Our spine care team has experience diagnosing and treating many common (and uncommon) back and neck conditions.

We treat:

• Back pain – Back pain can occur in the middle (thoracic) or lower (lumbar) spine. Pain can range from mild aches to sharp, radiating pain.
• Back strain or sprain – An injury to a muscle or tendon. A sprain is the stretching or tearing of a ligament in your back.
• Broken vertebrae – May be the result of a compression fracture caused by osteoporosis or a traumatic accident.
• Degenerative disk disease (spinal spondylosis) – This common spine condition occurs when a damaged disk (often from age, gradual wear and tear or an accident or injury) causes pain.
• Diskitis – Occurs when there is an infection in the spinal disks. It can be caused by a virus or bacteria.
• Herniated disk – Occurs when the soft center of your spinal disk pushes through the tough exterior wall of the disk. It is also called a bulging disk.
• Low back pain – The most common type of back pain, low back pain can be caused by several conditions including herniated disks, osteoarthritis, sciatica and more.
• Multiple sclerosis – Back pain can be a common symptom of multiple sclerosis. It can be caused by damaged nerves or other health conditions.
• Myelopathy – Caused by an injury or spine condition that compresses the spinal cord.
• Neck pain – Neck pain that lasts longer than a few days or severely affects your range of motion or daily life should be evaluated by a doctor.
• Osteoporosis – Arthritis in your spine most commonly affects your low back.
• Pinched nerve – Also called radiculopathy, can cause pain in other areas of your body, especially your legs or hips.
• Scoliosis – A congenital condition that refers to a curvature of your spine.
• Sciatica – Can radiate down one or both legs. It’s typically caused by a herniated disk.
• Slipped vertebra – Also called spondylolisthesis, this condition occurs when a vertebra slips out of place and rests on the vertebra below it.
• Spinal stenosis – Most often occurring in the low back or neck, this condition refers to a narrowing of the spaces in your spine.

When it comes to back or neck pain, we start with a non-surgical approach to your care. We offer a wide range of treatments and will work closely with you to find the one that best fits your needs and goals. Your plan might include:

• Physical therapy (PT) – A physical therapist will work with you to create an exercise plan that targets those muscles and helps you regain strength and range of motion.
• Physiatry – A physiatrist is a medical doctor with specialized training in physical medicine and rehabilitation. They focus on your whole body and recommend treatments and alternative therapies, PT, or other procedures.
• Medication management – Medications, like anti-inflammatories and non-narcotic pain relievers can help you take better control of your symptoms – and keep you moving.
• Injection therapies –Injections are a minimally invasive approach that can provide pain relief.
• RFA (Radiofrequency Ablation)
• Spinal cord stimulator trials
• Diet changes – A healthy diet (and one that avoids trans fats, refined sugars and processed foods) can help reduce inflammation and maintain a healthy weight, which can improve back or neck pain.
• Exercise – Low impact exercise, such as swimming, biking or yoga, can help you gain strength and improve flexibility – and reduce your back or neck pain.
• Lifestyle modifications – Your doctor can also discuss lifestyle modifications that can help reduce your back or neck pain.
• Alternative therapies – Sometimes, alternative therapies like acupuncture, massage, biofeedback therapy or electric nerve stimulation can help reduce your back or neck pain.

Most back or neck pain can be treated with conservative spine care. However, if your pain continues to interfere with your daily life or your condition requires spine surgery or neck surgery, you can be confident you’re in good hands.

Our neurosurgeons are experienced in many surgical procedures and utilize the latest advanced technology. Those advances allow for more minimally invasive procedures – which means less scarring and a shorter recovery time.

Spine surgery available at Providence St. Mary Medical Center include:

• Decompression surgery – Spinal decompression surgery can help relieve back pain and other symptoms caused by compression of the spinal cord or spinal nerves.
• Disk replacement surgery – During this procedure, your surgeon will replace a damaged disk and replace it with an artificial disk. This helps reduce pain and improve range of motion.
• Kyphoplasty – A minimally invasive surgical procedure, kyphoplasty can help treat spinal compression fractures caused by osteoporosis.
• Spinal fusion – This surgical procedure permanently joins (fuses) two or more vertebrae together.
• Vertebroplasty – A surgeon will insert a special cement-type mixture into your fractured vertebra to help relieve pain and improve your mobility.
• Permanent implants/Botox for migraines and spasticity

The Providence neurosurgery team is focused on your care and symptoms every step of the way. We use our decades of experience to fully understand what’s causing your pain and map out a plan that will help you get back to doing what you love.

We’ll get to know you – your lifestyle, your pain, your goals. We’ll start with non-surgical treatment. If you need more advanced care, our board-certified neurosurgeons, physician assistants and physical therapists will provide the right care.

We’re here for you – however, you need us.