Back and Neck Care

Back, spine and neck care at The Christ Hospital.

The spine is a complex structure that supports the upper body and protects the spinal cord. The spinal cord consists of nerves that send and receive messages between the brain and the rest of the body.

Areas of the spine include the cervical region (neck), the thoracic region (middle back), and the lumbar region (lower back). In the adult body, the spine has 33 bones called vertebrae. Discs positioned between each vertebrae act as shock absorbers for the spine. Ligaments, tendons and muscles surround the spine and help keep it in alignment.

Our spines allow us to bend forward and back, side to side and rotate in a twisting motion. Any of these movements could lead to problems caused by poor posture, a fall, a car accident, muscle strain, herniated disc or other spine conditions.

If you have back or neck pain, you know how it can affect everything from your sleep to your job and all aspects of life. Whether you have a degenerative disease like arthritis or a traumatic injury, back and neck conditions are often complex to diagnose and treat.

At The Christ Hospital Health Network, our orthopedic surgeons and specialists are experts in diagnosing, treating and relieving back, spine and neck pain. We customize surgical and nonsurgical treatment methods to help you regain your quality of life. Our goal is to reduce your pain and restore mobility and function.

From diagnosis to recovery, we provide excellent outcomes and exceptional patient experiences.

Back, spine and neck conditions

At The Christ Hospital, we treat the following back, spine and neck conditions:

Degenerative disc disease - Common symptoms include pain that increases when twisting, bending or lifting and is long-lasting (chronic) - occurs after getting out of bed in the morning and/or worsens after long periods of sitting
Herniated disc - Symptoms in the lower back may include back, foot or leg pain and numbness or weakness in the leg or foot. Symptoms in the neck may include neck or shoulder pain or pain that radiates to the arm or hands and/or muscle spasms in the neck.
Pinched nerve - May cause pain, numbness, tingling or weakness in the back, neck, legs or arms.
Sciatica - May cause mild to excruciating pain in the lower back, buttock and back of one thigh. The pain may radiate all the way to the foot. In severe cases, it can also cause numbness and weakness.
Spinal deformities - Symptoms will vary depending on the type of deformity, but may include pain, poor posture, weakness in the legs, restricted or uncomfortable movement and/or a large inward arch in your lower back or neck.
Spinal stenosis - Symptoms vary, but may include pain, weakness or tingling in the back, neck leg or arms, difficulty walking, and/or problems with coordination and balance.
Spine infections - Symptoms generally include pain that originates from the infection site and may include fever and chills, muscle spasms, redness and swelling and neck stiffness.
Spine tumors - May cause a variety of symptoms, depending on the type, location and size of the tumor. Common symptoms include back pain that radiates to your legs or hips and gets worse when you lie down, cough or sneeze and is not relieved by pain medication; a cold sensation in your fingers, hands or legs and a loss of bladder or bowel control.
Spondylolisthesis - Symptoms of spondylolisthesis include back stiffness, leg weakness, lower back pain, tight hamstring muscles and/or tingling, numbness or pain into the buttocks, thigh, or legs
Spondylosis - Does not always cause symptoms, but may be mild to severe and include difficulty walking, loss of balance, pain in the area of spine, stiffness after getting out of bed, tingling in the arms and legs and weakness.