• Herniated discs
• Sciatica and radiculopathy (nerve pain, pinched nerve)
• Spinal stenosis (narrowing of the spinal canal)
• Spinal curvature (Scoliosis/Kyphosis/Deformities)
• Spondylosis (spine pain such as degenerative disc disease, bone spur, spinal osteoarthritis)
• SI joint pain
• Spinal arthritis
• Spondylolisthesis (disk degeneration, slipped vertebra)
• Myelopathy (spinal cord dysfunction due to neck compression)
• Spinal cord compression
• Cauda equina and spinal tumors
• Spine fractures

Back and neck pain is very common. Often, self-care, gentle exercise, and non-narcotic pain medicine, can help you get back to your life. It is a good idea to work with your primary care provider when you first have pain.

At Providence, we offer a wide variety of services to help diagnose and treat your condition.

• Evaluation and management by a Physical Rehabilitation Medicine specialist (physiatrist). A physiatrist focuses on identifying the source of pain and will create individualized treatment plans to make it easier to do your daily activities.

• Evaluation and management by a Physical Therapist (PT). Movement and exercise are an important part of the healing process. Your physical therapist will work with you to create an individualized care and exercise plan. We also offer specific kinds of physical therapy:
  
  • Persistent pain therapy - treatment for chronic pain

• Work hardening therapy or Worker rehab, a whole body conditioning program designed to help an injured worker return to a specific job.
• Acupuncture
• Diagnostic imaging services, including MRI/CT
• Electromyography(EMG)/Nerve conduction studies
• Pain relieving injections

If pain is making it hard to get moving, a physical therapist can help you get started. Your therapist will watch how you move, ask how you feel, and create an exercise plan that meets your specific needs. Be sure to speak up if you have trouble doing an exercise or if you feel pain afterward so your therapist can help you make adjustments as needed.

• Imaging - Our expert explains if your next step should be getting an X-ray or MRI.
• What to do with back pain? - Here are some helpful tips to deal with back pain.
• Purpose of pain - Learn about the purpose of pain.
• Prevent back pain - Learn ways to prevent back pain and stay active.
• Physical therapy - Find out what to expect at a physical therapy appointment.

Our board certified neurosurgeons and orthopedic spine surgeons practice at our four centers located in Providence hospitals:

• Providence Portland Medical Center
• Providence St. Vincent Medical Center
• Providence Willamette Falls
• Providence Medford Medical Center

Our spine surgeons are trained to perform the latest spinal surgeries:

• Vertebroplasty/Kyphoplasty
• Discectomy (including microdiscectomy)
• Spinal decompression
• Spinal fusion
• Spinal reconstructive surgery
• Spinal cord stimulators

To help you prepare for surgery on your back or neck, Providence Brain and Spine Institute offers these pre- and post-surgery tips and resources for recovering at home.

• Please review the instructions you received from your surgeon's office. Note: if your surgeon's instructions are different from what is listed here, always follow your surgeon's instructions.
• Download our complete guide to spine surgery.
• Some of our spine surgeons use an application called Twistle to send patients reminders 10 days before surgery and after discharge. If you receive these messages, please read them and know that they are not spam. Messages come as a secure SMS text, and you can also download the Twistle app. Learn more about Twistle.
• How to prepare your body for surgery:
  • Make sure all of your health care providers know that you are having surgery.
  • Follow instructions from your care team about stopping any medications prior to surgery.
  • Complete your phone or in-person visit with the pre-surgical care clinic nurse.
  • Follow the instructions for pre-op showers carefully, starting four days before surgery.
  • Make a plan for who will drive you home from the hospital and who will help you once you return home. If you need more support, check out this resource.
• After spine surgery, it is important for you to keep moving. Watch instructions from our Physical Therapists on:
  • Moving without bending, lifting and twisting.
  • How to get out of bed using the log rolling method.
  • How to get out of a chair.
  • Bracing (not all patients will have a brace).
• Watch instructions from our Occupational Therapists on:
  • Setting up your home, getting dressed without bending, and bathing and toileting.
  • Getting in and out of a car.
  • Also, review the home safety checklist in the spine surgery guide.
• If you still have questions after discharge:
  • Your surgeon's office is the best place to start. There is always a provider on call. Remember that pain medications need to be refilled 72 hours in advance at most offices.
  • Review the "Activities After Discharge" and "Is Your Recovery On Track" tools in the spine surgery guide.