Effective Pain Relief with Cortisone Injections

Safe and Quick Treatment for Managing Chronic Pain in Targeted Areas

Pain Management

This is a quick and safe procedure where low doses of Cortisone are injected to manage a patient’s chronic pain in a specific area.

Queries:

How it Works

After determining the best point for the injection, the radiologist will prepare the skin and inject a small amount of freezing into the area. Through intermittent use of fluoroscopy or ultrasound, the radiologist will then inject a small amount of Cortisone into the area of concern.

Calgary

#140, 4774 Westwinds Drive NE

Cold Lake

#101, 2012 8th Avenue

Cortisone Injections

The Cortisone can be injected directly into the joint, muscle, tendon, soft tissue or bursa in question. Corticosteroids are very potent anti-inflammatories that, when injected directly into the area of pain, can provide quick and lasting relief.

Synolis Injections

Synolis is a hyaluronic acid gel that acts in the place of the fluid in the joints. Synolis provides fast and intense pain relief in the joints.

Synolis injections are not covered under Alberta Health Services. However, we do provide the service at CGA Medical Imaging.

  • Joint Pain/Inflammation
  • Muscle Pain/Inflammation
  • Nerve Pain
  • Soft Tissue Injury
  • Acute Pain & Chronic Pain
  • Arthritic Pain
  • Acute and Chronic Sport Injuries
  • Hand & Foot Pain
  • Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
  • Frozen Shoulder Syndrome
  • Sprains/Strains/Spasms

The procedure takes about 10 minutes, but there is paperwork that must be completed before the doctor sees you.

We require you to stay 10 minutes after the injections to ensure you do not have a reaction.

If you take blood thinners, (for example, Warfarin), we may require a recent INR reading of 2.5 or below to proceed for safety reasons. You will also want to check with us if you have been on any antibiotics in the week prior to your exam as this can decrease the effectiveness of the Cortisone.

Please note if you have diabetes, a Cortisone injection may temporarily increase your blood sugars.

There must be at least a two week gap between any vaccinations and any pain injections.

There may be discomfort or pain in the targeted area for a few days following your injections before the Cortisone begins to take effect.

The pain can be treated with Ibuprofen, Tylenol or ice.

Please do not put any heat on the affected area.

We also recommend taking it easy for two days after your appointment; this allows the Cortisone to best affect the targeted area.

Localized Relief

A Cortisone shot typically acts to alleviate pain and inflammation for a period of time. These are often considered more effective than oral medications as the medication is injected into a localized area.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are your services covered by Alberta Health Care?

Almost every service we offer is covered by Alberta Health Care (or your province of residence) as long as you have a valid health card. To access full coverage, please bring your valid health care card and a referral from your health care provider to your appointment.

Our exceptions to full coverage are our:

Synolis injections for pain therapy. Alberta Health Services does not cover Synolis injections. However, AHS does cover our Cortisone pain therapy injections.

DEXA exams. DEXA exams gives infomation about your body fat, muscle mass and your bone density. It is not covered by Alberta Health Services.

No, you do not. Your primary physician may suggest a clinic location for you; however, that doesn’t mean you are required to get your exam at that location. We invite you to visit our clinic or any location for your exam where you feel safe and comfortable.

We are proud to have a diverse community at CGA. Our team is available to serve you in a dozen languages: English, Punjabi, Hindi, Tagalog, Nepali, Hindi, Bengali, Arabic, Urdu, Bulgarian, Serbian and Macedonian. There are different languages offered at each clinic, so please call ahead. If you speak a different language, you are welcome to bring an interpreter to your appointment.

If you are due for your routine screening mammogram, in some scenarios there is an option for a “self-referral.” This will save you visiting the doctor for a requisition form. There are certain criteria you must meet, so please call for more information to determine if you qualify for this option. If you have any concerns about your breast health, please speak to your doctor.

Yes, we have qualified female and male technologists available to complete your scan.

Our qualified technologists will perform your examination for our radiologists, who will interpret and put into a report.

Please note technologists cannot give exam results.

This report will be issued shortly after your appointment and faxed directly to your referring doctor. We recommend that you make an appointment with your health care provider, one to two business days after your exam to discuss your results.

Your exam requires a high level of focus for our technologists to accurately capture the images we require for your exam. If you have small children, please do your best to leave them with someone else or have someone come with you to sit with them in the waiting room.

Different types of scans require different preparation. Please visit your specific exam page to learn more about your required preparation.

Yes, you must drink the water. By drinking the water it helps our technologists see what is happening within the pelvic structure.
If the test specifies the need to fast, then yes, you have to fast. This is too ensure our vision is as clear as possible when we complete the exam.

Westwinds

#140, 4774 Westwinds Drive NE Calgary, AB T3J 0L7

Rundlehorn

#12, 3575 Rundlehorn Drive NE Calgary, AB T1Y 2K1

Cold Lake

#101, 2012 8th Avenue Cold Lake, AB T9M 1C2

Bonnyville

#104, 4610 50th Street Bonnyville, AB T9N 0G2

HIGH RIVER

#309 1st Street SW, High River, AB T1V 1R3

QUALITY & EXCELLENCE

Expect Nothing But The Best From Medical Technologies

OUR TESTIMONIAL

Here's What Our Customers Have Said

Our customers’ satisfaction is our top priority. Read their heartfelt testimonials and see how we’ve exceeded their expectations. Their experiences speak volumes about our commitment to quality and service.

John Villamor



This is just to commend the staffs of CGA at Westwind NE branch. Everyone was so professional and friendly. The one who took my ultrasound, didn’t catch her name, but she was very engaging and made me feel comfortable right away. I also would like to commend the front desk especially Karen for a kind gesture. Though I came early for my appointment because I was diabetic but she was kind enough to accommodate me right away. Kudos to your team!

Dalal



This place has an amazing customer service! Kind friendly front desk staff , who went above and beyond to help. The technician Manal was super nice , kind and patient and accommodating. The X-ray staff were super nice, kind and knowledgeable! Same goes to the staff member who did another ultra soon nd ,friendly and kind ! I highly recommend them for your needs.

Chris Chicote



What I like most of my experiences when I was there is not just professionalism ( it's the sense of humor from the front desk " Karen Salvador, Ann and Jaspreet my technician, ) it lifted me up a bit that I forgot the reason why I was there, so continue to lift others up...

Araby Roberts



Got an appointment very quickly (called on a Monday, got an appointment on that Wednesday). Someone picked up quite quickly, unlike other places where I was put on hold for very long times. I'm afraid I've forgotten the name of the ultrasound tech I had today (it was around 2pm & she had medium-long hair) but she was soo lovely and kind!!! As was the x-ray tech (she had very short dark hair)!

Christina Raj



The call was answered promptly and I got an appointment for the same day! The receptionts are very friendly and helpful. Lot of seating available in the waiting area. Great service!
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