Perineural Therapy

Also known as neural prolotherapy, perineural therapy is a minimally invasive and natural medical intervention for soft tissue pain and inflammation. The technique uses a tiny, thin needle to deliver a dextrose and saline solution to the small, superficial sensory nerves that can’t be seen on MRI or x-ray.

Often used as a natural alternative to traditional pain relief options such as cortisone injections, perineural therapy is applied to treat a variety of conditions including:

• Headaches (including migraines)
• Fibromyalgia
• Systemic chronic pain
• Tendinitis
• Bursitis
• Arthritis
• Sciatica
• Post-surgery knee pain
• Muscle and ligament injuries
• Sports injuries

Patients are comfortably positioned before the dextrose and saline solution is injected with a small, thin needle into the affected area, beneath the skin’s surface.

To enhance absorption of dextrose cream into superficial nerves, we may also apply sonophoresis using ultrasound. Sonophoresis is a method that utilizes ultrasound to enhance the delivery of topical medications through the stratum corneum (outermost layer of epidermis), to the epidermis and dermis.

While it’s normal for patients to experience some slight discomfort during injections, there is typically little-to-no significant pain associated with perineural therapy. After delivering the therapy, we’ll assess the efficacy of the treatment by pressing on the targeted site(s); temporary relief and / or numbness is often, but not always, an indicator of success.

Most patients can resume their normal activities and routines immediately after the procedure, with only minor, quickly resolving tenderness and bruising at the injection site.

Please note that the number of injections and sessions needed depends on the extent of the injury or condition. Most of our patients return to the office for an additional two to six weekly sessions.