It's a unique way to treat pain and it's available in Colorado. At the Centeno Clinic in Westminster doctors evaluate your nerves and muscles to find out what may be causing the pain and then they use a treatment called intramuscular stimulation or IMS.

During the treatment, a tiny needle goes into the muscle and releases the knot but it is not acupuncture.

"This technique works quick. You know in the first four to six sessions if this is going to help the patient. The results have been dramatic," said Dr. Christopher Centeno.

The needle stimulates injured muscles, which have contracted and become shortened from distress. These shortened muscles cause pain not only in the affected muscle itself, but also from the resulting stress on surrounding tendons and joints. IMS treatment causes the muscle to "grasp" the needle, which in turn forces the shortened muscle to release, providing relief from pain.

"It sounded interesting but I wasn't sure it could do anything. I was very pleasantly surprised," said patient Christine Taylor.

The Centeno Clinic said this type of treatment can help people with neck problems or back pain and even those who have numbness or headaches.

Additional Resources:

To learn more from the Centeno Clinic call 303-429-6448 or go to NeedleRelief.com
Intramuscular Stimulation Overview
IMS Explained by Institute for the Study and Treatment of Pain
What Is Intramuscular Stimulation?