Neck pain can be the result of poor posture, an ergonomically-poor workstation, irregular or quick head movements, trauma, or even sleeping in an unusual position. Common causes of neck pain include:

• Whiplash from auto accident
• Sports injuries
• Muscle strain
• Ligament sprain
• Muscle spasm
• Cervical facet syndrome
• Intervertebral joint dysfunction
• Cervical radiculopathy
• Disc herniations
• Degenerative discs
• Arthritis

Depending on your unique anatomy and posture, you may be predisposed to certain conditions or may find that certain activities aggravate your neck pain — such as sleeping on your stomach or turning your head too quickly.

How is neck pain diagnosed?

Neck pain is diagnosed following a comprehensive consultation and physical exam. If needed, the Regenerative Medicine Center of Southern California team also orders X-rays or an MRI of your neck. During your consultation, the team asks about the location and severity of your pain and any activities or movements that worsen your discomfort.

The physical exam incorporates a range of motion measurements, strength and flexibility testing, and nerve function tests. The team also takes you through a series of movements that involve tilting and turning your head to check the function of the joints in your neck.

Based on your consultation, exam, and any additional imaging, the team determines your diagnosis and explains different treatment approaches to address your pain in order to come up with a personalized plan to help you.

How is neck pain treated?

The team takes a multidisciplinary approach to neck pain management and aims to address the root cause of your neck pain in order to reduce your symptoms and improve the overall function of your neck. In some cases, symptoms may be the last thing to appear and the first thing to go away during treatment, but the team addresses all aspects of your health to improve your outcomes from treatment for better overall health and wellness.

Depending on the severity of your pain and your diagnosis, the team may begin treatment with electrical stimulation, soft tissue therapy, gentle traction, or chiropractic care. As you progress through your treatment plan, the team may incorporate exercise therapy and specific stretches to improve the strength and flexibility in your neck.

By using a combination of therapies to reduce your pain and improve the strength and stability of your neck, the team can also help prevent re-injury and reduce your need for alternative treatments — like pain medications, injections, or surgery.

Get help with your neck pain by calling or scheduling a visit online at the Regenerative Medicine Center of Southern California now.

What is osteoarthritis?

Regenerative Medicine now offers far better outcomes without life threatening side effects of drugs, dangerous complications of surgery and with little to no down time.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a form of degenerative arthritis that wear-and-tear on your joints causes. As the most common form of arthritis, OA develops over many years and typically appears in adults over the age of 55, though you can experience symptoms earlier in life.

Overuse and wear-and-tear break down the cartilage in your joints that provides cushion and protection to the ends of your bones. Once the cartilage wears away sufficiently, you can experience locking sensations in your knee, along with swelling and pain. Left untreated, you may wear away all of the cartilage until your joints are bone-on-bone and may require surgical intervention to relieve the pain.

What are the signs of osteoarthritis?

OA typically appears in a single joint, but it can occur in multiple joints that experience overuse due to your job, lifestyle, or hobbies. Common signs of OA include:

• Joint pain
• Joint stiffness that goes away with movement
• Mild swelling around the affected joint
• Popping or cracking within the joint
• Pain that becomes worse after activity or at the end of the day

The most common locations for osteoarthritis to show up include the knees, hips, shoulders, wrists, fingers, ankles, and feet.

How is osteoarthritis diagnosed?

To diagnose OA, the Regenerative Medicine Center of Southern California team completes an extensive consultation and physical exam, which may include a referral for X-rays, if appropriate. The team asks about your symptoms, the location and severity of your pain, and any joint dysfunction you may notice.

A team member then moves your joint through its range of motion, noting any stiffness or swelling in the area. The practitioner also applies pressure around the joint and may stretch to the joint to determine if you experience relief from pain.

Based on your consultation, exam, and any imaging, the team explains your diagnosis and recommends a treatment plan to reduce your pain and improve the function of the affected joints.

How is osteoarthritis treated?

To treat osteoarthritis, the team develops a personalized plan for you based on the severity of your discomfort and joint dysfunction. Common treatments include hyaluronic acid injections, stem cell, platelet rich plasma and other regenerative product options. A team approach offers supporting therapies such as a weight loss program, natural supplements and chiropractic care.

Chiropractic care and exercise therapy can restore lost range of motion to stiff joints. Learn more about osteoarthritis treatment options by calling the office or scheduling a visit online at Regenerative Medicine Center of Southern California.

Common causes of shoulder pain include:

• Auto accident
• Sports injuries
• Muscle strain
• Ligament sprain
• Tendinitis
• Rotator cuff tear
• Bursitis
• Thoracic outlet syndrome
• Adhesive capsulitis, also called frozen shoulder
• Impingement
• Labral tear

Depending on the severity of your condition, you may experience mild pain with certain activities or severe pain that limits even basic movements, like raising or rotating your arm. Symptoms may be the last indication of a problem before you seek treatment, though the problem may have been developing for some time. The team understands the complexity of shoulder problems and addresses symptoms from every angle to relieve your symptoms and improve the overall health and function of your shoulder.

How is shoulder pain diagnosed?

To diagnose shoulder pain, the Regenerative Medicine Center of Southern California team begins with a consultation to learn about your symptoms, movements that are painful, and if your pain spreads into your neck, back, or arm. During your physical exam, the team measures the range of motion of your shoulder and checks the muscles and nerves in the area for signs of dysfunction or weakness.

Additional orthopedic tests are included in which the team takes you through a series of movements to test the function of your shoulder joint. These tests may be difficult to perform or painful, so let the team know if you become uncomfortable.

In some cases, X-rays or an MRI may be ordered to check for more serious conditions, like muscle tears or severe arthritis. Based on their findings, the team explains your diagnosis and outlines a multi-step approach to get you out of pain and back to your normal level of function.

How is shoulder pain treated?

Depending on the cause of your shoulder pain, the team may recommend a combination or series of therapies to relieve your pain and improve the function of your shoulder. In most cases, the team begins with modalities to relieve pain, including chiropractic care, soft tissue therapy, and range of motion and strengthening exercises. Once you’re feeling better, the team includes exercise therapy and rehab activities to strengthen your shoulder and rebuild stability.

For more complicated cases of shoulder pain arising from joint or muscle damage, the team may also recommend regenerative medicine and mesenchymal stem cell therapy to support the natural healing properties of the body. 

To set up a consultation and exam for your shoulder pain, use the online booking tool or call the Regenerative Medicine Center of Southern California.

Why does my knee hurt?

Knee pain can come from any of the anatomical structures within and surrounding the knee. Common sources of knee pain include:

• Degenerative cartilage and meniscus within the knee
• Torn ligaments surrounding the knee
• Patella
• Torn tendons around the knee, including the patellar tendon and iliotibial band
• Inflammation of the bursa within the knee
• Strained muscles surrounding the knee

Knee pain may range from mild, aching discomfort to severe pain, swelling, and stiffness. If you experience any type of knee pain, see the team immediately for an exam and treatment.

What causes knee pain?

Knee pain may be the last sign that something is wrong with your knee. The team understands that years of wear-and-tear and minor injuries can build up, so they work deliberately to address your pain and any other underlying problems within your knee for the best treatment outcomes possible. Common causes of knee pain include:

• Tendinitis
• Iliotibial band syndrome
• Arthritis
• Patellofemoral pain syndrome
• Bursitis
• Ligament sprain
• Muscle strain
• Meniscus tear

These knee issues present with specific patterns of pain and aggravating factors and the team can help you determine your diagnosis and activities to avoid while you’re healing in order to prevent further injury or complications.

How is knee pain diagnosed?

To diagnose the cause of your knee pain, the Regenerative Medicine Center of Southern California team begins with a consultation and exam to understand your symptoms, activities that worsen your pain, and any trauma to your knee. During your exam, the team measures the range of motion of your knee and checks the strength and function of the muscles in the area.

Specialized orthopedic tests to evaluate the ligaments, tendons, and menisci inside your knee are included to rule out more serious injuries. The team may refer you for X-rays or an MRI, if appropriate.

Based on your exam and any imaging, the team explains the specific cause of your knee pain and the steps they’ll take to help you get out of pain and prevent re-injury.

How is knee pain treated?

The team takes a comprehensive approach to treat knee pain based on your diagnosis and the root cause of your symptoms. Conservative pain relief options include regenerative medicine, physiotherapy, soft tissue therapy, and functional bracing. Once you’re feeling better, the team incorporates exercise therapy and specialized stretches to improve the strength and function of your knee.

The team may also recommend supportive therapies — including nutritional counseling, chiropractic care, and exercise therapy — to reduce pain and inflammation while supporting the natural healing properties of your body. Used along with other conservative treatments, these therapies may speed up your healing time and make your recovery easier.

To learn about personalized knee pain treatments, call or schedule a visit online at the Regenerative Medicine Center of Southern California.

Any type of injury or irritation to the lower back, either from trauma, general wear-and-tear, habitual activities, or aspects of your lifestyle can cause low back pain. Common causes of low back pain include:

• Auto accident
• Accidental falls
• Sports injuries
• Lumbar facet syndrome
• Lumbar sprain or strain
• Pregnancy
• Obesity
• Poor posture
• Sacroiliac joint dysfunction
• Spinal stenosis
• Spondylolisthesis
• Herniated discs
• Arthritis

To determine the cause of your pain, the team asks questions about the location of your pain, movements that make it better or worse, and any history of trauma to your back.

How is low back pain diagnosed?

In order to diagnose low back pain, the team begins with an extensive consultation and physical exam. The team understands that back pain may be the last symptom to appear when your back is injured, so they take steps to identify the root cause and provide long-lasting results for better low back function and health overall.

During your consultation, the team asks about the location of your pain, when it occurs, and activities that improve or worsen your symptoms. For your exam, the team measures the range of motion of your spine and checks the flexibility, muscle strength, and nerve function in the muscles of your lower back, hips, and legs. Additional orthopedic tests may be included to assess the health of the joints in your spine.

If necessary, X-rays or an MRI may be ordered to rule out more complicated causes of low back pain. Based on your exam and any imaging, the team diagnoses the cause of your pain and outlines a treatment plan to help you.

How is low back pain treated?

To treat low back pain, the team develops a comprehensive plan based on your diagnosis. They begin with different therapies aimed at relieving pain and inflammation, including chiropractic care, physiotherapy, soft tissue therapy, spinal decompression therapy, and nutritional counseling.

Once your pain has decreased and you’re regaining mobility in your lower back, the team incorporates exercise therapy and other active treatments to restore strength and flexibility in your back. By following a progressive approach, the team can get you out of significant pain and help you return to normal through conservative and natural methods.

Ongoing treatment and rehab exercises, either in the office or at home, can also help maintain your progress and prevent recurrence of pain and flare-ups of old injuries.

To schedule a visit, call or book online at the Regenerative Medicine Center of Southern California.