Non-Operative Spine Care FAQ
Musculoskeletal and spinal conditions can be very debilitating, causing pain, weakness, numbness, and even impaired limb function. Dr. Banh specializes in the use of non-operative spine care to provide patients with symptomatic relief safely and promptly. Contact the Mission Peak Orthopaedic Medical Group for more information about non-operative spine care treatment options.
- What are non-surgical spinal care treatment options?
- What is sciatica, and how is it treated?
- When is an epidural injection recommended?
- What is radiculopathy, and how is it treated?
- How is disc herniation often treated?
1. What are non-surgical spinal care treatment options?
Dr. Banh specializes in the use of non-surgical treatments to treat a variety of musculoskeletal conditions, including neck pain, sciatica, disc herniation, and radiculopathy. Based on the type and severity of symptoms, Dr. Banh will work one-on-one with patients to develop a non-surgical spinal care plan to relieve symptoms quickly and safely.
Possible non-surgical spine care treatments include:
- Physical Therapy
- Pain Medications
- Epidural Steroid Injections
- Facet Blocks
- Radiofrequency Ablation
- Joint Injections
- Sympathetic Blocks
- Trigger Point Injections
- Other Physical Modalities
2. What is sciatica, and how is it treated?
Sciatica is a painful spinal condition caused by the irritation of the sciatic nerve, the largest nerve in the body. The most common causes of sciatica are disc herniation, inflammation, sudden twisting of the spine, excessive lifting of heavy objects, bone spurs, and natural aging. As the sciatic nerve becomes irritated, patients will often experience pain in the lower back radiating down the leg(s) with possible weakness and numbness.
Sciatica can often resolve with a non-operative treatment plan including:
- Physical Therapy
- Pain Medications
- Spinal Cortisone Injections
3. When is an epidural injection recommended?
The epidural injection is a temporary pain treatment option in which a combination of steroids and a fast-acting local anesthetic, such as lidocaine, is injected directly into the spine, around the affected nerve.
Epidural injection is used to reduce inflammation and decrease pain symptoms, which start in the spine but may radiate through the arm or leg. Epidural injection is often recommended for patients suffering from sciatica or lower back pain.
4. What is radiculopathy, and how is it treated?
Radiculopathy, also known as a pinched nerve, is a common cause of neck pain shooting into the shoulder and arm and lower back pain radiating down the leg. A pinched nerve is typically caused by an injury near the root of a spinal nerve due to a herniated disc and bone spurs.
Symptoms related to a pinched nerve typically include:
- A sharp pain around the affected nerve, which may radiate down the arm or leg
- Numbness in the arm or leg
- Weakness
For patients suffering from radiculopathy, Dr. Banh will often recommend a conservative treatment plan including physical therapy, the wearing of a brace, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs), oral corticosteroids, and spinal injection therapy to avoid surgery. If symptoms are severe and will not improve with conservative treatments, patients are referred to the appropriate spine surgeon.
5. How is disc herniation often treated?
Disc herniation, often referred to as a slipped or ruptured disc, is one of the most common causes of neck or lower back pain. Patients suffering from a herniated disc will often experience sharp pain in the neck or lower back pain, as well as numbness, weakness, and pain in the arm or leg.
Once diagnosed, disc herniation is often treated initially through a combination of rest, anti-inflammatory medications, physical therapy, and epidural steroid injections.
