Advanced Spine and Neurosurgical Care is Closer Than Ever
For those who suffer from debilitating back pain, relief is often long in coming. Acute back pain can make it virtually impossible to move. When this pain persists and becomes chronic, it can prevent people from going about their normal lives for days, weeks, months, or even years.
Treatments are as varied as the causes and types of chronic back pain, ranging from rest to chiropractic care to acupuncture, and many sufferers will try more than one before considering surgery. CareWell Health Medical Center is able to provide a broad spectrum of care, up to and including advanced spinal and neurosurgical procedures. Our expert team of board-certified doctors, surgeons, anesthesiologists, and nurses brings state-of-the-art surgical options to those who have not found relief through non-surgical methods.
Why Do Our Backs Hurt?
The human spine is a complex and delicate structure, and it is susceptible to damage from many sources. The most common cause: injury. All those warnings we got as kids about bad posture and slouching on a couch? They were absolutely right, because habitually sitting and standing improperly sets us up for back pain. Likewise, lifting too much weight, lifting even a little weight incorrectly, twisting, or falling can cause a strain or sprain to the muscles and ligaments of the back. These injuries often cause “acute” pain – the kind that can lay you up for a while but which usually resolves on its own with rest and over-the-counter pain medication. The pain is often treated with ice when it first occurs, and later with heating pads or warm compresses to help loosen up the area.
If this pain persists for more than a few weeks, however, it may be a sign of a more serious condition. Long-lasting pain is known as “chronic” pain, and it can be rooted in a number of medical conditions.
Impingement of the vertebral discs – which lie between the bones in the spine, keeping them separated and able to rotate smoothly – is one of the most common issues. This can arise due to degenerative disc disease, which occurs when the discs break down over time and let the vertebrae rub together. Herniated discs (also known as bulged, slipped, or ruptured discs) are another typical cause of severe pain, and often occur during the early stages of degeneration or from excessive strain or injury. This can cause extremely painful pressure on spinal nerves. Herniated discs can often respond to physical therapy and pain medication, as can spinal stenosis – another typical cause of debilitating back pain. This occurs when the space around the spinal cord narrows, again putting pressure on nerves.
The Surgical Option Comes Home
When conservative treatment options fail to provide relief, surgery may be the best option. However, until last year, there were very few options in the northern New Jersey area for spinal surgery. CareWell Health Medical Center changed that, bringing experienced, leading surgeons into a world-class facility right in Essex County. Expertise, specialized knowledge, and the latest technology are all crucial components because spinal surgery is very complex. Patients must often be operated on while lying face-down, and some need to be rotated during surgery – for instance, when both the neck and lower back require attention. The hospital’s team of board-certified anesthesiologists plays a critical role in ensuring that patients remain comfortable and safe throughout their procedure.
Patients who have undergone spinal surgery at CareWell Health Medical Center report being very satisfied with their care before, during, and after surgery. Creating a world-class spine and neurosurgery offering required a major commitment, but it has been well worth the effort to bring real hope to those who need it.
We hope that you never experience the suffering that back pain can cause, but if you or someone you know needs help, CareWell Health Medical Center is prepared with everything from pain management, to physical therapy, to advanced neurosurgery. Here, our patients are never just a number. They are treated like family, receiving personalized care from dedicated professionals.
#BeTreatedLikeFamily – Call CareWell Health at 973-672-8400 to learn more.