Relief From Back, Neck, and Spine Pain

If you suffer from back, neck, or spine pain, Kelsey-Seybold can help improve your quality of life. Whether your condition was present from birth or is the result of an injury, trauma, or degenerative disease, our Spine, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, and Interventional Pain Management specialists are your experts for treating the entire scope of the back, neck, and spine with conservative, nonsurgical treatment options whenever possible.

Back and neck pain has many different causes, including:

• Overuse, strenuous activity, or heavy lifting
• Trauma, injury, or fractures
• Degeneration of vertebrae caused by stress on the muscles and ligaments that support the spine
• Effects of aging
• Infection
• Abnormal growth, such as a tumor
• Obesity
• Poor muscle tone
• Muscle tension or spasm
• Joint problems such as arthritis
• Smoking
• Protruding or herniated disk or pinched nerve
• Osteoporosis and compression fractures
• Congenital abnormalities of the vertebrae and bones
• Nerve decompression
• Sprain or strain
• Ligament or muscle tears

Back, Neck, and Spine Conditions We Treat

Some common conditions of back, neck, and spine we treat include, but are not limited to:

Herniated disc

A herniated disc develops when the soft inner nucleus of the vertebral disc in the spine pushes through the outer wall. The condition usually presents itself in the lower back but can also develop in the neck.

Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is a disease in which bones become fragile and more likely to fracture. It usually affects the vertebra, also known as the bone of the spine.

Lumbar degenerative disease

This chronic degenerative condition of the lumbar spine affects the vertebral bodies and intervertebral discs of the lower back. Symptoms may include back or leg pain, numbness, or tingling.

Facet joint syndrome

Facet joint syndrome occurs when the joints between the bones of the spine get stressed and damaged due to injury, wear and tear, or disc degeneration.

Scarred nerves

After trauma, a large cut, or surgery around the nerves, scar tissue forms. When the patient moves, pressure is placed on the nerve because the scar tissue can pull on the nerve, causing unrelenting pain.

Skeletal irregularities

Back pain can occur if your spine curves in an abnormal way. Scoliosis is an example of a skeletal condition in which your spine curves to the side.

Arthritis

Osteoarthritis can affect the lower back. In some cases, arthritis in the spine can lead to a narrowing space around the spinal cord, causing spinal stenosis.

Diagnosing Back, Neck, and Spine Pain

When you meet with a Kelsey-Seybold Orthopedics or Sports Medicine physician, they'll ask you details about your neck or back pain, including:

• Location of pain and discomfort
• Severity of pain and discomfort
• How often the pain occurs
• Any activities that trigger pain or discomfort
• Any previous conditions that might be related

After performing a physical examination, your physician may order one or more imaging tests. These may include X-ray, computerized tomography (CT scan), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), or ultrasound. Once the results are in, your physician will determine a plan of treatment.

Rehabilitation for Back, Neck, and Spine Pain

Active involvement from the patient and their loved ones is vital to the success of back, neck, and spine rehabilitation. The goal is to help the patient return to the highest level of function and independence possible, while improving mobility. To help reach those goals, your back, neck, and spine rehabilitation may include:

• Exercise programs to improve strength, mobility, and flexibility
• Assistance devices to help with independence
• Patient and family education and counseling
• Pain management techniques
• Gait (walking) and movement retraining
• Stress management
• Nutritional counseling
• Vocational counseling
• Work-related injury prevention programs