Spine Pain

What is spine pain?

Spine pain is any pain affecting your spinal column. That includes the upper (cervical), middle (thoracic), and lower (lumbar) spine. 

When most people talk about spine pain, they're referring to pain in the lumbar spine, also called low back pain. While it's technically cervical spine pain, neck pain isn't as frequently associated with spine pain as low back pain. 

What causes spine pain?

Spine pain may develop over time as you age, but it can also happen suddenly. Some of the most common causes of spine pain include:

• Osteoarthritis
• Spinal stenosis
• Degenerative disc disease
• Bulging disc
• Herniated disc
• Sacroiliac (SI) joint dysfunction
• Facet joint syndrome
• Spondylosis
• Spondylolisthesis
• Fractures 
• Radiculopathy (pinched nerve) - called sciatica in the lumbar spine
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Vertebral fracture or collapse due to osteoporosis 

Some other factors may contribute to spine pain, including poor posture, extra weight, and poor muscle tone. 

How is the cause of spine pain diagnosed?

Your Rogozinski Orthopedic Clinic provider reviews your full medical history and symptoms. During a physical exam, your provider lightly palpates your spinal column in the painful area. They check your range of motion and flexibility as well. 

Because your spine has so many parts, imaging tests are usually a central part of the diagnostic process. Rogozinski Orthopedic Clinic has a state-of-the-art diagnostic imaging facility on campus, so you can generally have any imaging tests you need right away. 

After a diagnostic evaluation, your provider can verify the problems in your spine and create a customized plan for your recovery.

What might my spine pain treatment involve?

Spine pain treatment can vary widely based upon the specific area it affects and the particular condition. Treatment usually includes non-surgical interventions to start, such as activity modification, oral medication, and physical therapy. 

Some types of spine pain, particularly those that involve inflammation and nerve damage, may respond to injections, such as epidural steroid injections, selective nerve root blocks, or facet joint injections. Radiofrequency ablation may also be an option for people who get good results with nerve block injections.

Some spine problems may require surgery. The board-certified and fellowship-trained physicians of Rogozinski Orthopedic Clinic are leading surgical specialists who frequently perform arthroscopic, minimally invasive, and traditional surgeries of all types. The surgeons also pioneered a number of cutting-edge surgical approaches. 

Some of the many different types of spine surgery include vertebroplasty, kyphoplasty, laminectomy, discectomy, microdiscectomy, foraminotomy, spinal fusion, and artificial disc replacement. 

Your provider can recommend the procedure that offers you the best possible recovery and quality of life after surgery. 

You don't have to suffer through spine pain anymore. Call Rogozinski Orthopedic Clinic or book your appointment online.