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St. Vincent Healthcare

Spine and Neck

Back and neck pain are common problems, affecting 80 percent of people at some point. If you’re one of them, you don’t have to live with constant pain.

In most cases, back pain doesn’t require surgery, but left untreated, it will often get worse. Get ahead of the problem with help from our experts. We offer a wide range of therapies and treatments to relieve your pain and restore your quality of life.

Your back, neck and spine

It may help to understand that your spine is divided into four areas from top to bottom:

  • Cervical spine: The first 7 vertebrae, located in the neck
  • Thoracic spine: The next 12 vertebrae, located in the chest area
  • Lumbar spine: The next 5 vertebrae, located in the lower back
  • Sacral spine: The lowest 5 vertebrae, located below the waist

We treat problems and pain relating to each area. People turn to us for a variety of issues, including:

  • Curvature of the spine, including kyphosis (forward curvature) and scoliosis
  • Compression fractures
  • Herniated discs
  • Sciatica
  • Spinal cord compression
  • Stress fractures and slipped vertebrae (spondylolysis and spondylolisthesis)
  • Spinal stenosis

Conservative care first

We take a conservative approach, starting with the least invasive method of treating your condition. If surgery is required, many procedures can be done on a minimally invasive basis, resulting in a quicker recovery and return home.

You benefit from a team of specialists who work together to identify the best treatment for you. These professionals may include orthopedic and pain management doctors with advanced training and physiatrists, doctors with expertise in muscles, bones, nerves and related structures. Specially trained nurses, physical therapists, pharmacists, chiropractors and others may also be partners in your care.

Treatments and therapies for neck and back issues

Options range from restorative therapies and pain medications to complex spine surgery. Our services include:

  • Bracing and orthotics
  • Decompression surgery - laminectomy and laminotomy
  • Discectomy or partial discectomy
  • Disc replacement surgery – cervical and lumbar
  • Fusion – cervical, lumbar, spine or thoracic
  • Kyphoplasty
  • Medication and injections
  • Physical therapy
  • Spinal cord stimulation
  • Vertebroplasty

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