Neck pain treatment in Austin

• Facet joint arthritis (cervical spondylosis). One of the most frequent causes we see. Worn facet joints can cause neck pain, pain over the shoulder girdle and between the shoulder blades, and headaches.
• Disc degeneration and herniation. Discs act as shock absorbers. A degenerating disc can be painful on its own, and a herniated disc can press on a nerve and send pain down the arm (radiculopathy).
• Ligament injury. Whiplash and other injuries can leave the neck’s ligaments lax and painful.
• Muscle pain and spasm. From the classic "crick in my neck" to cervical dystonia, where muscles pull the head into an abnormal position.
• Pain that looks like a shoulder problem. Neck joints and nerves often refer pain into the shoulder, so the neck is checked whenever the shoulder hurts.

X-rays and MRIs do not tell the whole story: normal-looking facet joints can be painful, and badly worn ones can be painless. To confirm facet joint pain, Dr. Dumitrescu uses medial branch blocks: X-ray-guided injections of local anesthetic that temporarily numb the small nerves carrying pain from those joints. If the pain goes away while the nerves are numb, on two separate tests with different anesthetics, the diagnosis is confirmed.

To confirm disc pain, diagnostic provocative discography is used. A small amount of anesthetic is injected into each of the discs considered potential pain sources. If the increase in intra-discal pressure provokes the patient’s usual pain in the usual location, the diagnosis is confirmed.

To diagnose a pinched nerve causing pain down the arm, a selective nerve root block is performed. A small amount of anesthetic is placed around the root of that particular nerve as it exits the spine. If pain is relieved immediately, the diagnosis is confirmed.

• Radiofrequency ablation. The proven treatment for confirmed facet joint pain. Heated needle tips quiet the medial branch nerves. Relief may take up to four weeks to appear and lasts 6 to 18 months; it can be repeated if pain returns. Regenerative treatments can also be used for injections into the facet joints.
• Injections for a pinched nerve. Steroid or regenerative injections to calm an irritated nerve root and restore function.
• Regenerative treatment for painful discs. Regenerative injections into the discs to help halt disc degeneration. We offer a vast array of regenerative treatments, tailored to the age of the patient, their particular diagnosis and the severity of their anatomic abnormalities.
• Regenerative treatments for lax ligaments. These injections strengthen ligaments injured by whiplash and similar trauma. Prolotherapy has been used for over 100 years, but newer regenerative treatments have largely supplanted prolotherapy.
• Trigger point injections and physical therapy. To break the cycle of painful, tight muscles and retrain movement patterns. We work with chiropractors and physical therapists and we can refer you appropriately.

Most neck pain responds to non-surgical care. If your exam or imaging shows something that needs a surgeon, we will tell you. Seek urgent care for neck pain with progressive arm weakness, trouble walking or balance, or loss of bladder or bowel control.