PRECISION PAIN TREATMENT CLINIC

General

What does Precision Pain Treatment Clinic do?

Precision Pain Treatment Clinic provides physician-performed ultrasound-guided procedures for musculoskeletal conditions affecting joints, tendons, ligaments, bursae and selected peripheral nerves.

Treatment is focused on identifying the pain generator and selecting the most appropriate procedure to reduce pain, restore function and support rehabilitation.

Where are clinics located?

Procedures are performed at:

• Fernie's Pharmacy – Fernie, BC

• Gray's Pharmacy – Marysville (Kimberley), BC

Patients from throughout the East Kootenays are welcome.

Do I need a referral?

Referrals from physicians and other healthcare professionals are appreciated because they provide useful background information.

However, referrals are not required, and patients may request appointments directly.

How do I book?

Appointments may be requested online using the Book Now button or by calling our Clinic Coordinator, Neo, at 778-743-5655.

Ultrasound-guided procedures

Why use ultrasound guidance?

Ultrasound allows the target joint, tendon, ligament, bursa or nerve to be seen in real time. This improves accuracy and helps avoid nearby blood vessels, nerves and other important structures.

What conditions do you treat?

Common conditions include:

• Arthritis
• Bursitis
• Tendinopathy
• Ligament injuries
• Rotator cuff disorders
• Frozen shoulder
• Greater trochanteric pain syndrome
• Tennis elbow
• Golfer's elbow
• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Trigger finger
• De Quervain's tenosynovitis
• Intersection syndrome
• Sacroiliac (SI) joint pain
• Thumb arthritis
• Small joint arthritis
• TMJ disorders
• Plantar fascia disorders

No spinal injection procedures are performed.

Cortisone

Why don't you use cortisone for everything?

Corticosteroid injections are valuable when inflammation is preventing recovery or participation in rehabilitation.

They are not intended to be a permanent solution and are used selectively. Repeated corticosteroid injections may not be appropriate for every joint or tendon, and treatment decisions are individualized.

Can cortisone cure arthritis?

No.

Cortisone reduces inflammation and often improves pain, but it does not regrow cartilage or reverse arthritis.

Why do you recommend physiotherapy after cortisone?

Reducing pain creates an opportunity to move better and rebuild strength.

For many conditions, the injection simply creates a window during which rehabilitation is more successful. Long-term improvement usually depends on restoring strength, flexibility and normal movement.

Hyaluronic Acid (HA)

What is hyaluronic acid?

Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a naturally occurring substance found in healthy joints.

In selected patients it may improve joint lubrication, reduce inflammation and improve joint function.

Does hyaluronic acid regrow cartilage?

No.

Current evidence does not show that HA rebuilds worn cartilage.

Instead, it aims to improve the environment inside the joint, reduce symptoms and allow better function.

How long does it take to work?

Unlike cortisone, HA often works gradually.

Many patients notice improvement over 2–8 weeks, with benefits sometimes lasting several months.

Which hyaluronic acid products do you use?

Treatment is individualized.

Products commonly used include:

• SportVis®
• Orthovisc®
• Monovisc®
• Cingal®

Each product has slightly different characteristics, and the most appropriate choice depends on the joint being treated, previous response and treatment goals.

(Manufacturer information links coming soon.)

Why might one HA product be chosen over another?

Different products vary in molecular weight, concentration, injection volume and treatment protocols.

No single product is best for every patient, so recommendations are individualized.

Prolotherapy

What is prolotherapy?

Prolotherapy involves injecting a solution that stimulates the body's natural healing response.

It is most commonly used for selected ligament, tendon and joint conditions where improving tissue function is the goal.

How is prolotherapy different from cortisone?

Cortisone aims to reduce inflammation.

Prolotherapy aims to stimulate healing and improve tissue quality over time.

These treatments have different purposes and are used in different clinical situations.

How many prolotherapy treatments are needed?

Many patients require a series of treatments several weeks apart.

Improvement is usually gradual rather than immediate.

PRP (Coming Soon)

Will you be offering PRP?

Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) is expected to be added in the future.

Information about indications, costs and treatment protocols will be added when available.

Rehabilitation

Are injections enough on their own?

Usually not.

Most musculoskeletal conditions respond best when injections are combined with an appropriate rehabilitation program.

Improving strength, mobility and movement patterns is often the key to lasting success.

Why do some people get only temporary relief?

Pain is often only one part of the problem.

If the underlying weakness, stiffness, biomechanics or activity pattern is not addressed, symptoms may gradually return.

The goal is not simply pain relief—it is helping patients return to activity with better function.

Our treatment philosophy

Every patient is different.

Treatment is individualized based on the suspected pain generator, ultrasound findings, previous treatments, rehabilitation goals and patient preferences.

Procedures are chosen to support rehabilitation and restoration of function rather than simply providing temporary pain relief.