Back, Neck & Spine Care

Spine care includes diagnosis and treatment of conditions that impact any region of the spinal cord. This includes management of back, neck, nerve and spine conditions by specialists in neurologic, neurosurgical and orthopedic care.

The spinal cord is divided into five sections:

• Neck. The cervical spine includes seven bones (vertebrae) that start at the upper torso and end at the base of the skull. The ligaments, muscles and vertebrae of the neck support the head. Injury causes pain and can limit motion.
• Middle back. The thoracic spine includes 12 vertebrae. It begins at the base of the neck and ends at the bottom of the ribs. The thoracic spine is rigid and less likely to be injured.
• Lower back. The lumbar spine includes five vertebrae. These are the largest bones of the spine. The lumbar section sits between the thoracic spine and the sacrum. 
• Sacrum. This triangle-shaped bone forms the base of the spine. It rests below the lumbar vertebrae and connects the two pelvic bones.  
• Tailbone. The coccyx includes three to five bones at the bottom section of the spine. These bones are fused together in a triangle shape. The tailbone works with the pelvis during movements like standing and walking.

When you come to New England Baptist Hospital Spine Center for care, we use the most advanced imaging technology to diagnose and manage your condition.

Our team excels at providing second opinions and caring for long-term or complex spine conditions that don’t respond to traditional treatments. We also provide spine surgery consultations to help you make decisions about your care plan.

Conditions we manage include:

Back & Neck Pain

Back and neck pain are common symptoms that can occur with aging, injury, muscle tension or stress. Inflammatory conditions like arthritis or deterioration of the discs that cushion the vertebrae also can cause back and neck pain.

Disc Degeneration or Herniation

With age, the cushions between the bones of the spine lose height, and they bulge at the sides. The discs can tear and protrude. This is called a herniated disc. Bulging and herniated discs can irritate nearby nerves and cause pain.

Myelopathy

Severe compression of the spinal cord is called myelopathy. Congenital stenosis, disc degeneration, disc herniation or trauma can cause the condition.

Pinched Nerve (Radiculopathy)

Many conditions can cause the pain of a pinched nerve. Wear and tear on a neck joint (spondylosis) or narrowing of the nerve passage (stenosis) can put pressure on a nerve. This causes inflammation and pain. 

Sciatica

Injury to the sciatic nerve causes numbness, pain, tingling or weakness in the leg. The sciatic nerve starts in the lower spine. Spinal stenosis or a herniated disc can pinch or put pressure on the sciatic nerve.

Spinal Deformities

We treat adult spinal deformities, kyphosis and scoliosis.

• Kyphosis occurs when a curve forms in the thoracic spine. The condition causes a hunchback appearance. Kyphosis can lead to fatigue, pain and difficulty breathing.
• Scoliosis forms an abnormal C or S curvature of the spine. The curve can change over time or remain stable. The scoliosis curvature can range from mild to severe. Mild conditions often have no symptoms. Severe scoliosis affects posture and can be painful.

Spinal Fractures

Spondylolysis is a crack or stress fracture between two vertebrae. It often occurs in athletes, especially children and young adults. The condition causes pain that gets worse with activity.

Spinal Instability

There are different types of spinal instability. This occurs when there is more movement than normal between two vertebrae. Degenerative or herniated discs can cause the condition. Spondylolisthesis is also a type of spinal instability. It occurs when a vertebra slips out of place and puts pressure on the vertebra below it. This also can cause a pinched nerve.

Spinal Stenosis

The spinal cord and spinal nerves pass through a bony passage called the spinal canal within the spinal column. The spinal canal narrows with aging as the discs and ligaments of the spine change. Stenosis can cause pain and fatigue.

Spondylolisthesis

Spondylolisthesis is a type of spine instability. It occurs when a vertebra slips out of position and lands on the bone below it. This can happen after a fracture.

Spondylosis

Spondylosis refers to the wear and tear on soft tissues and bones of the spine (osteoarthritis.) It occurs most often in the neck and lower back, causing pain and stiffness.

Thoracic Pathology

These conditions, including lung cancer, impact the lungs and can cause back pain.

Head, neck and spine conditions impact many parts of the body. The New England Baptist Hospital Spine Center team has spent decades researching new therapies and patient outcomes. This means you get a high level of expert care that’s personalized for you.

Your care team works with you to create a treatment plan that meets your unique needs.

As a rule, we try to avoid surgery. We focus on pain management, medical therapy and physical therapy. Even if you’ve already tried these methods, our physiatrists may be able to create a care protocol that provides relief.

When surgery is the best option, you can rest easy knowing that New England Baptist Hospital performs more back, neck and spine procedures than any other hospital in Massachusetts.

Our orthopedic and neurosurgical experts work as a team to provide a full range of procedures, including: 

• Image guided surgeries
• Minimally invasive surgeries
• Revision surgeries
• Robotic guidance procedures

Our goal is to ensure you have the best possible long-term outcome.

Contact us to learn how to get care at the New England Baptist Hospital Spine Center.

• Ask your primary care doctor for a referral
• Call 617-754-5246

Our spine care team actively leads research studies to expand knowledge and advance the clinical diagnosis and treatment for a wide range of spine conditions.

We believe spine care doctors must continuously grow our understanding to provide the best care to patients. We study the economics of care, the effectiveness of new spinal technologies and patient outcomes.

We share our findings with colleagues through rigorous peer-reviewed publications, educational workshops and training with other health care providers. This includes physiatrists affiliated with Harvard Medical School, physical therapists and visiting health care scholars from other medical specialties.

As medical educators, our team also ensures that pain and physiatry fellows and physiatry residents learn about the latest research findings and advances in spine care.  

Your spine care team includes a comprehensive group of experts who work together to address all aspects of your condition. We discuss your condition and the best strategies for your care. This collaboration gives you access to a larger pool of expertise and knowledge.

At the New England Baptist Hospital Spine Center, our orthopedic spine surgeons, neurosurgeons and non-operative spine doctors work together to help you avoid surgery when possible. If you do need surgery, we give you the best care possible.

Find the right spine care provider for you. Our spine experts include:

Interventional & Neurological Radiologists

These specialists provide pain management through fluoroscopic-guided spinal injections and nerve blocks that use local anesthetics and corticosteroids to reduce inflammation and pain.

Neurologists & Neurosurgeons

With careful evaluation and treatment, our spine doctors and surgeons work with orthopedic spine surgeons to find the right treatment for you. We provide advanced spinal surgery and microsurgery of herniated discs, spinal stenosis and tumors. We also offer spinal implants for spinal stabilization and disc arthroplasty.

Orthopedic Doctors

Our orthopedic specialists collaborate with our neurologists and spine surgeons to give you the most comprehensive care. We combine expertise in bone care with our neurologists’ and neurosurgeons’ knowledge of the nerves and spinal cord.

Physiatrists

Physiatrists are experts in physical medicine and rehabilitation. Each of our team members completed extra training in diagnosing and managing spinal conditions. We evaluate complex spine disorders and connect you to the right experts, such as neurosurgeons, physical therapists and radiologists.

Rehabilitation Therapists

Our rehabilitation therapists and physical therapists provide intensive exercise-based programs to treat back, neck and spinal pain. Years of research show that our exercise approach is safe and effective. Our Spine Boot Camp includes two, one-hour sessions a week, for four to eight weeks. You learn how to exercise safely while restoring spine motion and strength.

Spine Care Nurses

Our specially trained nurses are experts in caring for patients with orthopedic spine conditions. They know how to manage complex spine care and only work with spine patients. This means you can expect a better experience and outcomes from your spine care.