and safe therapy uses the body’s own healing power when the patient’s own plasma containing a high concentration of platelets (part of blood cells) are injected into areas of chronic pain or arthritis to speed up healing and rebuild a damaged tendon, muscle, cartilage or joint.
PRP therapy is done in an exam room and takes less than half an hour. Small amount of the patient’s blood is drawn and placed in a centrifuge to separate out the platelets. The
platelet-rich plasma is then injected by the physician into the damaged portion of the tendon, cartilage or joint, sometimes with the guidance of an ultrasound machine for increased safety and accuracy.
This method promoted worldwide by many athletes, Olympic champions and celebrities. It has been successful in not only relieving the pain but also in jump-starting the healing process of chronic injuries, painful joints and delaying joint replacement for years. To achieve complete recovery most patients need 2 or 3 injections with a 1-month intervals.
Conditions treated:
PRP treatment works most effectively for chronic ligament, tendon or joint pain that failed other conservative treatment:
- Knee, hip, and other joint arthritis
- Shoulder rotator cuff injuries and chronic pain
- Tennis and golfer’s elbow
- Hamstring and hip strains
- Knee and hip bursitis
- Patellofemoral syndrome and patellar tendonitis
- Ankle chronic sprains
- Achilles tendonitis & plantar fasciitis
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
Side effects and precautions:
Side effects are uncommon but can involve infection, bleeding, increase in inflammation, and pain after the injection. PRP injections are not recommended in individuals with bleeding disorders or easy bruising, those taking anti-coagulation medications (e.g. warfarin or coumadin) or oral steroids (prednisone), or those who have cancer, low blood count (anemia), active infections, or are pregnant.
Do not take anti-inflammatory medication (i.e., Advil, Aleve, Motrin, Ibuprofen, or Naproxen) for 7 days prior to the injection and 6 weeks after the last injection. Pain medication will be prescribed the day of the procedure to be taken as needed. A regular aspirin (81mg/day) is OK. Tylenol or Acetaminophen is allowed.
Cost:
Consultation with MD and assessment of patient suitability for PRP therapy is covered by OHIP.
PRP injections are not covered and typically paid out-of-pocket. Cost of therapy starts at 350$ and depends on a number of injections you will need. There is additional fee for PRP injections under ultrasound guidance.
We recommend a complimentary consultation where the physician can perform a detailed assessment of your concern and provide you with a treatment plan.
Viscosupplements injections
Overview:
In this procedure, a gel-like fluid called hyaluronic acid is injected into the knee or hip joint. Hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring substance found in the synovial fluid surrounding joints. It acts as a lubricant to enable bones to move smoothly over each other and as a shock absorber for joint loads. Adding additional hyaluronic acid to the arthritic joint greatly improves movement and reduces pain and inflammation.
When viscosupplements injections work, their effect typically lasts 6 to 12 months, and longer in some patients. We use many brands like Synvisc-One®, Monovisc®, Cingal®, Durolane® or NeoVisc ONE to provide long-lasting pain and inflammation relief to knees and hips affected by arthritis. Click on each brand above to learn more about each viscosupplementation product.
Conditions treated:
Shoulder, knee, and hip arthritis, as well as some smaller joints such as thumb or 1st toe – from mild to severe.
Side effects and precautions:
Side effects are generally rare; patients may have local reaction, such as pain, warmth, and slight swelling immediately after the shot. These symptoms do not last long and get better with ice pack application or over-the-counter Tylenol. Rarely, patients may develop a local allergy-like reaction in the knee. In these cases, the knee may become full of fluid, red, warm, and painful. If this occurs, patients need to contact doctor immediately.
For the first 48 hours after the shot, you should avoid excessive weight bearing on the leg, such as standing for long periods, jogging or heavy lifting.
Cost:
Cost of viscosupplement injections (Synvisc, Neovisc) is covered by most of private insurance or health benefits plans, or can be paid by patient directly as out-of-pocket medical expense. Private insurance typically cover viscosupplements as “injections” or “devices”, not as “medications”. Your physician can provide you with pseudo DIN numbers for these injections to check with your insurance company. Our office purchases viscosupplements directly from the manufacturer and provides it to patients before procedure along with receipt and prescription, which can be later submitted to insurance company for reimbursement.
Cortisone injections
Overview:
Cortisone injections are powerful anti-inflammatory medications that relieve pain and inflammation in a specific area of your body. They’re most commonly injected into joints — such as ankle, elbow, hip, knee, shoulder and wrist. Even the small joints in hands and feet might benefit from cortisone shots. Cortisone injection’s effect typically lasts 3-4 months or less
Conditions treated:
Cortisone shots are effective in treating osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis. They are also used for treatment of other conditions, including:
- Knee, shoulder or hip arthritis
- Bursitis
- Plantar fasciitis
- Tendinitis (tennis elbow, Achilles tendon, etc.)
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Shoulder rotator cuff tears, frozen shoulder
Side effects and precautions:
Cortisone injections are generally safe and involve little or no pain (depending on site of injection). They are often done under real-time ultrasound guidance to improve safety and accuracy of injection.
Side effects are rare, but can include thinning of the skin at the injection site; infection, bleeding, aggravation of inflammation in the injected area (post injection flare). Cortisone injections can raise blood sugar in patients with poorly controlled diabetes. Rarely cortisone injection can cause injury or damage of tendons
Cost:
Patient assessment (history and exam) by physician and cortisone injection are typically covered by OHIP. Physician referral from a family doctor is preferred.