Understanding Spine Conditions
The spine is made up of 33 vertebrae that protect the spinal cord and provide structural support for the entire body. Spine conditions can cause pain, numbness, weakness, and reduced mobility, ranging from mild muscle strains to complex nerve compression and degenerative disease. At Precision Orthopedics & Sports Medicine, our spine surgeons and interventional pain management physicians serve patients across Maryland and the DC Metro Area, providing comprehensive care from epidural injections and nerve blocks to minimally invasive spine surgery.
Common Symptoms, Conditions & Treatment Options for Spine/Back Pain
Symptoms
- Back or neck pain lasting more than two weeks
- Pain that radiates into the arm or leg
- Numbness or tingling in the hands or feet
- Muscle weakness in the arms or legs
- Pain that worsens with sitting or bending
- Loss of bladder or bowel control (seek immediate care)
Conditions
- Herniated discs
- Spinal stenosis
- Degenerative disc disease
- Sciatica
- Facet joint arthritis
- Spondylolisthesis
- Radiculopathy
Treatment Options
- Physical therapy and activity modification
- Anti-inflammatory medications
- Epidural steroid injections
- Nerve blocks and radiofrequency ablation
- Spinal cord stimulation
- Microdiscectomy
- Spinal fusion and decompression
- Intrathecal pain pump
Frequently Asked Questions
See a spine specialist if back or neck pain persists for more than 2 weeks despite rest, radiates down the arm or leg, causes numbness or weakness in the arms or legs, or followed a fall or trauma. Seek immediate care for sudden bowel or bladder dysfunction, progressive leg weakness, or numbness in the groin area.
Common causes include herniated discs, spinal stenosis, degenerative disc disease, sciatica, muscle strains, and facet joint arthritis. Both traumatic injuries and age-related changes can contribute to spine pain.
Sciatica is pain that radiates from the lower back through the buttock and down one leg, caused by irritation or compression of the sciatic nerve. Common causes include herniated discs and spinal stenosis. Treatment ranges from physical therapy and injections to minimally invasive surgery when conservative care does not provide relief.
Surgery is typically considered after conservative treatments such as physical therapy, medications, and injections have not provided adequate relief over several weeks to months, or when neurological symptoms like progressive weakness or bowel and bladder changes are present. Our spine team always exhausts non-surgical options first.
- Spinal Fusion: Light activity at 4 to 6 weeks; full recovery 3 to 6 months; bone fusion solidifies over 12 months.
- Microdiscectomy: Return to desk work in 1 to 2 weeks; full activity at 4 to 6 weeks.
- Epidural Injection: Relief may begin within 2 to 7 days; effects can last weeks to months.
- Spinal Cord Stimulator: Trial period of 5 to 7 days; permanent implant recovery 1 to 2 weeks.