Neck And Back Pain Specialist
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Tobin Bone and Joint Surgery
Joseph P. Tobin, MD, FAAOS
Orthopedic Surgeon located in Hilton Head, SC & Pooler, GA
Most neck and back pain develops in the cervical or lumbar spine, either from injury or age-related deterioration. If you have neck or back pain that’s not responding to self-care, board-certified orthopedic surgeon Joseph Tobin, MD, of Tobin Bone and Joint Surgery, offers conservative and surgical treatments to resolve the problem. At offices in Hilton Head, South Carolina, and Pooler, Georgia, Dr. Tobin diagnoses the cause of your condition and develops an effective treatment plan. To benefit from his considerable expertise, call your nearest Tobin Bone and Joint Surgery office or book an appointment online today.
Neck and Back Pain Q&A
What conditions cause neck and back pain?
Conditions that are likely to cause neck and back pain include:
Injuries
A frequent cause of neck pain is whiplash, an injury that commonly occurs during rear-end collisions. Stretched or torn muscles, tendons, and ligaments, disc injuries, and fractures can all cause acute neck and back pain.
Degenerative diseases
Age causes the tissues and bones to deteriorate, leading to conditions like osteoarthritis, degenerative disc disease, spinal stenosis, vertebral compression fractures (caused by the bones weakening when you develop osteoporosis), and spondylolisthesis.
Radiculopathy
The worst neck and back pain is often due to radiculopathy — compression of the nerves that causes radiating pain, tingling, numbness, and weakness. The nerve compression could come from a thickened ligament, bone spur, misaligned vertebra, or damaged disc. A common example is sciatica (lumbar radiculopathy), which causes shooting pain down one leg.
Frequent causes of neck and back pain like herniated or bulging discs might occur through trauma or age-related deterioration. You could also have a condition like rheumatoid arthritis (an autoimmune disorder) or scoliosis (abnormal spinal curvature).
How are neck and back pain treated?
Most patients Dr. Tobin sees at Tobin Bone and Joint Surgery begin with conservative therapies following a comprehensive examination and assessment. Initial treatments could include:
- Rest and activity modification
- Physical therapy
- Anti-inflammatory medications
- Strengthening and stretching exercises
- Mobility devices
- Thermal therapy
- Spinal traction
- Epidural steroid injections
- Facet joint injections
With Dr. Tobin’s help, most patients experience lasting relief from neck and back pain. For patients whose condition is more serious or doesn’t respond to conservative methods, Dr. Tobin offers expert spinal surgery.
What surgeries are available for neck and back pain?
Dr. Tobin recommends the most appropriate form of surgery after assessing your condition and taking into account your age and other health problems. Potential neck and back pain surgeries include:
Microdiscectomy
Removing a damaged part of a spinal disc.
Discectomy and fusion
Discectomy is the removal of an entire disc. To stabilize your spine afterward, Dr. Tobin uses bone grafts to fuse the vertebrae on either side of the space.
Artificial disc replacement
After a discectomy, suitable patients may have an artificial disc rather than fusion.
Spinal decompression
Spinal decompression surgery makes more room in your spinal canal. It might involve laminectomy or laminotomy, where Dr. Tobin removes part or all of a section of the vertebra called the lamina.
You can get a swift diagnosis and resolution of your neck and back pain at Tobin Bone and Joint Surgery. Call the office or book an appointment online today.
