Perineural injection therapy, often referred to as PIT, is a treatment option some patients explore when chronic nerve-related pain hasn’t responded well to more conventional approaches.
What Perineural Injection Therapy Involves
PIT involves injecting a dilute dextrose solution just under the skin, near nerves in the area where pain is felt, rather than into the joint or muscle itself. The theory behind the treatment is that chronically irritated peripheral nerves can become inflamed and overly sensitive, a state sometimes called neurogenic inflammation, and that the injections may help calm that irritation.
It’s worth being direct that PIT is a newer, less established treatment compared to options like physical therapy or steroid injections, and the research base is still developing. Some patients and practitioners report meaningful relief, particularly for chronic, localized nerve-type pain, but results are not consistent or guaranteed, and larger, high-quality studies are still limited.
Conditions Sometimes Treated With PIT
Patients typically ask about PIT for chronic regional pain that hasn’t improved with other treatments, including certain cases of nerve-related back, neck, or joint pain. Because the evidence is still emerging, PIT is usually considered after more established treatments have been tried, not as a first-line option.
What a Session Feels Like
The injections are shallow, just under the skin, and most patients describe brief stinging at each injection point rather than significant pain. Sessions are generally well tolerated, and side effects such as temporary redness or soreness at the injection sites are uncommon and short-lived. A treatment plan usually involves multiple sessions rather than a single visit.
Is PIT Right for You?
Because PIT is still an evolving treatment, a thorough evaluation is important before starting, so your provider can talk through what’s realistic for your specific condition. Individual results vary, and PIT is not guaranteed to relieve pain.
If you’re in Brooklyn and want to discuss whether perineural injection therapy could be part of your treatment plan, our team at Pain Therapy Care can walk you through your options honestly, including what the evidence does and doesn’t show.
