Spine and Neck Pain
Vulnerable to injury and pain, the spine and neck require special attention to stay healthy. Proper body mechanics and strength training can help prevent some types of back and neck injuries, while others will require the care of a trained physician.
Damage to tendons, ligaments, nerves, muscles and the bones themselves can lead to a variety of back and neck complications. While many conditions may heal on their own or with the assistance of non- surgical treatment, surgical management may still be indicated for certain conditions. With a certified spine specialist as part of our medical team, we treat all types of neck and spinal problems at South Florida Orthopaedics.
Some of our areas of expertise include:
Causes and Symptoms
For up to 80% of people, back injuries are usually related to a sprain or strain and will resolve on their own with rest, proper exercise or physical therapy and anti-inflammatory medications. However, other symptoms should send you in search of a spine specialist for evaluation and treatment. Here are a few common symptoms of the spine and neck that shouldn’t be ignored:
- Pain that radiates into your arm or leg and is getting worse over time
- Persistent pain that does not go away after a few days of rest and medication
- Weakness, numbness or pain in either your arms or legs—especially from the knees or elbow down
- Any major traumatic event (such as a car accident or fall)
Back to top
Discectomy/Microdiscectomy
A discectomy is the removal of a herniated disc from the spine. Causing pain, numbness and weakness, herniated discs often place pressure on the nerves that run through the center of the spinal column. For a traditional discectomy, doctors make an incision near the disc and strip away the muscles to reveal the spine. The section of disc that’s placing pressure on the spine is then removed, the muscles are replaced and the incision is closed.
Thanks to advanced techniques, a microdiscectomy may also be used. In this minimally invasive technique, doctors are able to preserve the muscles of the spine more effectively and remove the section of disc without damaging the nerves of the back. This means less pain and a faster recovery for you.
Back to top
Cervical Fusion
Cervical fusion is a surgical procedure used to relieve neck pain. By stabilizing two or more vertebrae by locking (fusing) them together, the natural rocking motion of the cervical bones will stop, thereby releasing the pressure on the nerves that was triggering your pain.
Through a small incision made at the front of the neck, your spine surgeon will pull back the muscles covering the spine and use a microscope to see the tiny details. He will then remove the intervertebral disc and replace it with a bone graft that will allow the bones to fuse, or grow together over time. This procedure can take between 2 to 6 hours to complete depending on the number of vertebrae involved and the difficulty of the case.
Back to top
Cervical Endoscopic Decompression
Endoscopic cervical decompression is a minimally-invasive, microendoscopic procedure designed to relieve pressure from the cervical spine. This procedure is often used in treating spinal stenosis and herniated discs, both of which are found in the cervical spine. The process minimizes excessive tissue injury & bone removal and thus avoids potential destabilization of the spine, decreases post-operative patient discomfort, minimizes hospital stays and allows the patient to return to daily activities in more quickly.
Back to top
Lumbar Fusion
Lumbar fusions are used to treat lower and middle back pain. As the nerves of the spine are compressed by the bones of the back, pain is triggered. To stop the pain, doctors will remove the disc, or padding between the bones, and replace it with a bone graft or sterilized donor bone that will fuse, or bond, to surrounding bone over time. As the motion of the vertebrae stops, so does the pain as nerve endings return to normal function.
Back to top
Epidural
Used to treat lower back pain, an epidural is an injection of steroids and an anesthetic that is inserted directly into the epidural space of the spine. Given by anesthesiologists or trained spine care physicians, epidurals can be administered in the office or a hospital setting.
To place an epidural, your back will be numbed with medication and a separate needle will be placed deeper into the spine to reach a special location where the medication can reach the nerves. Once in position, a syringe will be attached to the needle and medication administered into the space to help control pain. The needle is then removed and you should be able to go home soon afterward.
Your doctor may do more than one epidural over the course of time using different types of medication until he or she finds one that relieves your symptoms most effectively. This treatment can help control pain for several weeks before additional treatment is needed.
Back to top
Facet Injection
A facet injection is a minimally invasive procedure used to temporarily relieve neck or back pain triggered by inflammation of the facet joints. Causes of facet joint pain include arthritis, injury or break down over time, and can be similar in nature to disc pain. Used as a diagnostic test to see if the pain is actually coming from your facet joints, facet injections can also be used as a treatment to relieve inflammation and pain caused by various spine conditions. The effects of facet injections tend to be temporary, providing relief for several days or even years. The goal is to reduce pain so that you may resume normal activities and physical therapy.
Back to top
Kyphoplasty
Kyphoplasty is a surgical procedure used to treat fractures of the spine from osteoporosis or compression. Kyphoplasty is most beneficial for returning a compressed bone to its normal size and structure.
To complete the procedure, the doctor advances a thin tube into the fractured vertebra from an incision in the back. Through the tube, a small hole is drilled through the hard, outer part of the bone and into its soft center. A special balloon is then inserted and inflated inside the vertebra. This pushes apart the end plates of the broken bone and helps to restore the bone to its original shape as much as possible.
Once the bone has been reshaped, the balloon is then deflated and removed, leaving a cavity that the physician fills with bone cement.
Back to top
Epidural Stimulator Implant
Epidural stimulation allows the body to use its natural nerve pathways to control pain. It is believed that by sending an electrical impulse to the nerves, the impulse will block the brain’s ability to process pain. Working a bit like a distraction technique, the body focuses on the impulses sent out by the unit instead of the pain.
This procedure can be very beneficial if you have had a previous back surgery with no relief or long- term pain that doesn’t have a diagnosis. Similar pain control measures have been used in the past by placing electrodes on the outside of the body (known as a TENS unit) onto the skin and sending impulses through the muscle.
Epidural stimulators are placed internally through a needle in the back in a fashion similar to the administration of an epidural. The stimulator is passed down the tube of the epidural into the spine under general anesthesia and the device’s generator is deposited under the skin. Batteries must be surgically replaced every three to five years.
South Florida Orthopaedics serves patients along Florida’s Treasure Coast, including Fort Pierce, Port St. Lucie, Jensen Beach, Stuart, Palm City, Hobe Sound, and Jupiter, as well as Indiantown and Okeechobee. To schedule an appointment or physician referral with our back and neck specialist, call South Florida Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine in Stuart, Florida at (772) 288-2400 or request an appointment online.
Back to top