Neck and Back Pain Treatment

Facet Syndrome

Facet syndrome is a condition similar to arthritis that affects the joints in the spine when the cartilage inside of the joints become inflamed and cause pain and stiffness. You may also experience swelling with facet syndrome, which can lead to nerve irritation that causes more intense pain.

Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia is a pain disorder affecting your body's muscles and skeleton. Pain from fibromyalgia is typically widespread, and this condition may also be associated with memory, mood and sleep issues.

Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is a bone disease where the density or strength of the bone diminishes at an abnormal rate. This disease is most common among older patients and makes them more susceptible to broken bones and fractures with only light trauma.

Osteoarthritis or Degenerative Joint Disease (DJD)

Osteoarthritis, also called degenerative joint disease or DJD, is the most common form of arthritis. Although it can occur in any joint, it's most common in the knee, hip, and finger joints. Osteoarthritis is characterized by the degeneration of cartilage that protects your joints and keeps your bones from rubbing together. Most patients with DJD complain of pain and stiffness in the affected joints.

Kyphosis

Also known as hunchback, kyphosis is a disorder where your spine's upper portion excessively curves outward and forward. This can occur at any age and, depending on the severity can cause pain and stiffness in the back and neck.

Lordosis

Lordosis is a disorder defined by an exaggerated curve of the lower back. If you suffer from lordosis, your lower back may appear to have an extreme inward curve that causes your buttocks to be more prominent when you're standing. Lordosis can be very painful, often affecting movement and causing nerve pain in the lower extremities.

Ligamentous Hypertrophy

Ligamentous hypertrophy is a condition where stress on the spine causes the ligamentum flavum, the elastic-like tissue that covers and protects the spinal canal, to thicken. The thickening tissue may put pressure on your spinal cord or the nerves in the spine, which causes severe pain in the affected area, numbness, tingling and weakness of the extremities.

Obesity

Obesity, or an excessive accumulation of fat on the body, can cause many health problems and often severely affects the spine and other joints. Excess stress on the joints and spine caused by obesity can cause early degeneration, leading to severe pain and many other complications.

Radiculopathy

Radiculopathy is caused by a compressed nerve and is used to describe multiple symptoms of the pinched nerve. It can occur in any area of the spine and causes pain, weakness, numbness, and tingling.

Scoliosis

Scoliosis is an abnormal curvature of the spine where it curves sideways at both the top and bottom. The cause of scoliosis is largely unknown, but some cases are caused by degeneration or neuromuscular disorders, including cerebral palsy or spina bifida. Some cases are congenital, which means that abnormal spine curvature occurs before birth. Scoliosis can cause pinched nerves, leading to numbness and tingling in your extremities, pain, and stiffness.

Failed Back Surgery Syndrome

Failed Back Surgery Syndrome (FBSS) is a condition where patients continue to experience pain or discomfort after undergoing spinal surgery. It’s a disheartening situation, as the expectation after surgery is one of recuperation and relief. Here are three essential things you should know about FBSS:

1. Failed Back Surgery Syndrome doesn't have a single cause. Surgical factors, such as scar tissue formation around the nerve root or an incomplete removal of the disc, can be culprits. In some cases, the spine may not heal properly after surgery, or the initial problem might not have been accurately identified, leading to the wrong type of surgery. There are also biological factors at play; each patient's anatomy and healing process is unique, and sometimes, despite the surgeon's best efforts, the outcome isn’t as expected.

2. If a patient continues to experience pain after back surgery, it’s crucial to get a proper diagnosis for FBSS. Accurate diagnosis is vital to determine the best course of action, which could range from physical therapy and pain management to another surgical intervention. It is estimated that anywhere from 20 - 40% of spinal surgery patients experience FBSS.

3. The best way to avoid FBSS is not not undergo surgery for back pain in the first place. It’s important, at least, to understand all the options available to you. Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression (NSSD) is a technique that is non-invasive, meaning no needles, no incisions, no long recovery period, and no pills! This gentle science-backed method helps alleviate back pain by addressing the core issue of disc compression instead of masking the symptoms.

While FBSS can be a challenging condition to face, understanding its causes and the importance of proper diagnosis, along with other options available to you, is crucial.

Call Cary Physical Medicine today to set up a consultation with Dr. Barthen to see if you’re a candidate for NSSD.