Spine Center Treats Unresolved Back and Neck Pain

with John Roffers, M.D., Physiatrist and Medical Director, Columbia St. Mary’s Spine Center

Posted: May 1, 2006

Back and neck pain affects nearly 80 percent of Americans, making it one of the most common ailments today. When back or neck pain becomes chronic, standing, walking, sitting and even sleeping can become excruciatingly painful.

At Columbia St. Mary’s Spine Center, we have a network of specialists who work together to accurately diagnose and alleviate unresolved back and neck pain — whether the cause of the pain is from a trauma, heavy lifting, playing sports, or years of sitting at a desk with poor posture.

At the Spine Center, each patient receives comprehensive treatment from experts. The panel includes physiatrists (doctors who specialize in physical medicine and rehabilitation), spine surgeons, chiropractors and physical therapists. Acupuncture and massage therapy may also be used for pain control. Our goal is to make an accurate diagnosis on the source of the pain. We work with patients to develop a plan of care that begins with the least invasive forms of treatment and progresses to other procedures only if necessary.

Who should seek treatment at the Spine Center?
Most people with back and neck pain have uncomplicated conditions that will improve quickly. Individuals should consider visiting the Spine Center when rest, activity modifications and over-the-counter medications aren’t helping.

Planning effective treatment
When patients come to the Spine Center for help, the first person they’ll talk to is a nurse coordinator who works exclusively with Spine Center patients. The nurse coordinator obtains a history involving all the pertinent information on a person’s condition. This helps to avoid the duplication of recent tests the patient may have had. The case manager reviews the history and refers that person to an appropriate doctor for an evaluation.

The doctor’s evaluation helps to determine which form of treatment would be most effective. A care program is customized for each patient, and may include exercise, lifestyle modifications and diet changes.

We help our patients to understand the source of their back and neck problems, how to keep these areas strong, and how to avoid recurring problems. It’s important for people to realize that there are treatments that can help with unresolved back and neck pain. The Columbia St. Mary’s Spine Center is helping people every day.

John Roffers, M.D.
Physiatrist and Medical Director, Columbia St. Mary’s Spine Center
414-961-5005

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