What happens when lumbar degenerative disc disease begins taking away your sleep, mobility, work, and time with your family?

By Deborah Westergaard, MD | Regen Experts | Dallas and Plano Short answer: Imaging guidance helps confirm that a spinal injection reaches its intended target. Fluoroscopy can show needle depth and contrast spread, while ultrasound provides information about surrounding soft tissues. At Regen Experts in Dallas and Plano, Dr. Deborah Westergaard reviews imaging and performs an examination to assess whether regenerative spine treatment may be appropriate for selected patients.

By Deborah Westergaard, M.D. Dallas | Regen Experts Dallas & Plano If you've been told that nerve burning—also known as radiofrequency ablation (RFA) or rhizotomy is your next step for chronic back pain, you may wonder whether it is your only option. For many years, I performed these procedures myself. Today, I do not. That decision was not based on a single study or a single patient. It came from experience gained in practice since 1989, an evolving understanding of spinal b

By Deborah Westergaard, M.D. Dallas | Regen Experts Dallas & Plano Many patients come to my office after months—or years—of pursuing treatments designed primarily to reduce pain. Pain relief matters. But if your goal is to avoid surgery, preserve function, and maintain an active lifestyle, an important question must be asked: Are we treating pain, or are we identifying the structures responsible for the pain? For many patients, those are not the same thing. About Dr. Westerga

By Deborah Westergaard, MD | Regen Experts | Dallas and Plano Short answer: Back surgery may be appropriate when nerve compression, progressive neurological symptoms, instability, or substantial functional impairment supports that decision. The choice depends on how structural findings relate to symptoms and function. At Regen Experts in Dallas and Plano, Dr. Deborah Westergaard evaluates symptoms, spinal structure, and function to assess nonsurgical options or the need for s

By Deborah Westergaard, MD | Regen Experts | Dallas and Plano Short answer: A disc bulge on MRI does not automatically mean back surgery is necessary. Imaging findings must be matched with symptoms because joints, ligaments, muscles, and instability may also contribute to pain. At Regen Experts in Dallas and Plano, Dr. Deborah Westergaard reviews imaging and assesses spinal support and function to consider nonsurgical options for selected patients. Avoid Back Surgery Dallas:

By Deborah Westergaard, MD | Regen Experts | Dallas and Plano Short answer: Back surgery may not be the first step when other pain sources, preserved stability, or reasonable nonsurgical options warrant further evaluation. Discs, joints, ligaments, and muscles work together, so MRI findings alone may give an incomplete picture. At Regen Experts in Dallas and Plano, Dr. Deborah Westergaard evaluates spinal structure and function before discussing treatment options. Avoid Back

By Deborah Westergaard, MD | Pain Experts | Dallas–Plano High-performing individuals rarely identify as “patients.” They are CEOs, entrepreneurs, physicians, athletes, and weekend competitors who expect their bodies to keep pace with demanding professional and personal lives. Yet after 50, even disciplined training and excellent genetics can no longer fully offset age-related changes in joints, tendons, ligaments, and neuromuscular control. In Dallas, orthobiologics has becom

By Deborah Westergaard, MD | Regen Experts | Dallas and Plano Short answer: Treating only a disc may leave other sources of back pain unaddressed. Facet joints, ligaments, and stabilizing muscles share the work of supporting the spine and can also contribute to symptoms. At Regen Experts in Dallas and Plano, Dr. Deborah Westergaard uses targeted examination, functional assessment, and image-guided diagnostic confirmation when appropriate to evaluate potential contributors. Ex

By Deborah Westergaard, MD | Pain Experts | Dallas–Plano When Should I Worry About Back Pain—And Is Surgery the Only Answer? Back pain is common—but not always harmless. If you’ve been told you might need back surgery, you may feel like there’s no other choice. But here’s what most people aren’t told: Surgery is not always the only option—even when it’s been recommended. At Pain Experts, we’ve seen many patients told they “needed surgery” when what they really needed was a de

What You Need to Know Before Repeating Another Shot By Deborah Westergaard, MD | Pain Experts | Dallas–Plano When Relief Comes at a Cost Epidural steroid injections are widely used for back and neck pain. They’re covered by insurance. They’re quick. And they seem to help — at least at first. But here’s the question more people are asking: Are epidural steroid injections harmful? The answer isn’t as simple as yes or no — but it is time for a more honest conversation. A single

By Deborah Westergaard, MD Board-Certified in Pain Medicine and Anesthesiology Regenexx-Affiliate Pain Experts Dallas–Plano Why So Many Back Pain Treatments Fail—and How PRP Works Differently Pain Isn’t Just About Discs—It’s About Structure, Stability, and Nerves If you’ve tried everything—physical therapy, anti-inflammatories, even steroid injections—and you're still in pain, the problem may not be what you think. Most treatments aim to quiet the symptoms. But PRP (Platelet

Deborah Westergaard, MD Board-Certified in Pain Medicine and Anesthesiology Regenexx-Affiliate Pain Experts Dallas–Plano Why High Performers Rush to the OR When pain strikes suddenly and severely, something primal happens—even to the most composed and capable among us Your nervous system goes on high alert. Your heart races. Your thoughts narrow. The brain’s survival systems take over. You’re not being irrational; you’re being human. This acute response is driven by the sympa

But here’s what most people aren’t told: Those same small nerves don’t just carry pain signals. They also provide input to critical stabilizing muscles of your spine—particularly the multifidus muscles. These deep muscles form a core part of your spine’s functional stability system. When they atrophy, the architecture of your spine weakens, leaving you vulnerable to progressive degeneration, instability, and worsening pain over time. This isn’t theoretical. We now have clear

At Pain Experts in Dallas and Plano, TX, we believe that exceptional care comes from more than just medical expertise—it comes from a commitment to core values that guide every decision we make. These values aren’t just words on a page; they define how we approach interventional regenerative medicine and why our patients experience better results. If you’re looking for real pain relief without unnecessary surgery or destructive procedures, here’s what sets us apart. Tradition

For over two decades, Regenexx has been at the forefront of non-surgical orthopedic and spine care, developing regenerative medicine treatments that utilize the body's natural healing capabilities. Now, Pain Experts, the official Regenexx affiliate in Plano, Texas, brings these research-backed, cutting-edge treatments to patients seeking lasting pain relief without surgery. The Problem: Traditional Treatments Often Fall Short Conventional approaches to joint and spine pain ty

You Avoid Back Surgery in the 21st Century A Candid Conversation Between Intern Dr. Westergaard and Her Future Self on Orthobiologic Spine Treatments and the Power of Regenerative Medicine #BackPainRelief #SpineHealthInnovation #AvoidBackSurgery #RegenerativeMedicine #PRPTreatments #SpinalCareSolutions #AdvancedPainManagement #OrthobiologicsForBackPain #NonSurgicalSpineTreatment #PainFreeMovement

IWhile surgery is sometimes necessary for severe spinal conditions, many cases can be managed with non-surgical treatments. At Pain Experts, we collaborate closely with world-class spine and orthopedic surgeons to ensure you receive the most appropriate care for your condition. Our goal is to explore innovative, non-surgical treatments whenever possible while maintaining a patient-first approach. By integrating advanced regenerative medicine techniques with the expertise of t

By Deborah Westergaard, M.D. Pain Experts Severe back pain doesn’t just affect your body—it disrupts your entire life. A dashing gentleman I’ve known for years recently reminded me of this. He reached out, desperate for relief from debilitating back pain that was keeping him from doing the things he loved most: hiking, skiing, and embracing his active lifestyle. Having reached a stage in life where he finally had the time and resources to pursue his passions, this pain was w