From generalized back pain to herniated disks and complex spinal malformations, our team of doctors* offers surgical and non-surgical treatment options with new, minimally invasive techniques and procedures.
- Back pain is one of the most common reasons people see a doctor.
- A majority of adults will experience back pain at least once in their life.
- Chronic back pain is associated with a decreased quality of life.
- Many conditions cause or are associated with back pain.
Many back and spinal conditions may be managed with medicine, rest and physical therapy to build strength. However, some causes of back pain may need treatment from a neurosurgeon.
Back and Neck Pain Causes
Seek Immediate Medical Attention for Back or Neck Pain that:
- Becomes constant and intense
- Gets worse with rest
- Shoots down one or both arms and legs
- Causes numbness or weakness in one or both legs
- Causes bowel or bladder problems
- Comes with a fever
- Starts after a fall or trauma
- Is associated with unexplained weight loss
- Strain and sprain from physical activity
- Congenital disorders
- Trauma or fall
- Fractures
- Disk herniation
- Degenerative disease or arthritis
- Tumors
- Infection or inflammation
- Vascular conditions
- Referred pain from other causes
Back and Neck Pain Risk Factors
- Sedentary lifestyle
- Heavy lifting, repetitive motion and bending or twisting
- Smoking
- Obesity
- Stress
- Poor posture
- Medications such as corticosteroids
- Congenital spine disorders
Diagnoses
Following a physical exam, some common tests are often performed to help in diagnosing and treating back pain.
- CAT scans, X-Rays and MRIs of the back provide doctors with a more complete view of the spine and back.
- Myleography requires injection of contrast fluid into the back to identify the anatomy of the spinal canal and spinal nerves. Myleogram takes about an hour to complete. After the injection of contrast, a CAT scan picture of your back is taken to get a better view of the back structures.
- EMG and nerve conduction testing can help identify the role of nerve involvement in back pain. Nerve conduction testing is an outpatient procedure that takes several hours to complete.
Back Pain Treatment
Surgery may be necessary in some cases of back pain.
Minimally invasive techniques involve the use of small incisions to perform surgeries that are classically done with longer incisions and more trauma to the soft tissues. With the assistance of an endoscope, microscope, x-ray guidance and /or a minimally open retractor system, surgery can be performed with:
- Less bleeding
- Less trauma to the soft tissue
- Smaller incisions
All of these factors contribute to lower infection rates, less post-operative pain, shorter hospital stays and faster recoveries.
Conditions that may require surgery include:
*Physicians are Independent Contractors.
