You’ve done the reading. You know regenerative medicine might be a fit for that stubborn knee, shoulder, or tendon. You may have even talked yourself into calling — twice.
And then you think about the needle.
If that’s you, you’re in good company. Needle anxiety is one of the most common things we hear from new patients at NW Regen — often from people who have already decided they want a treatment like Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) and simply dread the process of getting it. It’s not a character flaw. It’s not something you should have to white-knuckle through. And it shouldn’t be the thing standing between you and care that may help.
That’s why we offer Pro-Nox™, a patient-controlled comfort option available with our in-office injection procedures.
What Is Pro-Nox?
Pro-Nox is an FDA-cleared system that delivers a 50/50 blend of nitrous oxide and oxygen — a gentler cousin of the “laughing gas” many people know from the dentist. The same 50/50 mixture has been used in medical settings, including labor and delivery, for decades.
What makes Pro-Nox different is who’s holding the controls: you are. You breathe through your own single-use mouthpiece, and the gas flows only when you inhale. Feeling tense as the procedure starts? Take a few breaths. Feeling settled? Set it down. Nothing is administered to you — you decide how much support you need, moment to moment.
Which Treatments Can It Be Used With?
Pro-Nox can be paired with the in-office injection procedures we perform at NW Regen, including:
- Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) injections
- Prolotherapy
- Stem cell and other orthobiologic procedures
- Joint and tendon injections
If you’re considering a specific treatment and wondering whether Pro-Nox is an option for it, just ask when you schedule — we’re happy to walk you through it.
What Does It Feel Like?
Most patients describe a calm, slightly light sensation within a few breaths — relaxed, but fully awake and able to talk with your provider the entire time. Pro-Nox is not sedation and it won’t put you to sleep. It’s designed to take the edge off pain and anxiety while leaving you present and in control.
Just as importantly, it leaves your system quickly. The effects typically fade within minutes of your last breath — no grogginess, no lost afternoon.
Can You Drive Home Afterward?
In most cases, yes. Because the mixture clears so quickly, most patients are able to drive themselves home after a short rest in our office — one of the biggest practical advantages over traditional sedation, which generally requires a ride and a recovery day.
That said, everyone’s situation is a little different. If Pro-Nox is combined with any other medication, or if anything about your visit suggests you should wait longer, we’ll tell you clearly before you leave.
Is Pro-Nox Right for Everyone?
Pro-Nox is generally well-tolerated, but it isn’t the right fit for every patient. It may not be suitable if you:
- Have certain chronic respiratory conditions
- Are pregnant or trying to conceive
- Have a history of vitamin B12 deficiency or related concerns
- Have had certain recent ear or eye procedures
We review your full health history before your procedure, so you can trust that if we offer it, it’s because it makes sense for you — and if we don’t, we’ll talk through other ways to keep you comfortable.
Comfort Is Part of the Plan
Regenerative medicine is designed to support your body’s own healing response. That process shouldn’t start with an experience you dread. It’s not just about getting through the procedure. It’s about walking in without the knot in your stomach.
“I’ve personally undergone dozens of regenerative injection procedures, including PRP, prolotherapy and cell-based treatments. Pro-Nox has become my go-to option for pain and anxiety control during treatment, and I use it whenever I’m the patient.”
— Ryan R. Wood, ND, DC, RMSK
If needle anxiety has kept you from exploring PRP, prolotherapy, or another regenerative option, we’d love to talk it through — including exactly what your visit would look like, step by step. Contact us to schedule a consultation or call us at (503) 799-6115.
Dr. Ryan Wood, ND, DC, RMSK, is the Founder & Clinical Director of NW Regen. A licensed Naturopathic and Chiropractic physician certified in musculoskeletal sonography, he focuses on interventional orthopedic and orthobiologic medicine — including PRP, prolotherapy, and adipose-derived stem cell therapies — as well as general musculoskeletal and non-surgical orthopedic medicine. He is the West Coast’s leading Stellate Ganglion Block specialist, having performed nearly 3,000 DSR-SGB procedures for trauma, dysautonomia, and post-COVID syndromes since 2017. Dr. Wood is a lecturer and instructor for the Hackett Hemwall Patterson Foundation and the European School of Prolotherapy. He teaches interventional regenerative orthopedics and diagnostic ultrasound and provides hands-on physician training in SGB domestically and internationally. With almost two decades of orthopedic practice across multiple disciplines, he brings extensive experience to the diagnosis and management of complex cases.
