Types of Neck Ligament Injuries

Symptoms caused by Cervical Instability
- Anxiety
- Balance difficulty
- Cognitive impairment
- Crepitation
- Difficulty sleeping
- Dizziness
- Drop attacks
- Dysphagia
- Ear pain
- Fatigue
- Feel the need to crack the neck
- Headaches
- Inability to “hold” an adjustment
- Irritability
- Lightheadedness
- Memory problems
- Migraines
- Muscle tightness/spasms
- Nausea / vomiting
- Neck pain / stiffness / soreness
- Paresthesias
- Radiating pain into arms and/or shoulders
- Speech disturbances
- Temporary relief with neck brace
- Tinnitus
- Vertigo
- Visual disturbances
These symptoms can be signs of the cervical neck pain conditions caused by cervical instability which also respond very well to comprehensive Prolotherapy treatments.
Chronic Conditions caused by Cervical Neck Instability
Instability
associated
disorder
pain
concussion
syndrome
syndrome
insufficiency
The Horrific Progression of Neck Degeneration
with Unresolved Cervical Instability

Cervical instability is a progressive disorder causing a normal lordotic curve to end up as an “S” or “Snake” curve with crippling degeneration.
Whole Body Effects of Cervical Instability
Cervical instability can influence the nervous system of the whole body and thus every tissue.

Prolotherapy Treatment for Cervical Neck Pain
The ligaments that hold the cervical vertebrae in alignment can be damaged via a sudden trauma, such as a whiplash or concussion, or through the slow stretching of ligaments, known as creep. This can be attributed to extended hours of poor posture in front of a computer or smartphone, or other position that slowly stretches the ligaments.

Cervical instability causes the facet joints to move too much and this can cause pinched nerves, headaches, vertigo, and drop attacks, among other symptoms. This movement can clearly be seen by using Digital Motion X-ray (DMX) technology. It allows the practitioner and the patient to observe the vertebrae movement as the patient moves his or her neck through the full range of motion. DMX is an excellent tool for assistance to diagnose the problem and is often recommended for patients instead of a static x-ray or MRI. Motion studies and physical exam indicates to the Prolotherapist which areas are causing the patient’s symptoms and direct the course of treatment.
Digital Motion X-ray of Neck Showing Pinched Nerve from Cervical Instability
Notice the neural foramina obstruction during lateral extension on this patient which resolves with neck flexion. When this peatient extended his neck, gapping of the facet joints from capsular ligament laxity causes cervical nerves to get pinched, causing severe pain down his arm. Prolotherapy resolved his cervical instability and the associated symptoms.

Prolotherapy is an extremely safe and effective treatment for chronic neck pain and instability because it strengthens the ligaments that are weak and causing the pain. The injections restart the body’s natural healing cascade to the weakened structures that otherwise have a poor blood supply and have ceased being able to repair on their own. It is like supplying construction workers who are waiting at the site with the right tools to complete the job. Each treatment builds upon itself, and as the tissue strengthens the patient notices fewer symptoms and increased stability. Typically, a few treatments are needed to permanently restore the integrity of the ligaments so the symptoms are fully resolved and the patient is back to full activities.
Prolotherapy to the Cervical Facet Joints
Prolotherapy is the treatment of choice when cervical instability is the cause of a patient’s chronic neck pain, headaches, migraines, vertigo, ringing in the ears, and other symptoms of cervicocranial syndrome. By stabilizing the vertebral motion, Prolotherapy resolves the impingement of the cervical sympathetic ganglion and the resultant symptoms.

Why “Comprehensive” H3 Prolotherapy makes the most sense
Our specialists utilize the comprehensive technique called H3 Prolotherapy, which means the entire neck area is treated, not just one or two injections. Just as a loose hinge on a door begins to affect the adjacent hinges, injured ligaments mean the surrounding ligament structures of the neck have been under added stress. In the long term, this not only results in worsening symptoms, but also increasing damage to the discs.
Degenerative Door Cascade compared to the Cervical Disc Deterioration Process
The process of disc deterioration begins with a single capsular ligament injury and ends with multi-level Degenerative Disc Disease. Prolotherapy is successful because it addresses the root cause of the arthritic cascade which is cervical instability.

When you understand spinal instability, it only makes sense to address all of these areas versus only targeting a couple structures. In our experience, this technique provides superior patient results. When it comes to patients who have already begun to lose their lordotic curve, we may utilize additional protocols, including cervical weights to help restore a proper curve. Our treatment protocols are tailored to each patient’s specific needs.
Our team is accustomed to very complicated cases, so please do not assume all hope is lost for you, even if you have seen 10 other specialists. You are probably a more “normal” case for us than you think. Reach out and tell us more about what you are dealing with, and we will review your case to see if you sound like a good fit for our centers. Remember, our motto is “Hope practiced here.” And we stand by that!
Our Research on the use of Prolotherapy for Cervical Neck Pain
In our observational study of patients with unresolved neck pain who were treated with dextrose prolotherapy at an outpatient charity clinic in rural Illinois patients showed substantial improvement in numerous outcome measures. The complete study and results can be read here: Hauser R, et al. Dextrose Prolotherapy for unresolved neck pain. Practical Pain Management. 2007;October:56-69.
Pain scale is 1-10 where 1 = no pain & 10 = unrelenting pain.
We get patient satisfaction results. 97% of patients in this study felt that Prolotherapy changed their life for the better and 99% have since recommended Prolotherapy to someone else.
Our other studies on regenerative treatment outcomes for cervical neck pain
- Cervical Instability as a Cause of Barré-Liéou Syndrome and Definitive Treatment with Prolotherapy: A Case Series
- Non-Operative Treatment of Cervical Radiculopathy: A Three Part Article from the Approach of a Physiatrist, Chiropractor, and Physical Therapists
- The Biology of Prolotherapy and Its Application in Clinical Cervical Spine Instability and Chronic Neck Pain: A Retrospective Study
- Prolotherapy as an Alternative to Surgery
- A Systematic Review of Dextrose Prolotherapy for Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain
- Evidence-Based Use of Dextrose Prolotherapy for Musculoskeletal Pain: A Scientific Literature Review
- Joint Instability Treatment with Prolotherapy
- Upper Cervical Instability of Traumatic Origin Treated with Dextrose Prolotherapy: A Case Report
Patient Success Stories using Prolotherapy for Cervical Neck Pain

Cervical Fusion
MR received a cervical fusion after falling from a ladder, but symptoms worsened despite fusion and rehabilitation. Three years later he undertook Prolotherapy, and after his initial treatment, MR had relief from headaches, dizziness, insomnia and neck pain for the first time in years, with friends noting he even looked like a different person.
Cervical fusion generally does not resolve all pain complaints, because instability involves the vertebral segments besides those fused. These segments then deteriorate at a faster rate, producing even more years of suffering and pain. Prolotherapy stabilizes all of the involved vertebral segments non-surgically.

Upper Cervical Instability of Traumatic Origin Treated with Dextrose Prolotherapy
A 47-year-old female with a history of trauma presented to our clinic in 2013 with headaches, chronic pain in the neck and upper limbs, and intermittent tingling in one arm. Pain was exacerbated by head movement. The patient was treated with dextrose prolotherapy at each of four visits over five months. At visit 2, tingling and crepitation had abated, while pain intensity was unchanged. At visit 3, headaches had resolved, and pain had become more localized. At visit 4, pain intensity had decreased significantly, crepitation had resolved completely, and she had begun bicycle exercise.
Dextrose prolotherapy was associated with progressive symptomatic relief and functional gain, beginning one month after initiation of treatment, and also with improvement of upper cervical stability. The findings support an approach to chronic neck pain based on the facilitation of ligamentous repair. Read the entire case report here.

Prolotherapy for Whiplash Injury
JK suffered a whiplash injury at age 44 which rapidly progressed from a headache to difficulty walking and talking. She saw multiple specialists in her search for answers and received differing opinions on her condition. For almost 10 years prior to being seen at Caring Medical, JK experienced headaches, dizziness, elevated heart rate, and drop attacks. After analysis by Dr. Hauser, including a digital motion x-ray (DMX), she was diagnosed with cervical instability. JK underwent 3 treatments of Prolotherapy, one of those included Platelet Rich Plasma. Not only were her symptoms alleviated, but she has not experienced a drop attack since her last treatment!
Proper blood flow in the vertebral arteries is crucial to provide circulation to the posterior half of the brain. When this blood supply is insufficient, vertebrobasilar insufficiency (VBI) can develop and cause symptoms, such as neck pain, headaches/migraines, dizziness, drop attacks, vertigo, difficulty swallowing and/or speaking, and auditory and visual disturbances. This can be induced by extreme rotation or extension of the head. A comprehensive Prolotherapy treatment series can help strengthen the ligaments that stabilize the upper cervical spine, preventing excess motion.

Cervicocranial Syndrome, Sternoclavicular Sprain, Cervical Instability
After catching a falling 30lb box, RB experienced right-sided neck and sternoclavicular pain. Cervical instability symptoms like tinnitus, difficulty swallowing, heel/toe numbness and migraines developed. She received physical therapy & chiropractic with minimal relief. Two orthopedic surgeons relayed that surgery would be too dangerous. Discouraged, RB sought Regenerative Injection Therapy, but her initial Prolotherapist did not perform a comprehensive treatment. Although symptoms decreased for a time, they later returned. Doing more research into more comprehensive Prolotherapy techniques, RB decided to try Caring Medical. She received comprehensive Prolotherapy and PRP treatment under ultrasound guidance. After 3 Comprehensive Prolotherapy treatments with added Platelet Rich Plasma, RB saw a 95% improvement and returned to the activities she enjoyed.
Not all Prolotherapists are the same. Hackett Hemwall Prolotherapy is considered a more comprehensive technique that addresses more than just a couple facet injections. Safe and effective, this technique also treats all of the posterior ligament and tendon attachments along the neck and base of the skull, as well as the upper cervical C1-C2 vertebrae when performed by cervical specialist Prolotherapists.

Thoracic Outlet Syndrome Misdiagnosis
CB was a 52 year old woman who came to Caring Medical after suffering for more than a year with neck pain, nausea, blurred vision, muscle spasms, and other symptoms associated with cervical instability. She had attempted many routes of care including; chiropractic, acupuncture, epidurals, and physical therapy. All with no relief! CB had been mistakenly diagnosed with Thoracic Outlet Syndrome by another physician who was unfamiliar with spinal instability. She had a standard MRI which showed spondylosis. Before treatment with Caring Medical she was taking between 10 and 12 tablets of Advil a day for her pain. She was no longer able to continue her active lifestyle and felt her quality of life had greatly diminished. CB received 6 rounds of Prolotherapy with Platelet Rich Plasma to her cervical and thoracic spine after being diagnosed with disc displacement and radiculopathy. She noticed improvement with each treatment, but after her last treatment she reported 100% pain relief!
Diagnoses involving the discs, such as disc displacement, bulging discs, herniated discs, radiculopathy, and others are rooted in cervical instability. When the vertebrae are allowed to move too much due to the ligament being too lax to allow for safe movement, discs can become displaced and other supportive structures break down. MRI findings are generally the result of cervical instability.

Mast Cell Activation Syndrome
SS came to Caring Medical describing symptoms of “maddening body itching,” which began a year prior, after taking prednisone. Zyrtec relieved the itch temporarily. Other symptoms included worsening migraines, intense sinus symptoms and neck “crunching noises” with head movement. Vagus nerve entrapment was suspected, and Prolotherapy to the neck was given to stabilize the loose vertebrae. Symptoms resolved, including migraines and itching, after only two treatments.
Cervical instability can cause vagus nerve entrapment and a variety of symptoms. Patients see practitioners due to the symptoms that arise but are never properly traced back to the vagus nerve. It often takes patients several practitioners and years of chasing the symptoms to finally get to the root cause. Many of these symptoms can be successfully resolved once the root cause is treated with regenerative injection therapy for the ligaments as well as the nerves.

Prolotherapy for a Herniated Disc
DE visited Caring Medical at the recommendation of her chiropractor after she was diagnosed with a herniated disc in her neck at the age of 48. She had been suffering for 6 weeks with neck pain and numbness in her left arm. DE received 5 rounds of Comprehensive Dextrose Prolotherapy to her cervical spine. She is now able to exercise and play golf pain-free!
To strengthen the ligaments, restore normal vertebral movement, and stop excessive spinal instability, a few Prolotherapy treatments are typically all that is necessary. Prolotherapy may be combined with chiropractic, physical therapy, bracing or other adjunctive therapies on an individual basis.

Neck Pain After Shoulder Surgery
BF, age 86, developed neck pain after rehabbing a shoulder injury. Diagnostic scans of the cervical spine showed osteoarthritis and forward head posture. After physical therapy and myofascial release treatments failed to help restore full function, she presented to Caring Medical with pain at the base of her skull and limited cervical rotation. The Prolotherapist recommended 5 to 6 treatments of H3 Prolotherapy while wearing a cervical collar between treatments, for added stability. She reported steady improvement with each treatment and was able to lessen the time she needed to wear the collar, as the area stabilized. After her 6th treatment, she reported feeling 98% better. She no longer had any neck pain or need to wear the collar. While BF may need to return in the future for an occasional treatment due to her forward head posture, she is now able to use her sewing machine as much as she would like without worrying about neck pain.
Functional goals are important. For this patient, being able to use a sewing machine was one of the reasons to undergo treatment. It is not just pain that affects people, it is the loss of independence or ability to do the things we love. This is why we are so passionate about helping people get back to their favorite hobbies and enjoying life again!

Disabling Severe Upper Cervical Instability
JG suffered from neck instability symptoms for 3 years after an injury before consulting with Caring Medical. He presented with many different symptoms including constant vertigo, increased heart rate, photophobia, and radiculopathy. JG considered himself completely disabled as he could not play with his children, exercise, drive, or work out of the home. He only felt some relief when laying down on a flat surface. He had seen a chiropractor for one neck adjustment which left him unable to walk for 6 months. JG had to adjust his career in order to work from home and constantly wear a neck collar for stability. Upon physical and Digital Motion X-ray exam in our clinic, he was diagnosed with severe upper cervical instability and loss of lordotic curve. It was estimated that he would need at least 8 H3 Prolotherapy treatments due to the severity of his condition. He began monthly treatments and, with each visit, he reported improvement. After 3 treatments of H3 Prolotherapy, JG reported that his dizziness, headaches, and photophobia had lessened in frequency. A Digital Motion X-ray was done to gauge and confirm improvement. He was cleared to begin Caring Cervical Realignment Therapy in conjunction with his H3 Prolotherapy treatments. He was recently seen for his 8th and possibly final visit where he reported 90% improvement. Prior to being seen at Caring Medical, JG had almost lost hope that he would ever live a “normal life” again. He had been told by multiple physicians that he would not be able to find a cure. With help from Caring Medical, he was able to play with his kids and start exercising again. When we last spoke, JG expressed gratitude for having his life back.
Cervical instability is a progressive disorder. Thus, is common for us to have a new patient arrive in our office nearly disabled and on the brink of complete disability due to an onslaught of worsening cervical instability symptoms. While the normal treatment course is closer to 4-6 visits, more severe cases can be 6-10. Realize that the majority of your “precious real estate” is located along the upper cervical spine. Every action your body does, every sensation, all communications to the brain run through this area. Therefore, it is “normal” for patients to have a wide variety of symptoms due to cervical instability. As the posterior ligaments of the neck are stabilized, function improves and a more normal life can resume.

Cervical Instability as a Cause of Barré-Liéou Syndrome: Case 1
E.O., a 33-year-old man from Ireland, presented to Caring Medical and Rehabilitation in September 2013 for an evaluation of his chronic neck pain and tinnitus that he suffered after a bicycle accident in 2008. The patient’s neck pain was bilateral and constant, which prevented him from sleeping well. He admitted to taking tramadol and diazepam as needed for neck pain. In addition to the pain and tinnitus, the patient reported crepitation in his cervical spine and a history of vertigo and dizziness, but denied any radiculopathy. E.O. had previously tried chiropractic care (including manipulations) and physical therapy without relief. E.O. received four prolotherapy treatments to his posterior neck over the next 5 months with gradual improvement of symptoms.
The patient was injected with 55-75 cc of solution at each visit, including PRP to the facet joints of C1-C3 bilaterally and with standard solution (15% dextrose, 0.1% procaine, and 10% sarapin) to the remaining areas (C4-C7). An additional 0.5 to 1.0 cc of polidocanol was included in each syringe at each treatment. After two treatments, E.O. reported 40% improvement. The patient said that the crepitation in his neck had decreased significantly and his main complaint was no longer pain, just neck weakness. He no longer needed to take tramadol or diazepam for pain.
At his fourth and final visit, E.O. reported that his neck still felt weak, but neck crepitation was still reduced. E.O. said that he was continuing to avoid self-manipulation, which had become easier to refrain from. Since he still lived in Ireland, E.O. became unable to travel to travel to the United States to continue treatment, but reported that he was maintaining improvement upon phone follow up in November 2014. At that time, E.O. said that he was continuing to improve in terms of pain and function in the hope that he could begin running again as a hobby. Read the entire case report here.

Cervical Instability as a Cause of Barré-Liéou Syndrome: Case 2
P.V., a 43-year-old male, came to our chronic pain clinic in August 2012 for treatment to his posterior neck. The patient had been in a motor vehicle accident 20 years ago. Eight months after the accident, he began to suffer from neck pain that had intensified over time. At the initial appointment, P.V. had burning pain that radiated from his neck down through his shoulders and arms to his fingers. These symptoms improved upon lying down, but increased when he stood up. When his neck pain was intense, P.V. experienced eye pain and cervical headaches. P.V. admitted that he self-manipulated his neck, which made him feel better temporarily. About a year prior to coming to our clinic, this patient had plain radiographs taken of his cervical spine, which showed disc degeneration at multiple levels. The orthopedic surgeon who ordered the radiographs did not think the discs were causing his pain, so P.V. was only managing his pain with occasional acetaminophen.
P.V. underwent a series of five prolotherapy treatments to his entire posterior cervical spine, including C1 (Figure 6). At each session, 60-90 cc of solution was administered throughout these locations. The solution consisted of 15% dextrose, 0.1% procaine, and 10% sarapin with the addition of 1 cc polidocanol per 10 cc syringe. The standard course for prolotherapy involves treatment every 4 to 6 weeks until symptoms are resolved, but P.V. received prolotherapy to his neck every 8 weeks due to his schedule. His last treatment was in March 2013.
With each treatment, P.V. noticed a decrease in his symptoms until his headaches, eye and facial pain, and radiculopathy were completely relieved. After his first treatment, the patient noticed a decrease in crepitation and radiculopathy symptoms. By his third treatment, his headaches and neck pain had reduced significantly. After his last appointment, P.V. reported substantial decreases in his pain and associated symptoms. During the time in between prolotherapy sessions, the patient wore a hard cervical collar during the day and a soft cervical collar at night. Since P.V. worked at a restaurant, it was imperative for him to wear a hard collar during the day to prevent excess rotation or flexion of his neck as he moved around the kitchen, as well as to prevent self-manipulation. As his symptoms continued to resolve, the patient was able to discontinue use of the collars. The patient’s last follow up by phone was in March 2014, when P.V. reported his neck was doing well and pain remained resolved. Read the entire case report here.

Cervical Instability as a Cause of Barré-Liéou Syndrome: Case 3
N.N., a 57-year-old female, consulted Caring Medical and Rehabilitation for chronic neck pain and associated symptoms in August 2012. This patient suffered a motor vehicle accident at the age of 16 years old. Symptoms included severe headaches, jaw aches, neck and shoulder pain, brain fog, and eye pain. On average, her neck pain was 6 on a scale of 0 to 10 (0 meaning no pain and 10 being the worst pain possible) and frequency was 10 of 10 (100% of the time). N.N. brought a recent x-ray report to her first appointment that showed mild cervical degeneration without foraminal narrowing. The patient reported that she could feel her head "shift" when she did not wear a cervical collar.
N.N. was diagnosed with cervical instability and received four prolotherapy treatments at Caring Medical over an 11-month span to alleviate her pain and symptoms. Ideally, patients with this condition should receive treatment every 4 to 6 weeks. The patient’s neck, including C1, was treated at every visit (Figure 6) with 45 to 110 cc of solution, including 10% dextrose, 0.1% procaine, and 10% sarapin with an additional 1 cc of polidocanol added to each 10 cc syringe (maximum 10 cc total). It was recommended that N.N. wear a hard cervical collar (Aspen® collar, Aspen Medical Products, Irvine, CA) to prevent excessive motion of her cervical spine, especially C1-C2. Although the patient was not compliant with wearing a hard collar, she did wear a soft cervical collar which did help.
After her first treatment, N.N. reported a reduction in her headaches and pain, and stated that it felt as if her neck was becoming more stable. By her third visit, N.N. estimated she was about 80% better. At her fourth and final treatment in July 2013, N.N. could sleep on her side without her neck shifting and reported a 90% improvement in all other symptoms. At the patient’s last telephone follow up in March 2014, N.N. reported that she was doing well and had maintained her improvement. Read the entire case report here.

Cervical Instability as a Cause of Barré-Liéou Syndrome: Case 4
E.G., a 31-year-old female was first treated at our clinic in October 2012 for chronic neck pain of more than 10 years duration and associated suboccipital migraines. In 2001, E.G.’s job required her to do a lot of heavy lifting. It is thought that she injured her neck during that time, as that is when her neck pain began. At her initial visit, E.G. said that her pain was worse in the suboccipital area and she experienced significant crepitation upon neck movement. She admitted to self-manipulating her neck multiple times per hour as a way to temporarily relieve pain. Prior diagnostics of CT and x-ray showed the beginning stages of osteoarthritis. E.G. had tried chiropractic care, physical therapy, and medications to treat her chronic neck pain and migraines, but without relief.
E.G. underwent a series of six prolotherapy treatments to her complete cervical spine, including C1 (Figure 6). A total of 60-70 cc of solution was injected throughout these structures each time. Standard prolotherapy solution (15% dextrose, 0.1% procaine, and 10% sarapin) was used with the addition of 0.5 cc polidocanol per syringe at the first and second visit, and 1.0 cc polidocanol per syringe on the third through sixth visits. (It is customary to increase this dosage if the patient does not appear to be improving at an expected rate.) Each treatment was spaced approximately 4 weeks from the previous one, with the exception of the patient’s sixth session, which was 6 weeks after her fifth session. (The standard course of prolotherapy for cervical instability is treatment every 4 to 6 weeks.) After each treatment, E.G. slowly noticed a decrease of her symptoms. Throughout this time, she wore a soft cervical collar as needed for neck pain and what she described as "neck fatigue." The collar prevented her from self-manipulating her neck on a regular basis and minimally to moderately helped relieve her neck pain when it was really bothering her. At her fourth treatment, she reported that she was having more "good days" than "bad days" and the severity of her migraines had significantly decreased. By her sixth and final visit in March 2013, E.G. reported an 85% improvement with complete reduction in crepitation and migraine headaches. The patient was unavailable after this date for further follow up of long-term results. Read the entire case report here.

Cervical Instability as a Cause of Barré-Liéou Syndrome: Case 5
C.H., a 35-year-old male, was seen at Caring Medical and Rehabilitation for chronic neck pain following a motor vehicle accident in 2010. Along with neck pain, the patient began to experience associated symptoms of blurred vision, eye floaters, dizziness, and ear fullness on the left side. He also experienced migraines on a regular basis and reported that he had recurring crepitation in his neck with movement. C.H. was taking naproxen frequently for his migraine headaches. He had been seeing a chiropractor regularly for 8 months for high-velocity manipulations and self-manipulating his neck on his own for temporary relief. C.H. denied any numbness, tingling, or radiculopathy symptoms.
C.H. received five prolotherapy treatments between April 2012 and December 2012 for Barré-Liéou syndrome. The patient’s right neck was only treated at the first visit while the left neck was treated every time (Figure 6). This was based on C.H.’s symptoms and pain location at each visit. An injection of 40-60 cc of solution was given at each treatment, consisting of 15% dextrose, 0.1% procaine, and 10% sarapin. It was recommended that the patient wear a hard cervical collar (Aspen® collar) 24 hours per day every day for 4 weeks after treatment, but the C.H. only wore it during the day and not while sleeping. For his last four treatment sessions, 1 cc of polidocanol was added to each 10 cc syringe to increase healing. Over this time, C.H. reported significant decreases in crepitation, blurry vision, migraines, and ear fullness. At his last visit in December 2012, the patient reported 90% overall improvement in his neck pain and associated symptoms since starting prolotherapy. Upon follow up in March 2014, the patient reported that he was no longer experiencing neck pain, no longer needed to wear a cervical collar, and could exercise without any restrictions. Read the entire case report here.

Cervical Instability as a Cause of Barré-Liéou Syndrome: Case 6
E.G., a 26-year-old female, came to our chronic pain clinic in June 2013 for prolotherapy treatment to her neck. Following a motor vehicle accident in 2011, E.G. was still suffering from chronic neck pain, dizziness, nausea, muscle spasms, and radiating pain into her shoulders. She had previously been diagnosed with whiplash injury and tried chiropractic care, physical therapy, and massage therapy—all without relief of her symptoms. The patient’s MRI was normal except for some mild loss of the lordotic curve. Her digital motion x-ray (DMX) showed damage to multiple ligaments (posterior and anterior longitudinal ligaments, capsular ligaments, and the alar and accessory ligaments) and upper cervical instability. Due to E.G.’s chronic neck discomfort, she was taking tramadol 50 mg every 4 to 6 hours daily for pain.
E.G. underwent a series of six prolotherapy treatments over the next 9 months. She was treated with a 15% dextrose, 0.1% procaine, and 10% sarapin solution with an additional 1 cc of polidocanol per syringe. A total of 60-100 cc of solution was used at each treatment (Figure 6). In the time between her first and second treatment in June and July 2013, E.G. wore a soft cervical collar at least half of the time daily. After her first two treatments, the patient noticed that her headaches were decreasing in frequency and severity, but she was still struggling with the other symptoms. At her third visit in August, E.G. was also treated with PRP. This solution was targeted at C0-C3 facet joints bilaterally while the other treated areas received the previous solution. At her fourth visit in September, her nausea and dizziness had completely absolved. By her fifth visit in November 2013, E.G. reported 75% overall improvement and explained that she no longer needed to take tramadol every 4 to 6 hours. At that point, she reported only requiring 1.5 tablets per day. At her next appointment and treatment in February 2014, E.G. reported 75% overall improvement and reported that her headaches were continuing to decrease significantly. Read the entire case report here.

Cervical Instability as a Cause of Barré-Liéou Syndrome: Case 7
W.G., a 43-year-old male, presented to our clinic for prolotherapy treatment to his neck for chronic neck pain and daily migraines. The patient had a history of whiplash injury and multiple concussions that he suffered while playing football in high school and college. At the time, W.G.’s most recent MRI showed multiple bulging discs. He had previously tried National Upper Cervical Chiropractic Association (NUCCA) style of manipulation, a gentle and noninvasive technique to reduce C1 subluxation, but the chiropractor was unable to stabilize C1 and C2. The patient’s DMX showed upper cervical instability and injury to multiple ligaments, including the posterior and anterior longitudinal ligaments, multiple capsular ligaments, and the accessory and alar ligaments. W.G. admitted to regular, daily self-manipulation of his cervical spine for temporary pain relief.
W.G. received five prolotherapy treatments between March 2012 and June 2012. The last three treatments were performed under fluoroscopic guidance (Figure 6) with 45-80 cc of total solution at each treatment session. (It should be noted that the standard course of prolotherapy treatments are typically administered 4 to 6 weeks apart, but in some patients they can be given at shorter intervals without harm to the patient.) The solution consisted of 15% dextrose, 0.1 % procaine, and 10% sarapin. At his first and second treatments, an addition of 0.5 cc of sodium morrhuate was included in each 10 cc syringe. At the patient’s third visit, the amount of sodium morrhuate was increased to 1.0 cc to stimulate more healing. At his fourth and fifth visit, 1.0 cc of polidocanol was added to each syringe, as sodium morrhuate was no longer manufactured. With each treatment, W.G. noticed a continual decrease in neck pain, crepitation, and migraines. At his last follow up in April 2014, W.G. remained free of migraines and only occasionally suffered from subtle neck pain. Read the entire case report here.

Cervical Instability as a Cause of Barré-Liéou Syndrome: Case 8
D.K., a 53-year-old female, came to Caring Medical and Rehabilitation in 2011 for treatment of chronic neck pain that had lasted more than 35 years and underlying upper cervical instability. The patient said that her right side was more painful than her left. D.K. had been undergoing NUCCA chiropractic care for four months previous to her initial visit. At that time, her adjustments were not holding for more than a day, forcing her to get NUCCA three times per week. The patient denied any self-manipulation of her cervical spine. D.K. reported intermittent numbness and tingling in her wrists and upper extremities, neck stiffness, and crepitation. In addition, she suffered from dizziness and difficulty concentrating when her cervical vertebrae were out of alignment.
D.K. received 13 prolotherapy treatments from August 2011 to December 2012. It was recommended that she wear a soft cervical collar in between treatments to help her avoid extraneous rotation and movement of her neck. All 13 treatments involved injections to her neck and four of the sessions included treatments to her stylomandibular ligaments as well (Figure 6). D.K. received treatment with a variety of solutions, including standard solution (15% dextrose, 0.1% procaine, and 10% sarapin) with additional sodium morrhuate or polidocanol, platelet-rich plasma, and direct tibial bone marrow. Throughout the duration of treatments, D.K. reported continual improvement with progressive relief of symptoms. While most of her treatments occurred in a private office setting, three treatment sessions (specifically visits 7, 8, and 9) were performed under fluoroscopic guidance and at a nearby chiropractic office.
By her seventh treatment in March 2012, D.K. was reporting 50% improvement in her neck pain and associated symptoms. At that point, she was still experiencing crepitus and stiffness in her posterior neck. A DMX was performed to objectively evaluate the patient’s cervical instability. Results revealed straightening of the normal lordosis, areas of anterolisthesis and retrolisthesis, damage to her posterior and anterior longitudinal ligaments, capsular ligaments, and alar and accessory ligaments, and abnormal lateral translation of C1 on C2. By her twelfth session in October 2012, D.K. reported 70% overall improvement. Upon her last telephone follow up in March 2014, D.K. no longer complained of pain, crepitation, or stiffness in her upper cervical vertebrae, including C1 and C2, and no longer needed to see a chiropractor for adjustments. Read the entire case report here.

Upper Cervical Instability of Traumatic Origin Treated with Dextrose Prolotherapy
A 47-year-old female with a history of trauma presented to our clinic in 2013 with headaches, chronic pain in the neck and upper limbs, and intermittent tingling in one arm. Pain was exacerbated by head movement. Examination showed crepitation at C0 – C2, and severe spasms and tenderness in the trapezius and paraspinal muscles. The patient was treated with dextrose prolotherapy at each of four visits over five months. Digital motion X-ray (DMX) was performed between visits 1 and 2, showing straightening of cervical lordosis and upper and lower cervical instability, with offsets of right and left lateral masses of C1 on C2, anterolisthesis of C2 on C3 and of C3 on C4, capsular ligament damage at C6-C7 and facet hypertrophy at C4-C5. At visit 2, tingling and crepitation had abated, while pain intensity was unchanged. At visit 3, headaches had resolved, and pain had become more localized. At visit 4, pain intensity had decreased significantly, crepitation had resolved completely, and she had begun bicycle exercise. DMX one month after visit 4 showed persistent straightening of lordosis and facet hypertrophy, as well as some anterolisthesis, while the offsets of the lateral masses of C1 on C2 with rotation were reduced by 33-50%. Read the entire case report here.

Cervicocranial Syndrome (Barré-Liéou)
Although unaware of any precipitating factor, LL experienced tinnitus, sternoclavicular swelling, dizziness, neck stiffness/pain, muscle pain and feeling off-balance from vertigo twice weekly. After 18 months of suffering, LL pursued relief with Prolotherapy. Examination and radiographs revealed cervical instability with severe atlas subluxation. Repeat x-rays post-Prolotherapy treatment demonstrated correction of the subluxation, but more importantly all of the symptomatology and pain had completely subsided after 8 treatments.
Cervical instability is a common cause of a plethora of disabling symptoms, which can be cured by stabilizing the injured cervical ligaments with Prolotherapy.
More Information About Prolotherapy for Cervical Neck Pain
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Articles about Prolotherapy for Cervical Neck Pain
- The secondary cough headache and Chiari type I malformation
- The thunderclap headache
- A medical mystery: “How could my problems be caused by cervical neck instability when I don’t have any neck pain?”
- Symptoms and conditions of internal jugular vein stenosis caused by boney cervical spine compression
- Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion and Non-Surgical Options
- Cervical spondylotic myelopathy
- Recent Research on Elective Cervical Spine Surgery
- Cervical spine problems, Vagus nerve compression, urinary incontinence
- Ernest Syndrome | Is this the answer to unresolved TMJ, facial, ear and throat pain?
- Can excessive yawning be an indication of neurologic disease?
- Cervical adjacent segment disease: Risks and complications following cervical fusion
- Sexual function and cervical spine instability in men and women
- Excessive Sweating – Hyperhidrosis. Is treating upper cervical instability the missing treatment?
- Forward head posture symptoms and complications
- Cervicogenic headaches: Migraines, tension headaches and cervical spine instability
- Brachioradial Pruritus – Neuropathic itch
- Vagus Nerve related Cervical Dysphagia and Laryngeal – Laryngotracheal stenosis – Problems of the voice
- Sudden sensorineural hearing loss – Sudden Deafness
- Non-surgical treatment for Trigeminal Neuralgia: Research
- How neck pain and cervical spine instability cause nausea, gastroparesis and other digestive problems
- Occipital neuralgia and Suboccipital headache – C2 neuralgia treatments without nerve block or surgery
- Hiccups, Cough, Neck Pain, and Vagus and Phrenic Nerve Injury
- Essential Tremor
- Trigeminal Cardiac Reflex
- Cervical Angina
- What does Sympathetic Dominance mean?
- Dissociation, Anxiety, Personality Disorders and Depression – Uncontrolled emotion in cervical spine instability patients
- Vestibular migraine and spontaneous vertigo – Migraine Associated Vertigo
- Treatment of Whiplash associated disorders
- Thermoregulatory instability – Neck pain and inability to maintain consistent body temperature
- Compression of the brainstem – Atlantoaxial instability and Atlas displacement
- When persistent post-concussion syndrome turns into a neurologic mystery
- Understanding Ponticulus Posticus treatments
- Mast cell activation syndrome and the vagus nerve
- Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion or Cervical artificial disc replacement
- Diagnosing and treatment of Burning Mouth Syndrome? Understanding Cervical Spine Instability
- Structural High Blood Pressure- Neck instability can affect blood pressure
- UPDATED: Blurry vision, light sensitivity, brain fog, increased ocular pressure and cervical Instability
- Dropped Head Syndrome – Isolated neck extensor myopathy
- Cervical radiculopathy treatments: The evidence for non-surgical cervical stenosis and cervical radiculopathy treatments
- Inappropriate sinus tachycardia – Elevated heart rate and the vagus nerve
- Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS), the Vagus Nerve and Cervical Spine instability
- Cervical disc disease and difficulty swallowing – cervicogenic dysphagia
- The anti-inflammatory function of the vagus nerve
- Hearing and sound issues: Sound sensitivity, autophony, misophonia
- Cervical spine instability and digestive disorders: Indigestion and irritable bowel syndrome
- Degenerative cervical myelopathy: Cervical spondylotic myelopathy
- Hydrodissection of the cervical plexus and auricular temporal nerve
- Persistent Postural Perceptual Dizziness and cervical spine instability
- Venous insufficiency – Chronic Cerebrospinal Venous Insufficiency and neurologic-like problems
- Chronic neck-related symptoms without neck pain. Part 2: Vagus nerve and cervicovagopathy
- Eagle Syndrome Treatment | When to have Styloidectomy | Surgical and non-surgical approaches
- Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo diagnosis and treatment
- Cervical epidural steroid injections in complicated neck pain cases
- Whiplash and Post-Concussion Syndrome in the Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome patient
- UPDATED: Atlas displacement c1 forward misalignment
- Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, Atlanto-axial instability, and Craniocervical instability
- Glossopharyngeal and Vagoglossopharyngeal neuralgia
- SIBO: Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth and the Vagus nerve. The problem of nerve compression.
- Can cervical spine instability cause cardiovascular-like attacks, heart palpitations and blood pressure problems?
- Cerebellar tonsillar ectopia herniation and Chiari 1 malformation: Non-surgical alternatives to decompression surgery
- Are Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome Headaches and Migraines Caused by Cervical Spine and Neck Instability?
- Neck pain and Lyme Disease: Will treating neck pain make Lyme Disease symptoms go away?
- Reviews of posterior cervical laminectomy and fusion
- Kissing spine syndrome – Baastrup’s disease
- UPDATED: Chiropractic adjustments and cervical traction – addressing cervical lordosis
- Treating Vertebrobasilar insufficiency, vertebrobasilar artery insufficiency, rotational vertebral artery occlusion syndrome, or Bow Hunter Syndrome
- Achalasia: A vagus nerve disorder and its connection to the neck
- Can botulinum toxin injections for headaches make your symptoms worse?
- Craniocervical ligament injuries: Focus on the alar ligament
- Reviews of Diagnostic Imaging Technology for Cervical Spine Instability Ross Hauser, MD.
- Cervical Vertigo and Cervicogenic Dizziness – Neck pain and dizziness
- Cervical collars – why do they help some people and not others?
- Dynamic Structural Medicine Ross Hauser MD Review of Treatments for Cervical Spine Instability
- Cranial Neuralgias – Symptoms of pain, smell, vision, hearing, taste and talking
- TMJ and Tinnitus: Should we explore the ligament chain from the cervical spine through the neck to the jaw to the ear?
- Neck Pain Chronic Sinusitis and Eustachian Tube Dysfunction
- Cervical dystonia and spasmodic torticollis treatment
- Ross Hauser, MD Reviews Cervical Spine Instability and Potential Effects on Brain Physiology
- The many symptoms of TMJ beyond the jaw: Neck muscle spasms, myofascial pain, breathing problems, digestive disorders and dizziness
- Small fiber neuropathy
- Neurologic-like symptoms and conditions of Cervical Spine Instability
- Cluster headache treatment – cervical ligament instability and the trigeminal and vagus nerves
- Symptoms of Dysautonomia
- Meniere’s Disease and Fluid build up in the ears – Chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency
- Basilar invagination and cervical spine instability
- Neurogenic and Nonspecific-type thoracic outlet syndrome – Diagnosis and treatment
- Neck-Tongue Syndrome treatments
- Tactile hallucinations and Formication: Strange skin sensations including insects crawling on your skin
- Circadian rhythm disruption, structural sleep apnea and insomnia caused by cervical instability
- Loss of cervical lordosis from a car accident
- Costen’s syndrome – Mandibular joint neuralgia and cervical instability
- Mal de debarquement syndrome caused by cervical spine instability
- The myodural bridge and dural tension. A missing diagnosis of neurologic-like symptoms?
- Cervical Dysstructure – Cervicovagopathy
- Injury and abnormalities at the cervicomedullary junction
- Meniere’s Disease and hearing problems caused by cervical neck instability
- Finding the missing cause of headaches, dizziness, and facial pain
- Dystonic storms in four patients with hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome
- Treating neurologic-like symptoms by addressing cervical spine instability and disrupted blood flow into the brain
- Neurologic, digestive, cardiac, and bladder disorders: Some of the symptoms of Autonomic nervous system dysfunction and treatment options.
- Cervical Spine Instability, fluid build up and intracranial hypertension.
- Tinnitus, cervical spine instability, and neck pain
- Cervical Spine Realignment and restoring loss of cervical lordosis, Symptoms and treatments of spinal curvature problems
- The laughing headache
- Symptoms and conditions of Craniocervical and Cervical Instability
- Spontaneous intracranial hypotension – lumbar epidurals and cervical spine instability
- Empty nose syndrome
- Pyloric stenosis in the adult patient: A problem of Vagus nerve impingement?
- Can Chronic fatigue syndrome and Myalgic encephalomyelitis be caused by cervical stenosis and cervical spine instability?
- Transient monocular blindness – Amaurosis fugax – Transient visual loss
- Tactile allodynia, hot, cold, painful skin: Are these symptoms of upper cervical neck instability?
- T1 slope and cervical lordosis
- UPDATED : Chiari malformation: Non-surgical alternatives to Chiari decompression surgery
- UPDATED Symptoms and treatments of spinal curvature problems
- Post-Traumatic Instability of the Cervical Spine
- Cervical scoliosis
- Post-cervical fusion headaches and migraines
- UPDATED: A review of upper cervical instability and symptoms treatment with Ross Hauser, MD
- UPDATED: Cervical neck instability
- When your bad knee causes significant neck pain
- Prolotherapy treatments for chronic neck pain after an automobile accident | Case review of three patients
- UPDATED: Treating the symptoms of atlantoaxial instability
- Could Neck Injury Be the Culprit in Post-Concussion Symptoms and the Development of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy?
- UPDATED: Cervical dystonia and spasmodic torticollis treatment
Videos about Prolotherapy for Cervical Neck Pain





















More Cervical Neck Prolotherapy Videos
Books about Prolotherapy for Cervical Neck Pain
Read about treating cervical neck pain with Prolotherapy in our free E-book, Prolo Your Pain Away! Curing Chronic Pain with Prolotherapy, 4th Edition. This edition explains all about Prolotherapy and how it is used to permanently alleviate pain from arthritis, sports injuries, and all types of chronic pain conditions! Plus, it takes an expanded look at the medical literature and patient studies on Regenerative Medicine: Prolotherapy, Platelet Rich Plasma, Stem Cell Therapy, and more!
How do I know if I’m a good candidate?
Just like you, we want to make sure you are a good fit for our clinic prior to accepting your case. While our mission is to help as many people with chronic pain as we can, sadly, we cannot accept all cases. We have a multi-step process so our team can really get to know you and your case to ensure that it sounds like you are a good fit for the unique testing and treatments that we offer here. Please note that we cannot give referrals for other facilities without knowing your case and that by completing our medical history and case intake form you understand that you are inquiring about being seen in our Florida center.
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