Neck & Back
The spine consists of thirty-three stacked bones (vertebrae) that are surrounded by muscles, tendons, ligaments and nerves. When one or more of these spinal components sustains a sprain or strain, you may feel either persistent or intermittent back or neck pain, which may greatly alter your physical movements from the time you wake up in the morning until the time you go to bed at night. For some, pain in the back or neck can be so intense that even sitting in a chair can cause major discomfort. Back or neck pain—typically resulting from an injury or a degenerative disorder—is as common as it is indiscriminatory; people of all ages walk through our doors seeking relief in the form of one or more proven treatment methods that we offer our patients. Our team of back and neck specialists will do everything they can to lessen the pain, remedy the issue, and, ultimately, strengthen your spine.
Common Symptoms
Back and/or neck pain can worsen rapidly if left untreated. If you are experiencing one or more of these symptoms—in a single area or across a larger one—please make an appointment at your nearest UOC location so one of our specialists can evaluate you in-person.
Common symptoms associated with back and neck conditions include, but are not limited to:
- Burning, dull, or sharp pain in your back or neck
- Difficulty sitting, standing, walking, lying down
- Difficulty shaking your head or nodding
- Numbness or tingling in the leg or arm
- Headaches
- Stiffness
- Achiness
- Loss of bladder or bowel control
- Shoulder pain
Since your spine runs from the base of your skull the whole way down to your pelvis, pain from a neck or back condition can manifest itself in many different ways, including by taking the form of a headache or radiating downward into lower body parts such as the buttocks, back of the thigh, legs, and feet.
Common Conditions
Your spine is susceptible to many different types and levels of trauma. Regardless if your condition is acute or chronic, our neck and back specialists at UOC will consider every innovative treatment and therapy option available to help your spine regain and maintain its strength and stability.
Common neck and back conditions include, but are not limited to:
- Arthritis of the spine
- Bone spurs
- Bulging, collapsed, herniated, slipped, or torn disc
- Degenerative disc or joint disease
- Failed back surgery syndrome
- Pinched nerve
- Sciatica
- Scoliosis
- Spondylitis
Based on our three decades of experience in the orthopedic field, we can assure you that back and neck conditions are common. We have helped thousands of patients resume their healthy, active lifestyles and we are confident that we can do the same for you.
Diagnosis & Treatment
People of all ages and lifestyles rely on UOC's neck and back specialists to treat their back or neck pain. Disability or long-term nerve damage can potentially occur as a result of a back or neck injury that is not properly diagnosed and treated. If your back or neck pain is limiting your natural movements, our specialists can diagnose and treat you so that relief is yours to have and, to keep.
Back or neck conditions can be treated surgically and non-surgically, depending upon your specific diagnosis and its severity level.
Non-surgical treatments include, but are not limited to:
- Anti-inflammatory medications
- Hot or cold packs
- Physical therapy
- Chiropractic care
- Fitted braces
- Nerve block
- Area-specific injections
UOC's minimally invasive decompression surgical treatments include, but are not limited to:
- Laminotomy
- Foraminotomy
- Discectomy
- Facet Thermal Ablation
UOC is also proud to offer the following minimally invasive stabilization surgical treatments:
- Decompression with interlaminar stabilization device
- Anterior cervical discectomy fusion
- Cervical disc replacement
- Lateral lumbar interbody fusion
- SI joint fusion
- Posterior cervical fusion
Two additional treatment options are also available to our patients: RegenaDISC (a minimally invasive stem cell technique) and neurostimulation (targeted electrical current technology). If one or both are applicable treatments for your injury or condition, one of our specialists can discuss these options more in-depth during your office visit.
