Neck and shoulder
The neck and the shoulder are not two different offices.
Neck pain is every bit as complicated as back pain, if not more so. A lot of the time, when someone has neck pain they also have shoulder pain. Neck pain can make the shoulders hurt. Shoulder pain can make the neck hurt.
The problem is the split in the profession. Most pain doctors only treat the neck. Most orthopedic or sports medicine doctors only treat the shoulders. Dr. Wheeler is trained in both pain and sports, which is a unique skill set for a difficult-to-manage problem. If treatment has proven difficult, this is your place.
Headaches that start in the neck
If your headache is controlled and infrequent, congratulations. For other headache sufferers, the trigger may be musculoskeletal. We evaluate the neck, shoulders, and other possible triggers and see whether we can reduce the number of headaches.
Patients have sat in this office with a spine model on the desk while Dr. Wheeler explained why the pain started in the back of the neck and traveled forward. That is the work: a diagnosis you can understand, then a plan that is not another prescription pad.
Stability, not just strength
Bracing muscles of the neck—deep neck flexors among them—are little endurance muscles that pull joints into themselves. They are not the muscles that win a shrug contest. When they are inhibited, the big string muscles take over. That is good for a sprint of protection. It is a poor plan for a desk, a drive, and a night of sleep.
The same logic lives in the shoulder. A pitcher does not do rotator cuff work to get bigger. The cuff pulls the arm into the socket and keeps it there while everything else moves. Stability muscles do not move you. They hold you steady while everything else is moving.
What the first visit is for
You fill out a questionnaire about your pain and your medical, social, and family history. We interview you. We do a detailed physical exam. If more films are needed, we go over them with you. Then we go over the diagnosis and the plan— injections, further imaging, referrals, or the rehab that has to follow. Because of insurance, staffing, and scheduling, it is rare that we do injections the same day we examine you. Please have patience with the process.