Linda Romines of Nixa was suffering from a severe headache.

"The pain was in the back of my head and neck and I felt dizzy, nauseous and unable to focus," says Romines.

Romines went through many tests to rule out anything serious. When all the tests came back normal, her family medicine physician at CoxHealth, Dr. Carl Claxton, referred her to the CoxHealth Center for Advanced Pain Management.

"This non-stop headache was making me crazy. I was unable to function and I couldn't participate in family activities because of the pain," says Romines.

At the Center, Romines met with Dr. Sadie Holland, a physician specializing in pain management.

"Linda was experiencing a combination of a tension headache and occipital neuralgia, pain originating from the occipital nerves located in the neck," says Dr. Holland. "The best treatment for her situation was medication placed in the muscles that attach to the back of the head. The procedure reduces muscle tension, and can also block the occipital nerve, which stops the pain and muscle spasms."

"Dr. Holland talked to me throughout the process, making me as relaxed as possible," says Romines. "As soon as I sat up my headache was gone. And, I have not experienced this type of headache since."

Romines returned to the Center for physical therapy.

"During Linda's appointments I focused on the deep muscles in her neck that support the head and the muscles between her shoulder blades," says Tamra Standage, physical therapist. "This helps stabilize the neck, improve posture and relieve muscle spasms."

Because Romines is now pain-free, she is able to cheer on her grandchildren at their ballgames this summer.

For more information about the CoxHealth Center for Advanced Pain Management, call 269-8226.

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