Golden Ridge Surgery Center
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Spine Care
Community Hospital North Campus, South Campus, and Northwest Surgical Hospital provide evaluation and treatment options for spine conditions and back pain, helping many patients improve mobility and quality of life.
How Do You Keep Your Spine Healthy?
The spine supports the head, shoulders and upper body allows movement such as bending and twisting. Maintaining spine health involves understanding common factors including:
- Fitness level – Weak core muscles or sudden overexertion after inactivity can increase the risk of back pain.
Tip: Strengthen core muscles and practice flexibility exercises at least twice per week. - Job-related strain – Heavy lifting, repetitive movement, or prolonged sitting can contribute to spine problems.
Tip: Use proper lifting techniques and maintain good posture while sitting - Age – Risk of back pain increases after age 45.
Tip: Support bone health with calcium and vitamin D. - Family history – Genetics can play a role in spine conditions.
Tip: Avoid activities that increase your risk for back pain, including having an inactive lifestyle and smoking. Having a stressful job, depression and anxiety may also influence your spine.
Common Causes of Spine Pain:
Spine pain may result from conditions that affect the vertebrae , discs, nerves, or surrounding tissues including:
- Infections
- Spinal injuries
- Conditions such as ankylosing spondylitis and scoliosis
- Degenerated or "worn-out" discs
- Bone spurs or structural abnormalities
- Spine pain is one of the leading causes of disability and may result in absence from work or difficulty performing daily activities.
Warning Signs that MayIndicate a Serious Problem
Contact a physician promptly if back pain is accompanied by:
- Loss of bowel or bladder control
- Numbness, tingling or weakness in the legs
- Pain following trauma or injury.
- Pain that worsens at night
- Unexplained weight loss
- Abdominal throbbing with back pain
- Fever
Diagnostic Testing
Your doctor may recommend tests such as:
- X-ray – uses radiation to produce pictures of the spine and joint outlines. May identify potential causes of pain, such as spinal malalignment, tumors, infections, fractures, etc.
- MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) – uses powerful magnets and computer technology to produce three-dimensional (3D) images of the spine.
- CT (Computed Tomography) scan with 3D reconstruction – shows detailed images of bone, soft tissues and nerves.
- EMG/NCV (Electromyography or Nerve Conduction Velocity) testing – evaluates nerve function and identifies compression or nerve damage.
Treatment Options
Non-Surgical (First-line treatment)
Conservative, noninvasive treatments, including pain management and physical therapy, are typically the first step and have shown tremendous results in many patients.
- Medications
- Over-the-counter or prescription drugs which can be taken orally (ibuprofen, naproxen, acetaminophen) or topically (gels, lotions, creams, patches, sprays, which contain ibuprofen and lidocaine)
- Muscle relaxants
- Antidepressants
- Steroid injections
- Opioids, when appropriate
- Other Treatments
- Cold or hot packs
- Physical therapy
- Lifestyle modifications
- Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS)
Spine Surgical Procedures
If non-surgical treatments are not effective, surgery may be recommended. Options may include:
- Microdiscectomy – a minimally invasive spine surgery for removing disc material pressing on nerves.
- Spinal fusion – permanently joins vertebrae to stabilize the spine.
- Spinal decompression (laminectomy) – removes part of the vertebra to relieve pressure.
- Vertebroplasty/kyphoplasty – a minimally invasive spine surgery to stabilize compression fractures.
- Fracture and spinal cord injury surgery – stabilizes and decompresses spine.
- Deformity correction surgery – treats scoliosis or kyphosis.
- Anterior cervical surgery – surgery for decompressing the cervical spinal cord or nerves through the front of the neck.
- Artificial disc replacement – replacement damaged spinal disc
- Cervical disc herniation and arthroplasty – removal of a damaged disc in the neck that is causing pain/numbness and stabilizing the space with hardware and bone graft material which allows the bones to eventually fuse together
- Minimally invasive spine surgery – a group of specialized instruments and techniques to reduce tissue disruption and support faster recovery. Examples include:
- Minimally invasive lumbar discectomy – removal of disc material that has pushed out of its normal space and is pressing on nerves
- Minimally invasive lumbar spinal fusion– uses hardware to stabilize the spine so affected vertebrae can fuse together over time.
- Discectomy – removal of part or all of a spinal disc that is bulging or damaged and causing pain, numbness, or weakness
- Foraminotomy – enlarges the opening where spinal nerves exists the spine, creating more space and relieving nerve pressure
- Laminotomy – creates a small opening in the pack part of the vertebra to relieve pressure on the spinal cord or nerves
What Happens After Surgery
When the surgery is complete, you will be transferred to the recovery room where you will meet your post-op nurse. It is common to feel groggy, dizzy and/or nauseous from the anesthesia. You will still have tubes and monitors attached at various points on your body. The nurse will monitor your vital signs and administer medications for pain and nausea as needed.
You may be encouraged to walk with assistance to support recovery. Your safety is our number one priority. Before discharge, your care team will:
- Review your pain management plan
- Provide infection prevention and wound care instructions
- Explain fall precautions
- Provide emergency contact information
- Ensure any needed equipment is arranged