Our team approaches all pain in a novel way. Our first objective is to create an environment where our patients are comfortable. That starts with our pre-visit protocols. We take pride in our communication and our ability to get patients in for an evaluation
as soon as possible. We believe this demonstrates our commitment to our patients and to alleviating their pain.
How does Ascend approach spine pain of the neck and back?
At Ascend, we believe the most important step in treating your pain is coming to a clear diagnosis. The spine is such a complicated structure comprised of bones, discs, ligaments, muscles and nerves. Identifying the source of the pain is critical as each problem has its own treatment plan. It’s critical to spend time with the patient to gather the information necessary to make the diagnosis. Once a diagnosis is made there are often a variety of treatment plans. It’s our responsibility to present to our patients different treatment options so that they may choose the plan that best suits their needs.
What are some of the treatment options for spine pain of the neck and back?
Bone pain of the spine is often felt as an aching or gnawing pain. There are 33 bones in the spine and these bones are connected to each other through joints called facet joints. These joints can develop arthritis, which may be very limiting. Arthritis pain can be treated with something as simple as a steroid injection. Alternatively, a radiofrequency ablation procedure can be performed where we heat the nerve that supplies sensation to the joint thereby eliminating the sensation of pain.
Nerve pain can be treated in a variety of manners as well. Nerve medications such as gabapentin and Lyrica are mainstays of treatment. Epidural steroid injections can be very beneficial when the offending nerve can be located. And neuromodulation with spinal cord or dorsal root ganglion stimulator is also an option.
Muscle pain can be treated with anti-inflammatory medications and muscle relaxants. Additionally, simple trigger point injections can be very helpful in treating that pain. For severe muscle spasm, botox can be used to relax the muscle.