Is your neck pain coming from your shoulder, back, or higher up?
In this episode of the Orthopedic Injury and Pain Podcast Series, Dr. A. Michael Moheimani of Coast Spine and Sports Medicine discusses cervical facet syndrome, cervicogenic headaches, and cutting-edge treatment options that actually work.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
✔️ What cervical facet joints are and why they matter
✔️ How poor posture, whiplash, or workplace strain can cause facet injury
✔️ Why MRIs don’t always show the source of your pain
✔️ How diagnostic facet blocks work—and why they’re essential
✔️ The difference between radiculopathy and facet pain
✔️ When to use injections, physical therapy, or surgery
Understanding Facet Blocks:
Dr. Moheimani explains how targeted medial branch blocks help isolate the exact nerve responsible for pain, making both diagnosis and treatment more precise. You’ll also learn how injections like C2-C3 can relieve headaches that radiate behind the eyes.
Referencing the Research: Guidelines & Groundbreaking Studies
In this episode, Dr. Moheimani underscores the importance of evidence-based practice by referencing two landmark studies that have shaped modern understanding of cervical facet pain:
Consensus Practice Guidelines on Interventional Facet Joint Pain (Pain Medicine, 2021)
Published by Dr. Robert Hurley and a multidisciplinary international workgroup, this comprehensive review compiles decades of scientific literature and expert opinion. It outlines precise diagnostic criteria and evidence-backed treatment recommendations for managing facet-mediated pain, helping clinicians avoid misdiagnosis and choose the most effective interventional therapies.
Cadaveric Study on Whiplash Trauma – Dr. Stephen Lord et al. (1990)
Dr. Moheimani also references a foundational study in which cadavers from motor vehicle accident victims were examined to understand the biomechanical forces at play during whiplash. The research demonstrated how sudden acceleration-deceleration injuries, like those sustained in car crashes, can cause microtrauma and inflammation to the facet joints, particularly at levels like C2-C3. This study laid the groundwork for identifying cervical facet syndrome as a real and measurable source of chronic pain, especially when imaging like MRI fails to reveal the problem.
Together, these studies provide a robust framework for accurate diagnosis, targeted treatments, and the avoidance of unnecessary surgeries for neck pain caused by facet joint dysfunction.
About Dr. A. Michael Moheimani:
A trusted spine and sports medicine specialist, Dr. Moheimani brings decades of experience in treating spinal injuries with a balanced approach of conservative care and interventional techniques.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction: What Causes Neck Pain?
01:43 First Steps: Diagnosis by an orthopedic doctor, physical therapist, or chiropractor
02:30 What are the Facet Joints, and what is Facet Syndrome?
08:21 Chronic Cervical Zygapophysical Joint Pain After Whiplash, Dr. S.M. Lord
11:31 Consensus Practice Guidelines on Interventions for Cervical Spine Joint Pain, Dr. Hurley
12:08 What is Done in a Facet Block?
12:55 Third Occipital Nerve
13:48 Atlanto-occipital Joint
14:00 Atlanto-axio Joint
14:49 Use of Fluoroscopy
15:00 Pain Report
16:00 Treatment for Cervical Facet Syndrome
17:28 Definitive Treatment Options
18:35 Summation
Watch Next:
Check out other Orthopedic Injury and Pain Podcast Series episodes for expert insights into back pain, joint injuries, and regenerative treatments.
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#NeckPain #FacetSyndrome #CervicalSpine #OrthopedicPodcast #PainManagement #SpineCare #HeadacheRelief #FacetBlock #CervicogenicHeadache #SportsMedicine
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