If you have back or neck pain or other symptoms caused by spinal conditions, you might be in need of expert spine treatments. Board-certified neurosurgeon Tim Maryanov, MD, and his team at Fort Neuro in Fort Smith, Arkansas, are experts in diagnosing and treating spinal conditions using both conservative medical approaches and minimally invasive surgical procedures. Find out more about the spine treatments available by calling Fort Neuro today or using the online booking tool to schedule an appointment.
request an appointmentWhy would I need spine treatments?
You might need spine treatments if you have chronic back pain and other approaches aren’t lessening your symptoms.
One of the most common reasons to have persistent back pain is disc problems. The lumbar area of your spine has five vertebrae, while the cervical area has seven vertebrae.
Between these vertebrae are soft discs that cushion the bones, stabilize your spine, and control movement. If a disc tears, the contents can leak out, inflaming the dura that lines your spinal cord or your nerve roots. This inflammation leaves you in pain.
Large tears allow the disc to bulge (herniate), which puts pressure on the dura or the nerve roots. Osteophytes (bone spurs) and conditions like spinal stenosis can also cause nerve compression and back pain.
What spine treatments might I need?
To determine which spine treatments you need, the Fort Neuro team conducts a comprehensive neurological consultation.
This involves having a physical exam, diagnostic tests, and imaging tests of your brain or spine. You might also need to undergo advanced neurophysiological testing.
These tests include electromyography (EMG) and nerve conduction velocity (NCV) tests, which assess the nerve activity in the affected area.
For most people, a conservative treatment program combining rest, activity modification, medication, and physical therapy resolves their spine problems. If not, epidural injections are the next step.
The Fort Neuro team administers a range of injections to treat back and neck pain, including:
- Lumbar facet injections
- Lumbar transforaminal epidural steroid injections
- Medial branch blocks
- Cervical interlaminar epidural steroid injections
If your back or neck pain doesn’t respond to these spine treatments, the Fort Neuro team also offers a range of state-of-the-art neurosurgical treatments.
What neurosurgical spine treatments are available?
Advanced neurosurgical treatments available at Fort Neuro include:
Radiofrequency ablation
Radiofrequency ablation involves having needles in your spine that deliver radio wave energy to the nerves causing your back pain. When heated to a certain temperature, these nerves stop working, but the treatment leaves surrounding tissues unaffected.
Spinal cord and peripheral nerve stimulation
Spinal cord stimulation and peripheral nerve stimulation work in the same way, but they target different sets of nerves.
Spinal cord stimulation works on the nerves in your spinal canal, sending electrical pulses that prevent pain messages from reaching your brain. Peripheral nerve stimulation works similarly but targets the nerves extending out from your spinal canal.
The Fort Neuro team uses Nevro® and Stimwave® implantable devices with external remote controls. You can alter the intensity and frequency of the electrical pulses to match the pain you’re feeling.
The Vertiflex™ Procedure
Vertiflex uses the Superion™ Indirect Decompression System to treat lumbar spinal stenosis. It involves having a spacer implanted in the affected vertebrae to resolve nerve compression.
To find out more about spine treatments and how to resolve your back or neck pain, call Fort Neuro today or book an appointment online.