Back & Neck Pain Care

The cervical spine makes up your neck, while the lumbar spine covers the low back — the area between the lowest rib and your hips. A variety of conditions can cause pain in these parts of the body. 

Causes of back and neck pain include:

• Disc degeneration. Natural wear and tear can cause the discs between the vertebrae to rupture or bulge outward. Bulging and herniated discs can irritate nearby nerves and cause pain. 
• Inflammatory disease. Arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis can irritate the nerves in the back, neck and spine and cause damage to the joints.
• Injury or trauma. Car accidents or sports can injure the back, neck or spine. Conditions include spinal fracture, spinal instability and torticollis (a twisted neck).
• Muscle tension and stress. These are among the most common causes of back and neck pain. Your doctor can recommend exercises and stress management techniques to reduce your symptoms and prevent a recurrence.
• Pinched nerve (radiculopathy). 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 damaged disc can put pressure on the sciatic nerve.

When you come to the New England Baptist Hospital Spine Center, you meet members of the spine care team. We use these and other exams and tests to make a diagnosis:

• Advanced imaging tests. An MRI or CT scan may be needed to get a better view of the bones and nerves of the spine.
• EMG (electromyography). This test measures the electrical activity in your muscles in response to nerve stimulation.
• Medial branch blocks. This test dulls the nerves that carry pain signals from the facet joints in your neck and back. Your doctor injects numbing medicine into the joints. The amount of pain relief you feel around each joint helps determine the cause of your pain and how to treat it.
• Medical history. Your doctor talks with you about your health and any ongoing conditions. Tell your doctor about any recent changes, especially with bowel or bladder control.
• Physical exam. Your doctor examines your body and how you move your back, neck and spine.
• X-ray imaging. X-rays allow your doctor to view the bones of your spine.

We offer non-surgical and surgical treatments. Your doctor recommends the right care for your diagnosis.

Your care team works with you to create a treatment plan that reduces your pain and gets you back to your regular activities.

Non-Surgical Treatments

There are many options for managing back and neck pain:

• Cervical brace to support the neck
• Hot and cold treatments
• Medicines, such as:
• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication
• Corticosteroids to reduce swelling
• Physical therapy

If your pain is severe, your doctor may prescribe pain management injections. We use interventional radiology to ensure precise treatment. Doctors use image guidance to place numbing medicines or anti-inflammatory steroids in an exact location within the spine to relieve your pain.

Your doctor also may recommend these or other alternative therapies:

• Acupuncture
• Chiropractic care
• Massage

Surgical Treatments

When conservative treatment fails, your doctor may consider surgical care. Discuss with your care team the best options for you.

Our spine surgeons provide many types of procedures to treat back and neck pain.

The most common surgeries are decompression procedures that remove pressure on nerves. Your doctor removes bone or widens openings in the spine during a decompression surgery. 

• Discectomy removes a damaged disc between vertebrae.
• Foraminotomy removes bone from the vertebrae to create more space for the nerve root.
• Fusion connects vertebrae to prevent movement.
• Laminectomy removes part of a vertebrae to reduce pressure on nerves and increase space in the spinal openings.

Recovering from Your Surgery

The time it takes to recover after surgery for back and neck pain is different for everyone. Most people return to their normal activities after several weeks.

Your doctor will recommend exercises and physical therapy to help you build strength and flexibility after surgery.

If your doctor approves, try following along with these stretching exercise videos at home:

• Cervical stretches for your neck
• Dynamic stretches
• Lumbar stretches