Effective Prolotherapy in North Vancouver
At North Shore Sports Medicine, we’re helping people in North Vancouver reclaim their active lifestyles through prolotherapy, a game-changing injection therapy. Our clinic is dedicated to helping patients achieve their health and mobility goals with prolotherapy.
How Can Prolotherapy Help You?
Prolotherapy is a safe, non-surgical injection therapy that repairs damaged ligaments and tendons, tackling the root cause of chronic pain. By injecting a solution of sugar combined with an anesthetic, such as procaine, directly into the damaged tissue, prolotherapy numbs the area to minimize discomfort and creates a controlled irritation that kickstarts healing. Your body responds by sending platelets and white blood cells to the site, releasing growth factors that spur stem cell growth.
These new stem cells rebuild and strengthen tissue, offering lasting relief for conditions like back pain or tendonitis. At North Shore Sports Medicine, we’ve seen patients go from wincing at every step to hiking the North Shore trails again.
What Are Some Benefits of Prolotherapy?
Why choose prolotherapy over other treatments? For starters, it’s minimally invasive, meaning no scalpels or long recovery times. Patients often notice improved joint stability and reduced pain after just a few sessions.
Prolotherapy works by stimulating the proliferation of new cells, helping to heal and regenerate damaged ligaments, tendons, and other soft tissues for lasting recovery.
At North Shore Sports Medicine, we combine prolotherapy with therapies like massage and physiotherapy for faster, longer-lasting results. Ready to move without pain holding you back?
Prolotherapy for Joint Stability
Weak ligaments can make joints feel like wobbly table legs. Prolotherapy strengthens these tissues, giving your joints the support they need to function smoothly. This means less popping, clicking, or aching during daily activities.
Prolotherapy for Chronic Pain Relief
Chronic pain can feel like an unwelcome guest that never leaves. Prolotherapy addresses the root cause—damaged connective tissue, including soft tissue such as ligaments, tendons, and muscles—so you can say goodbye to lingering discomfort and hello to a more active life.
Prolotherapy Works Well For
Shoulders: Rotator cuff tears, labrum tears, osteoarthritis
Knees: Meniscal tears, ACL/MCL/LCL injuries, osteoarthritis
Elbows: Tennis or golfer’s elbow, sprains
Hips: Labral tears, ligament laxity, osteoarthritis
Low Back: Sacroiliac pain, lumbar degeneration
Fingers: Joint sprains, tendon injuries, osteoarthritis
Feet: Plantar fasciitis, ligament sprains, tendon injuries
What Conditions Does Prolotherapy NOT Work For?
Prolotherapy isn’t a magic wand for every ache. Conditions like fibromyalgia or pain from autoimmune diseases don’t typically respond well, as they involve complex systemic issues.
Severe herniated discs or complete rotator cuff tears often need surgical intervention instead.
Spinal stenosis and cancer-related pain also fall outside prolotherapy’s wheelhouse.
Offering The Right Treatments For You
At North Shore Sports Medicine, we don’t believe in one-size-fits-all. Alongside prolotherapy, we offer a range of injection therapies tailored to your needs. We address your health concerns through comprehensive assessment, ensuring that your unique symptoms and issues are fully understood and targeted with a personalized plan.
Whether it’s easing muscle knots or stabilizing joints, our treatments are designed to get you back to doing what you love. As part of our approach, we evaluate your nutritional status to optimize your recovery and treatment outcomes.
Each option is carefully chosen to complement your healing journey, with a focus on supporting your overall health.
Trigger Point Injections
Trigger point injections target trouble spots by injecting lidocaine to numb the area, releasing tension and easing pain fast. These injections help muscles relax, reduce muscle pain, and improve your range of motion. They’re perfect for conditions like chronic neck or back pain, helping you move with ease.
Therapeutic Botox
Botox isn’t just for wrinkles—it’s effective for pain relief. By relaxing overactive muscles, therapeutic botox can reduce chronic headaches or jaw pain, offering relief that lasts for months.
What to Expect During a Treatment Session and How Many Treatments Will I Require?
Walking into a prolotherapy session can feel like stepping into uncharted territory, but we make it simple. During your visit at North Shore Sports Medicine, Dr. Bastien will begin with a thorough physical exam to evaluate your injury.
After explaining the process, the dextrose-procaine solution is injected directly into the affected area. This injected solution helps improve blood flow, delivering nutrients and immune cells to support tissue healing and regeneration. The procedure takes about 30 minutes, with mild discomfort that fades quickly.
Most patients need three to six sessions, spaced a few weeks apart, to see lasting results. Factors like nutrition and avoiding NSAIDs play a big role in speeding up healing. Smoking? That’s a no-go, as it slows recovery. Curious about your treatment plan? Schedule a consultation to get a personalized roadmap.
Meet Dr. Bastien! (Naturopathic Physician)
Dr. Bastien is a naturopathic doctor who brings more than 10 years of experience with prolotherapy and naturopathic medicine to the team at NSSM. He believes in an integrated approach to achieve long term success in treating chronic and acute pain.
Dr. Bastien received his undergraduate degree in Kinesiology from SFU specializing in rehabilitation and health and then went on to receive his naturopathic training from the Boucher Institute of Naturopathic Medicine (BINM). Following his naturopathic training, he pursued training in prolotherapy, neural therapy, IMS, ultrasonography, and traumatic brain injury treatment.
He was an instructor at BINM in the physical medicine department for 8 years, teaching aspiring doctors to utilize spinal manipulation and soft tissue therapy to treat pain and dysfunction.
Dr. Bastien is a member of the British Columbia Naturopathic Association (BCNA) and the Canadian Association of Naturopathic Doctors (CAND).
Testimonial
I’ve been on a long journey dealing with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and chronic low back pain due to tight hips and hamstrings. Dr Bastien I think is most known for his Prolotherapy, but for me, his naturopathic approach was a game changer for me for IBS and hip issues.
Dr. Bastien meticulously analyzed my dietary habits and crafted a personalized dietary plan to manage my IBS symptoms. With his expertise in naturopathy, he was able to pinpoint food triggers and recommend a balanced diet that not only alleviated my digestive discomfort but also improved my overall well-being.
Moreover, Dr. Bastien’s holistic approach extended beyond dietary management. He assessed my musculoskeletal issues, particularly focusing on my Sacroiliac (SI) joint, tight hips, and hamstrings which were the culprits behind my low back pain. Through a series of targeted treatments and exercises, he alleviated my back pain, improved my mobility, and enhanced my quality of life.
His comprehensive care, deep knowledge in naturopathic medicine and sports medicine, alongside the supportive environment at North Shore Sports Medicine, made my healing journey a rewarding experience. I now enjoy a pain-free life, with a much-improved digestive system, and I couldn’t be more grateful to Dr. Bastien and the dedicated team at NSSM.
If you’re seeking a proficient science-based Naturopath in North Vancouver who excels in both digestive health management and musculoskeletal care, I highly recommend Dr. Michael Bastien at North Shore Sports Medicine. His integrated approach to health care has been nothing short of transformative for me.
A Few Questions to Determine if Prolotherapy May Be Right for You
• Do you have lingering pain from an injury that keeps returning in spite of treatment?
• Is it painful to sit or stand for long periods?
• Do you frequently injure your back doing minor activities such as picking up a sock from the floor?
• Is it difficult to put on your socks in the morning?
• Do you have limited flexibility that doesn’t improve with stretching?
• Does it hurt to raise your hand above your head?
• Do you get headaches at the end of every work day?
If you have answered yes to any of the questions above, please contact us to schedule an appointment to determine if prolotherapy might be the right treatment for you.
You’re one click away from booking your appointment!
Praise from Our Patients
North Shore Sports Medicine Is Your Local Healthcare Provider
Vision
At North Shore Sports Medicine our vision is to be the cornerstone healthcare business enabling our staff, practitioners and the people of the North Shore to live happier, healthier, more active and fulfilled lives.
The NSSM Difference
- 30 years on the North Shore
- Award winning healthcare for all walks of life
- Longer appointments so you get the time you need with our practitioners
- Team-based approach to living better lives
- Personalized care to get you back to living your best life
- Direct billing to extended healthcare
- ICBC and WSBC Claims
- In home physiotherapy & telehealth available
- Online booking
Treatment
We look forward to seeing you in our clinics for our comprehensive care including
- Physiotherapy
- RMT Massage
- Chiropractic Care
- Dietitian Consultations
- Traditional Chinese Medicine (Acupuncture)
- Pilates and Yoga Classes
- Naturopathic Medicine
- Kinesiology (physio-led gym visits)
- GLA:D
- Concussion care
Two Convenient Locations
In North Vancouver
Brooksbank
Ph: 604.973.0242
104-340 Brooksbank Ave
North Vancouver V7J 2C1
Monday – Friday: 7 am – 8 pm
Saturday: 9 am – 3 pm
Deep Cove
Ph: 604.929.8444
453 Dollarton Hwy N
North Vancouver V7G 1M9
Monday – Friday: 7 am – 8 pm
Saturday: 9 am – 3 pm