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What is medical ozone?
Ozone, or O3, is a gaseous molecule consisting of three oxygen atoms all sharing the same electrons. The instability of ozone is exactly why it is so powerful-because it is driven to give off the extra oxygen atom so that it can be reduced to the stable O2 (oxygen) form. An oxygen molecule is freely available to the body's cells and can be used for tissue repair. The tissue is oxygenated, and there is increased energy production in the cell, which in turn stimulates fibroblastic tissue and joint repair. Ozone also has anti-infective properties against bacteria and viruses. |
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How is it used?
For medical purposes in our clinic we only use ozone for injecting painful joints or ligaments. Ozone has other medicinal properties and indications, but we are limiting its use to musculoskeletal pain injections only.
Is it safe?
Medical ozone is completely safe and non-toxic to humans when administered responsibly with precise technology. It is extremely important that the proper ozone generator be used to generate the ozone. One must ensure that the ozone is clean, pure, and free of contaminants. We use a Longevity ozone generator. Longevity is a world-renowned company with only the highest standards for their generators, and they have an excellent safety track record. So much so, they supply many, many generators to medical practitioners both in North America and throughout the world. And would you believe, their head office is right here in Sidney, BC! We are delighted to use a local company which happens to be among the best in the market.
How often will I need treatment?
The answer here is "it depends" on many factors, including the severity of the joint damage, your age and general health, your immune system function, etc. We start usually with 3 treatments 2 weeks apart, and then we reassess how you are improving. Sometimes that is all that is needed and sometimes more treatments are required but can expect improvement quite quickly.
Is there a cost to medical ozone injections?
Medical ozone is not an insured service with BC's Medical Services Plan. You will be billed for these appointments. Please ask us about the cost for medical ozone.
Will it hurt?
We inject local anaesthetic into the affected area prior to the ozone injection. It is well-tolerated and sometimes there is a slight pressure sensation and noise from the movement of gas in the tissues.
Can it be combined with other treatments?
Absolutely. Medical ozone is often combined with prolotherapy (see the FAQ page for prolotherapy). The combination of enriching the tissue with oxygen and stimulating new tissue production with prolotherapy is an excellent one. Medical ozone can be injected into the joint after prolotherapy.
Are there any risks to this procedure?
There are very few risks involved. Please tell us if you have an anaesthetic allergy. Any injection can have a risk of infection; however because ozone is anti-infective this is highly unlikely.
Do I need to stop any medications prior to my injection?
No, unless you are also having prolotherapy, in which case we will ask you to stop any anti-inflammatory medication like Ibuprofen. However, if you are only coming for a medical ozone injection, you don't need to stop any medication.
For medical purposes in our clinic we only use ozone for injecting painful joints or ligaments. Ozone has other medicinal properties and indications, but we are limiting its use to musculoskeletal pain injections only.
Is it safe?
Medical ozone is completely safe and non-toxic to humans when administered responsibly with precise technology. It is extremely important that the proper ozone generator be used to generate the ozone. One must ensure that the ozone is clean, pure, and free of contaminants. We use a Longevity ozone generator. Longevity is a world-renowned company with only the highest standards for their generators, and they have an excellent safety track record. So much so, they supply many, many generators to medical practitioners both in North America and throughout the world. And would you believe, their head office is right here in Sidney, BC! We are delighted to use a local company which happens to be among the best in the market.
How often will I need treatment?
The answer here is "it depends" on many factors, including the severity of the joint damage, your age and general health, your immune system function, etc. We start usually with 3 treatments 2 weeks apart, and then we reassess how you are improving. Sometimes that is all that is needed and sometimes more treatments are required but can expect improvement quite quickly.
Is there a cost to medical ozone injections?
Medical ozone is not an insured service with BC's Medical Services Plan. You will be billed for these appointments. Please ask us about the cost for medical ozone.
Will it hurt?
We inject local anaesthetic into the affected area prior to the ozone injection. It is well-tolerated and sometimes there is a slight pressure sensation and noise from the movement of gas in the tissues.
Can it be combined with other treatments?
Absolutely. Medical ozone is often combined with prolotherapy (see the FAQ page for prolotherapy). The combination of enriching the tissue with oxygen and stimulating new tissue production with prolotherapy is an excellent one. Medical ozone can be injected into the joint after prolotherapy.
Are there any risks to this procedure?
There are very few risks involved. Please tell us if you have an anaesthetic allergy. Any injection can have a risk of infection; however because ozone is anti-infective this is highly unlikely.
Do I need to stop any medications prior to my injection?
No, unless you are also having prolotherapy, in which case we will ask you to stop any anti-inflammatory medication like Ibuprofen. However, if you are only coming for a medical ozone injection, you don't need to stop any medication.