Musculoskeletal Pain

The Problem: Pain That Becomes Part of Your Routine

Musculoskeletal pain has a way of becoming invisible to everyone except the person living with it. A shoulder that never fully recovered. A back that tightens every morning. Hip pain that flares with any sustained walking. Over time, patients adapt around the pain, cutting back on activities, relying on anti-inflammatories, and quietly accepting a diminished quality of life.

Pain affecting the muscles, joints, tendons, and connective tissue is among the most common reasons people seek medical care. It is also among the most undertreated. Standard approaches often stop at diagnosis and a prescription, leaving the underlying dysfunction unaddressed.

The body has a remarkable capacity to heal when given the right conditions. The goal of musculoskeletal care at M. Chavez MD, SC is to create those conditions through precise diagnosis, targeted treatment, and a plan that addresses the root cause rather than just the symptom.

Our Approach: Integrative, Whole-Person Care

Dr. Chavez approaches musculoskeletal pain with the same methodology he applies to non-operative orthopedics: thorough evaluation, accurate diagnosis, and a layered treatment plan that does not default to medication as the first and only answer.

We draw from a broad range of evidence-based and integrative therapies, selecting the combination that fits each patient's specific presentation. This may include targeted injections, regenerative treatments, physical therapy coordination, and guidance on movement, posture, and lifestyle factors that perpetuate pain cycles.

Conditions We Evaluate and Treat

• Shoulder pain (rotator cuff, bursitis, impingement)
• Lower back pain, including muscle strain and lumbar conditions
• Hip pain and trochanteric bursitis
• Elbow pain (tennis elbow, golfer's elbow)
• Wrist and hand pain including carpal tunnel syndrome
• Ankle and foot pain (plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendinopathy)
• Neck pain and cervicogenic headaches
• Fibromyalgia and widespread chronic pain

Treatment Options

• Joint and soft tissue injections (corticosteroid, hyaluronic acid)
• PRP (Platelet-Rich Plasma) regenerative therapy
• Physical therapy referral and coordination
• Dry needling and trigger point management
• Activity modification and ergonomic counseling
• Anti-inflammatory strategies including nutritional guidance
• Imaging referrals for accurate diagnosis

What to Expect

Your first visit focuses on understanding the full picture of your pain, including its history, what makes it better or worse, and how it is affecting your function. Dr. Chavez will conduct a hands-on physical examination and may recommend imaging to confirm a diagnosis. From that point, you will have a clear treatment plan with defined goals and realistic milestones. We track your progress and adjust the plan as needed to keep you moving forward.