These Seven Symptoms Mean It Is Time to Visit an Orthopedic Back Specialist

Seven Indications It Is Time to See an Orthopedic Back Specialist

A board-certified, fellowship-trained orthopedic spine specialist understands the complexities involved with the anatomy of the spine (nerves, muscle, vertebrae, etc.). Spine specialists are also skilled and practiced in utilizing a variety of imaging tests (X-rays, MRI, and CT scans), performing examinations, and going over symptoms to identify the presence of a spinal disorder.

People with a neck, back, and spine condition may exhibit the following symptoms:

Pain in the back and/or neck
Sensation of weakness or numbness in the hand, arm, leg, or foot
Balance problems, in coordination, dropping things or difficulty with fine motor tasks (buttoning buttons, picking up coins)
Cramping and pain after standing or sitting for long periods of time
Pain that worsens when bending or lifting
Pain that radiates from the back to the buttocks or down the legs
Pain (varying from moderate to severe) that lasts for weeks at a time (pain that lasts longer than 12 weeks is considered chronic pain)

If symptoms such as fever, chills, unexpected weight loss, or lack of bladder/bowel control occur (with or without additional symptoms listed above), it is critical to seek professional medical attention, as these could be signs of a serious health condition.

Multidisciplinary Back, Neck, and Spine Treatment in Action

When we say “multidisciplinary treatment,” we are talking about utilizing a combination of evidence-based, conservative and surgical approaches to treat a wide range of spinal conditions. From back sprains and spinal stenosis to neck pain and cervical disc degeneration, our highly-trained and specialized orthopedic back specialists practice minimally-invasive and innovative pain management and spine care. This includes:

Medication
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication such as ibuprofen and naproxen, as well as aspirin and acetaminophen, can help reduce pain and inflammation. Muscle relaxers are often used as well.
Steroids
Steroids can be taken orally, or as injections to provide anti-inflammatory relief.
Physical Therapy
Special exercises and stretches that strengthen and lengthen the supporting muscles of the back and neck, combined with ice, heat, ultrasound, massage, and electrical stimulation can be helpful in alleviating pain and discomfort caused by many spinal conditions.
Braces
The most common type of brace utilized as a nonoperative treatment method to support the spine is the kind that wraps around a person’s back and stomach.
Psychological Intervention
Many patients benefit from behavioral treatment of chronic pain, rehabilitation counseling, and psychological assessment for medical procedures.
Surgical Treatment
Surgical intervention for back pain is only considered when nonoperative solutions have proved ineffective, or a back, neck, or spine condition is severe.

The following surgical procedures are provided by our highly-trained and experienced Spine Center spine surgeons:

Spine surgery
Lumbar discectomy/microdiscectomy
Lumbar decompression
Percutaneous lumbar discectomy
Lumbar hemilaminectomy/foraminotomy
Lumbar laminectomy
Posterior lumbar fusion (PLIF, TLIF)
Minimally-invasive posterior lumbar fusion
Percutaneous posterior lumbar pedicle screw instrumentation
Percutaneous lumbar facet screw instrumentation
Anterior lumbar fusion: ALIF, XLIF/DLIF, AxiaLIF
Kyphoplasty/vertebroplasty for fracture treatment
Coflex procedure (less invasive treatment for lumbar stenosis)
Lumbar total disc replacement (artificial disc replacement), performed since 2005
Numerous FDA clinical trials with minimally-invasive, motion-preserving technology
Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF)
Anterior cervical corpectomy and fusion
Minimally-invasive posterior cervical foraminotomy and discectomy
Posterior cervical laminectomy and fusion
Cervical spinal fusion procedure
Cervical laminoplasty
Cervical total disc replacement (artificial disc replacement), performed since 2005
Spinal decompression
Spinal fusion
Scoliosis correction
Minimally-invasive spine surgery

Experts in Back, Neck, and Spine Care

From compression fractures, herniated discs, and spinal stenosis to arthritis and sciatica, our orthopedic back specialists diagnose and treat a wide range of back, neck, and spine conditions and diseases, routinely performing multiple surgical procedures each year.

If you have been looking for spine doctors in Raleigh, check out our Triangle Region locations for a practice closest to you. Or, you may request a consultation now. Please call us at 984.279.3650 for any questions you may have.

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