Can be caused by activity, bending and/or lifting that overstretches muscles and ligaments, being overweight or wear and tear from age. It can also be caused by a bulging disc, spine deformities or serious vascular problems. If the pain does not subside in a few weeks it is important to see a doctor.

Surgery to treat nerve compression that causes pain in the neck, upper back, shoulders, one or both arms, and sometimes the hands. Part of the bone protecting the spinal cord is removed, allowing the surgeon to see the tissue compressing the nerves. Tissue and bone is removed as necessary to provide more space for the nerves.

Facet joints are in the back of the spine, formed like hinges to link vertebra together. Arthritis can inflame these joints, causing pain and impaired motion. Treatments include medication, physical therapy, and anesthetic or steroid injections. In the most severe cases surgical relief may be required, fusing the vertebra to reduce pain-causing movement.

This pain management technique provides permanent pain relief to the patient for a period of months. Anesthetic and anti-inflammatory medications are injected into the space between the vertebra of the spine to decrease inflammation of the nerves. An x-ray and contrast dye guides the surgeon to assure the medication is placed into the correct space in the spine.

It is one of the most common causes of low back pain and neck pain. It describes the symptoms of pain and possibly radiating weakness or numbness stemming from a degenerated disc in the spine.

Cervical radiculopathy is the description of pain and neurological symptoms resulting from any type of condition that irritates a nerve in the cervical spine. It is the damage to or disruption of the nerve function that results if one of the nerve roots adjacent to the cervical vertebrae is compressed. This damage can cause severe pain and loss of feeling along the nerve’s route into the arm and hand.

Removes vertebrae that are compressing the top part of the spine causing pain and numbness. An incision is made in the front of the neck, the vertebrae, discs and any bone spurs causing the pressure are removed. The space is filled with a structure known as a cage, that is filled with local bone and other bone sources.