Dr. Alvin Philipose DC/ Charnelle Dean APRN
Prolotherapy Injections Specialist Near Me in Oklahoma City, OK

405.848.7246
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Neck Pain
Neck pain is a serious problem that can disrupt your life. It can keep you from being active. It can make you miss work. Your neck may hurt for a short time, or your pain may bother you for months or years.
Call to Schedule a Complimentary Consultation
405.848.7246
Ask about Digital Motion X-Ray Imaging
Offering variety of pain management solutions 

Neck Pain Treatment: Venturis Clinic Dr. Philipose Perspective

As a Chiropractor in Oklahoma City, one of the most common conditions that presents to our office is neck pain. It is estimated that 20-70% of US adults will experience a type of neck pain, women are 1.5 times more likely to experience neck pain. Up to 30% of neck pain cases are known to become chronic (long-term) problems, to which is why it’s important to address your neck pain as quickly as possible.
Your neck supports the weight of your head, which on average weighs about 12-15 pounds. Lifestyle factors, such as poor posture and electronic device use (cell phones, tablets, etc.) increase the amount of stress on the neck. For every inch forward that your neck is in front of your shoulders, it will add 10 pounds of stress to your neck. So, if your head weighs 12 pounds and is 2 inches in front of your shoulders, your head would feel like it weighs 32 pounds! The increased stress from your daily activities will lead to neck pain and will cause the joints of the neck to wear down over time.
There are 2 primary categories for neck pain: acute or chronic. Acute neck pain most cases will follow some type of trauma like a car accident, sports injury, or maybe even a fall. The sooner you are able to treat your neck pain, the better and faster your results will be experienced. If the pain persists for more than 3 months, it is then considered to be a chronic pain. It can be difficult to treat chronic pain considering it has been there for some time and your body’s muscle memory is used to it. Therefore, these cases typically take more time to treat. This pain did not come over night and will take time.
With neck pain, it is important to find the root cause of the problem in order to diagnose and treat it properly. In your neck, there are different structures that can be susceptible to injury such as joints, muscles, ligaments, and discs. Each one may cause different types of pain and/or discomfort that are unique to that specific structure. It is important to find the cause that needs to be treated, it is essential to fixing the problem and reducing or eliminating your neck pain altogether.
At the Venturis Clinic we take an aggressive, “think outside of the box,” multi-angle approach to neck pain. We offer more services and technologies for neck pain than any other Chiropractor in Oklahoma City and surrounding areas. Check out my video to see many ways we can help!

Consultation and Exam

Before we start treating your neck pain at Venturis Clinic, we must perform a detailed consultation and examination. The consultation will give Dr. Alvin Philipose the opportunity to really listen to and understand your problems and how they have affected your life. We will also capture key bits of information about your condition that can help us find out what is really causing your condition.
In the examination, we will perform chiropractic, orthopedic, neurological and functional movement testing to help us pinpoint the cause of your neck pain and get to the root of your problem. These tests will help us determine if the problem is due to an issue with a muscle, bone, nerve, or some combination of those. Pain is a body signal, or a way that your body tells you something isn’t functioning properly. Pain is last to show and first to go, when we find out what is truly causing your pain, we can help you and your neck function properly and reduce your pain and increase your range of motion.

Digital Motion X-rays (DMX)

DMX is a motion picture of the bones while a person is moving in motion. It is a dynamic diagnostic tool that Dr. Alvin Philipose can utilize for your treatment, versus a static one, and can be used for all joints of the body. The scan is produced in real time and may be able to have findings MRI’s and CT
scans may not pick up while the person is moving. DMX can show spinal and peripheral joint instability from ligament damage. Pain is typically found during motion. By being able to see your bones in motion, DMX picks up the abnormal or excessive motion whereas MRI, CT scan and static x-rays do not. You could think about it this way: Static MRI is like a formal family portrait whereas DMX is the video of how your family really acts.

Specific Chiropractic Care

Many times, neck pain is caused by a condition we call subluxation. Subluxation occurs when a bone or section of the spine shifts out of its normal position and causes pressure and irritation to nerves, which can cause symptoms such as neck pain and sometimes into your shoulders. Subluxations also affect your range of motion. If they are not corrected, over time they can cause degeneration to the joints and lead to a condition called arthritis.
Dr. Alvin Philipose will perform specific adjustments to the spine area, which will remove pressure from the nerves and allow fluids into your spinal canal into your nervous system. Subluxation can be resolved through chiropractic care adjustments, but it can and will take time, especially for a chronic
problem. By removing subluxation from the neck, proper function can be restored to the nerves and symptoms like neck pain can diminish. If the root of your problem is from a subluxation in the cervical spine (your neck) you will still have symptoms until it is addressed. That is why Chiropractic care is so crucial to eliminating neck pain.

Fascial Release by Dry Needling

Myofascial pain affects about 85% of people at some point within their life. Myofascial pain syndrome can set in that can lead to a great deal of ongoing musculoskeletal discomfort. Whether your myofascial pain is short- or long- term, a technique called dry needling that may help you find relief. As a Chiropractic and Prolotherapy Specialists, Dr. Alvin Philipose here at Venturis Clinic offers a wide range of solutions for treating and relieving pain. We want you to experience dry needling and what it can do for you if you’re suffering from myofascial pain. Dry needling will assist loosening up any tight muscles to allow the spine to be able to move properly. This technique will be a great addition to your chiropractic care journey! Dry needling can also help with a pulled muscle to which could possibly be the root cause of your problem.
Call to Schedule a Complimentary Consultation
405.848.7246
Ask about Digital Motion X-Ray Imaging
Offering variety of pain management solutions 

Customized Stretching For Your Condition

Neck pain can often originate from muscle imbalance due to poor posture as well as your day-today activities. As previously mentioned, having forward head posture is the most common issues that causes neck pain. This type of pain may also stem from a postural condition called Upper Crossed Syndrome. This is a pattern of muscle weakness and tightness in the neck, upper back, and shoulders that can cause your posture to become distorted. At Venturis Clinic, Dr. Alvin Philipose will create a customary stretch plan that will correct postural distortions and restore balance to the neck. This balance and stability will allow our patients to hold their chiropractic adjustments better and longer, providing more sustained relief from conditions like neck pain.

Cervical Spinal Decompression

When Dr. Alvin Philipose finds an injured disc in the neck, one of the best treatments you can do is spinal decompression. Discs will sometimes move backward from between the adjacent vertebrae (known as neck bones) and press on the nerves in your spine. This is called a disc bulge or herniation. Disc bulges or herniations create inflammation and can cause shooting pain or numbness and tingling into your arms.
Cervical spinal decompression in Oklahoma City and surrounding areas will provide you gentle, sustained stretch on the neck. This stretch will alleviate pressure on the disc and the nerves. It can also create negative pressure within the disc, which can allow the disc to be pulled back to its normal position between the two vertebrae. Spinal decompression, along with chiropractic adjustments and corrective stretching, can alleviate this type of neck pain. They also provide a stable foundation to prevent the problem from happening again such as the foundation to your house.

Prolotherapy/Prolozone

Prolotherapy is a form of low risk, non-steroidal treatment for degenerative bones, a joint and ligaments. It is an injection of hypertonic dextrose solution at the affected area(s), such as for your cervical spine. The body has a natural self-healing capability. For example, if someone is bleeding from a cut, the blood can be naturally stopped as the body has a clotting factor (Your plasma stops the bleeding) . Secondly, a red wound signifies inflammation and more blood cells around the wound. Thirdly, tissues can repair themselves autonomously until the wound can properly heal.
Prolotherapy induces mild inflammation to initially activate the self-healing process. After triggering inflammation, the process of tissues repair will gradually start until the wound becomes healed or when the joint comes back to normal. The mechanism of action is different from an anti-inflammatory injection or when taking a pain relieve medication which only treats the symptoms. They do not actually address the root cause of the problem.

Dry Needling

When you have neck pain, the muscles in your neck are often painful to the touch. The irritable, hard “knots” within a muscle or connective tissue that may cause pain over a large area are called trigger points. Dry needling is a treatment that involves pushing a very thin needle through the skin to stimulate a trigger point. The needle may relax the tight muscle bands associated with trigger points. As a result, dry needling may be helpful in decreasing pain and increasing motion for patients with neck pain.
Trigger points can be a source of pain and may limit neck motion. Dry needling is a specialized treatment for trigger points that some physical therapists provide. In the short term, the findings of this study suggest that a single treatment of dry needling can decrease pain and improve motion. Dry needling is typically combined with other treatments, including exercises to further lessen pain and improve motion and the ability to perform daily activities. Your physical therapist can give you a thorough evaluation to help determine if you are a good candidate for this treatment as part of a program designed to reduce your pain and improve your function. For more information on the treatment of neck pain, contact your physical therapist specializing in musculoskeletal disorders.

Nutritional Supplementation

Because of the way we eat today and the environments in which we live in, our bodies are constantly deficient in the nutrition it needs. Our soils are depleted of the essential nutrients that go even in the most natural of foods. We cannot stress enough the importance of supplementation to address any deficiencies that our bodies may have accumulated over the years – causing the body to become more susceptible to disease.
Dr. Alvin Philipose integrated nutritional supplementation will include a full history and consultation regarding any signs or symptoms that you may be experiencing, various laboratory tests depending on your history, supplementation with high-quality therapeutic-grade natural ingredients, in- person follow-ups, and concurrent chiropractic adjustments to address the structure of the body and the function of the nervous system.
Call to Schedule a Complimentary Consultation
405.848.7246
Ask about Digital Motion X-Ray Imaging
Offering variety of pain management solutions 

Frequently Asked Questions

What is prolotherapy good for?

Many conditions respond well to prolotherapy, such as facet syndrome (back and neck arthritis), whiplash, joint sprains, degenerative disc disease, osteoarthritis, tennis elbow, sprains, chronic tendonitis, Ehler’s-Danlos Disease, Bulging disc, knee pain, shoulder pain Vagus nerve inflammation and more.

What are the risks of prolotherapy?

Theoretical risks of prolotherapy injections include soreness, infection or neurological (nerve) damage. Injections should be performed by trained physicians using universal precautions diagnostics examinations and tproper examinations. This results in very minimal side effects.

What is the average cost of prolotherapy?

Costs vary quite a bit from $150-$1500 dependent on type and contents of injections.

Is prolotherapy a permanent fix?

Prolotherapy is an all-natural, permanent treatment, as it relies on the body repairing itself to reduce pain. In contrast, pain relievers and anti-inflammatory medications only provide temporary relief. Booster shots as well has wellness therapies including stretching, massage, chiropractic, dry-needling and strengthening will help maintain progress.

Who is a good candidate for prolotherapy?

More specifically, prolotherapy may be right for you if you experience any of the following: Damaged or lost tissue, especially surrounding the joints. If patients have tried various traditional treatments including prescription drugs, physical therapy, or steroids but seen minimal to no results, prolotherapy may be right for you.

Why does prolotherapy hurt so much?

A patient is generally sore for a couple of days after Prolotherapy. This is because the injections have to go through some muscles to get to the ligaments and tendons. To help the muscle soreness resolve itself sooner, dry needling and moist heat applied to the area is recommended.

Is prolotherapy better than cortisone?

Cortisone can cause tendon rupture, particularly of the achilles tendon. Prolotherapy is a proven orthopedic treatment to reduce pain and strengthen weakened joints without the negative side effects of cortisone.

What are the pros and cons of prolotherapy?

Prolotherapy is great for strengthening weak joints and creating heightened muscle functionality, such as increased movement and flexibility. However, there are some risks involved, for example it is a shot like any other so there could be pain or tenderness to the injection site.

What should you not do after prolotherapy?

Due to the numbness we ask that you refrain from any strenuous activities but to stay mobile. Continue to move affected area to decrease soreness and stiffness. You should avoid strenuous physical activity for 2 days following injections. You will experience some pain and soreness 2-5 days after your treatment. Do not take any anti-inflammatories, pain medications or steroids during treatments. This may inhibit your body’s ability to heal the affected tissue.

How long does prolotherapy take to heal?

Most ligaments and tendons heal within a period of 3 months; however, the majority of healing after a prolotherapy session occurs in the first two weeks.

How many prolotherapy sessions will I need?

Prolotherapy treatments vary from person to person and from injury to injury. Many patients have experienced some relief of their pain with only one session. The average person requires anywhere from 3-12 treatment sessions spaced about 3-6 weeks apart from each other.

How long does a prolotherapy injection last?

On average, patients experience one year of improvement and relief from prolotherapy. However, there is a huge variation and sometimes improvement lasts from three months to 15 years.

What is injected during prolotherapy?

Prolotherapy involves injections of a mild irritant into the injured part of your body. Most of the time the injection contains saline, dextrose (a type of sugar), and lidocaine, which is a numbing agent. Dr. Philipose custom tailors the injection, so the exact composition depends on your needs. These injections may include natural collagen, minerals, amino acids and other natural substances to accelerate healing compared to traditional prolotherapy.

Is prolotherapy better than surgery?

Prolotherapy is considered a viable alternative to surgery, and as an option to pain medications, cortisone and other steroidal injections. The Prolotherapy procedure is considered a safe, affordable option that allows the patient to keep working and/or training during treatment.

Can prolotherapy reverse arthritis?

One study with 90 adults with knee osteoarthritis involved some participants getting monthly prolotherapy injections of dextrose for 3 to 5 months. Those who received prolotherapy saw a significant improvement in pain, function, and stiffness scores.

Does prolotherapy regrow cartilage?

Prolotherapy is an injection of a non-biologic substance with localized effects for repairing connective tissue injuries of the musculoskeletal system. Recent studies in humans show that prolotherapy stimulates cartilage regeneration.

Are you sedated for prolotherapy?

Prolotherapy is a safe, cost effective injection technique used for treating musculoskeletal injuries and chronic pain in various parts of the body. It is noninvasive, has limited side effects and does not require sedation.

What does dry needling actually do?

Dry needling treats muscle tissue, and its goal is to reduce pain, inactivate trigger points and restore function. It rarely is a standalone procedure. Rather, it often is part of a broader physical therapy approach incorporating other traditional physical therapy interventions into treatment.

What is dry needling and does it hurt?

We use very thin filament needles. The initial feeling of the needle entering through the skin is very minimal; much less than a vaccination or having blood drawn. Once the needle reaches the muscle, the twitch sensation feels more like a deep cramp and doesn't last long (15-30 seconds).

How long does dry needling results last?

After dry needling, experiencing some slight soreness is normal, and you will typically note an improvement in your symptoms within one to two days. How long the benefits will last will vary per individual. The first few treatments will usually have a short length of relief spanning over several days.

How many sessions of dry needling do you need?

If treatment zones are found and the correct muscle groups are targeted, sub-acute conditions will improve after three – four consecutive sessions, with chronic injuries requiring five – six consecutive needling sessions.

Does dry needling remove knots?

Dry needle therapy resolves muscle knots by inserting a very thin needle directly into the trigger point. The knot responds to the interruption and relaxes immediately. Most patients agree that dry needling doesn't hurt in the way that you might think!

How deep do dry needles go?

Superficial dry needling involves inserting a needle at a depth up to 10 mm or into the subcutaneous tissue and may be combined with manipulation of the needle while in situ.

Does dry needling reduce inflammation?

The micro tears caused by the needle prompts the body's natural defenses to get to work, bringing nutrient-rich blood to the site and boosting tissue repair. Dry needling also helps to dissipate inflammatory mediators, those substances that gather in an area of inflammation.

Is dry needling good for arthritis?

Dry needling is an effective treatment in reducing pain from osteoarthritis because it increases blood circulation around the joint, thereby providing natural relief.

What exactly does a chiropractor do?

A chiropractor is trained to make sure your body is functioning as optimally as possible by using spinal manipulations and other therapies to relieve pain in your joints and muscles. These spinal adjustments will increase blood flow and nerve conductivity to the joints and muscles that are experiencing pain. They are taught philosophically to find and treat the cause rather than just the symptoms.

Is it healthy to go to the chiropractor?

Spinal manipulation and chiropractic care are generally considered safe, effective treatments for acute low back pain, the type of sudden injury that results from acute or chronic conditions such as strains, arthritis or disc injuries.

What are the benefits of chiropractic care?

• Improves neck pain.
• Reduces reliance on opioid pain relievers. 
• Eases back pain.
• Possible reduction of osteoarthritis symptoms. 
• Eases headache symptoms. 
• More affordable treatment for chronic back pain. 
• High satisfaction. 
• Reduces scoliosis symptoms.

What are the cons of seeing a chiropractor?

Spinal and joint manipulation has a chance to go wrong and may cause unwanted injuries. So it is important that you only have an appointment with an experienced chiropractor that performs the necessary examinations and diagnostics to ensure safe treatments. DO NOT ALLOW a physical therapist or any other untrained person try a manipulation especially without X-rays.

When should you go to a chiropractor?

Chiropractors are most sought after to treat neck and low back pain due to acute or chronic pain. If you experience back pain that lasts for more than a few days, consult a chiropractor for an assessment.

What cracks when you see a chiropractor?

During a back adjustment, your back undergoes quick, gentle stretching of the spinal facet joint, so you may hear a cracking or popping noise. This is caused by small pockets of air or bubbles, which are in the fluid that surrounds your joints.

Why do chiropractors want you to keep coming back?

Changing your posture, changing your spine's ability to move, changing your muscle health and structure take time. Months in fact. All muscles have memory and your body wants to go back to its old patterns instead of creating new healthy ones. That is why adjustments need to be repeated again and again

Is chiropractic care is ineffective?

Critics are skeptical mainly due to the fact that chiropractic care does not involve medications or any invasive surgeries. Some have associated this practice with some side effects and fatal complications in some cases resulting in death or stroke. It also goes against the medical philosophy of not prescribing medications. In recent years there has been a comparison that shows not only Chiropractic to be safe, but healthier and more successful than taking steroids and medications. There are also various techniques now that prevent any type of injuries due the gentleness of the adjustment.

Why do some chiropractors crack and others don't?

The noises you hear during chiropractic treatment depend on the technique used. For example, some techniques cause a cracking sound, and others don't, but both can be highly effective, depending on your needs. So, whether you hear an abundance of pops or none at all, you don't need to worry.
If you have tried multiple types of doctors and treatments but still hurting, you may not have found the cause. We can help!
Find Us
7917 N May Ave, Oklahoma City, 
OK 73120, USA
(405) 848-7246
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