Finding a highly qualified and experienced orthopedic surgeon is one of the most important measures you can take to ensure successful treatment and long-term relief for back and neck issues.
At EmergeOrtho Coastal Region, each of our spine specialists is board certified with decades of experience, which the National Institutes of Health cites as being associated with lower morbidity and mortality, shorter hospital stays, less readmission, and lower hospital costs.
In most cases, treatment begins with a conservative approach, using nonsurgical solutions first and moving to surgery only if those do not provide relief from pain and/or improvement in mobility.
Our comprehensive treatment plans include physical therapy, pain management services, electrodiagnostic testing with EMGs and NCVs, and advanced spinal imaging with in-house digital X-ray and accredited MRI services.
Understanding Back Pain
The spine is made up of 33 bones divided into five sections: cervical (the top seven vertebrae in the neck), thoracic (the next 12 in the upper and middle back), lumbar (the five of the lower back), and the sacrum and coccyx (also called the tailbone, which are actually nine bones that have fused together.)
Between the vertebrae that make up the spinal column are soft discs that keep these stacked bones from rubbing together. The tough outer layer (called the annulus fibrosus) is filled with a soft, jelly-like inner material (called the nucleus pulposus) that acts like a cushion between the bones.
Either through injury, or just through the normal wear and tear of aging, discs can herniate, or bulge through the outer layer and press on nerves in the spinal canal. The resulting pain often radiates down the limbs— to the arm if the cervical spine in impacted, and down the leg if the issue is in the lumbar region. Leg pain that originates from the lower back is often referred to as sciatica.
For residents of southeastern North Carolina, there is a great deal of comfort in knowing that such highly credentialed and experienced spine surgeons and pain management specialists and advanced facilities are available right here in our region.
When should you see a doctor for back or neck pain?
If you are experiencing any of the following symptoms, please contact us to schedule an appointment:
- Pain in the back, leg or foot that feels worse when standing or walking
- Pain after lifting heavy objects
- Radiating pain from the neck to the arm/hand or from the back to the leg/foot
- Tingling or weakness in the legs or arms
- Dexterity problems
- Weakness that is concentrated in one area of the arm or leg
Any of those apply to you?
Unlike many other orthopedic conditions, neck and spine problems may get worse if treatment is delayed. With that in mind, patients experiencing back or neck pain are encouraged to pursue treatment immediately to prevent further issues.
