Spine Surgery Center

Published On 10/06/2020

Your spine has tremendous impact on how your body feels and how your nervous system functions. You might be surprised to know that numbness or pain felt throughout the body often stems from a spinal issue.

Expert care for spinal disorders

When it comes to care for spinal disorders, the Methodist Neuroscience Institute works with you to determine the best treatment to help you get back to your life. Spine care can help with:

  • Condition assessment and management
  • Cervical spine (neck) issues
  • Lumbar spine (lower back) issues
  • Spinal deformities like scoliosis
  • Spinal cancer and tumors

Whenever possible, your care team will work with you to address your spinal disorder using non-surgical techniques such as pain management and physical therapy. We start with a preventative-care approach, making it possible for you to live without spinal-related pain — while trying to avoid surgery.

In some cases though, surgery becomes necessary. If surgery is needed for treatment, your care is coordinated to achieve the best possible outcome in one place.

Treatment options

In addition to offering traditional open surgeries to include spinal fusion, herniated disc removal, decompression for spinal stenosis, spinal implant placements, inter-body fusion and placement of artificial discs, the team at the Methodist Neuroscience Institute includes nationally and globally-recognized neurological and spine experts who pioneered minimally invasive spine surgery and continues to provide spine care backed by cutting-edge technology and techniques.

Minimally invasive procedures are available for:

  • Degenerative disc disease with nerve root compression
  • Herniated and ruptured discs
  • Lower back pain with spinal instability
  • Spinal stenosis
  • Spondylolisthesis (slipped” vertebrae)
  • Spinal deformity, such as scoliosis
  • Spinal cord tumors
  • Spinal compression fractures
  • Spine trauma

What to expect with minimally invasive spine surgery

Minimally invasive spine surgery uses a small incision and advanced imaging techniques. In some cases, you can go home the same day as surgery. There are several advantages to minimally invasive surgery, including:

  • Minimal blood loss
  • Reduced risk of complications
  • Shorter length of time at the hospital
  • Lower costs

Before and after surgery, you will get specific instructions on how to prepare and recover. Generally, you should:

  • Talk with your healthcare provider about recent health changes (like a fever) and medicines you take — and in some cases you might need to stop taking some medication(s) before surgery
  • Not eat after midnight on the day of surgery
  • Quit smoking before surgery (if you smoke) to help allow for healing after surgery
  • Arrange for someone to drive you home after surgery
  • Resume a normal diet as soon as possible

Post-operative care includes a multidisciplinary team focused on facilitating a smooth journey from surgery to recovery. Having a comprehensive team of specialists ensures that your care is coordinated, and recommendations consider all available options to achieve the best possible outcome for your situation.

  • Post-operative care might include:
  • Pain management
  • Physical therapy
  • Chiropractic care
  • Acupuncture

Learn more about spinal disorders

The Methodist Neuroscience Institute can help diagnose and treat spinal disorders such as:

Arm pain — Symptoms and signs can include swelling, tenderness, dull ache, limited mobility, sharp pain, numbness and/or tingling in one or both arms or weakness in the arms or hands. It is a good idea to check with a medical professional if you have prolonged or recurring arm pain that can’t be managed with over-the-counter pain relievers.

Back pain — Symptoms and signs can include muscle ache, shooting or stabbing pain, pain that radiates down one or both legs, numbness or weakness in the legs and limited mobility in the back. If you have prolonged or recurring back pain that over-the-counter pain reliever doesn’t help, you might consider seeing a medical professional.

Degenerative disc disease — Surprisingly not a disease despite its name, this condition is often prompted by age or injury and can include pain in the neck, arms, hands, lower back, buttocks or legs that is caused from intervertebral discs losing integrity — drying out, thinning or cracking.

Facet arthritis — Like degenerative disc disease, facet arthritis is a common cause of lower back pain. It can also include pain and stiffness in the neck, pain that radiates into the shoulder or arm, weakness or numbness in the arm(s), limitation of motion, pain or stiffness due to inactivity or pain that worsens with activity — due to injured or irritated joints within the vertebra.

Limb weakness — Can include problems walking, a “heaviness” on one side, dropping things and an arm or leg that doesn’t feel normal. Although symptoms can appear similar to stroke or multiple sclerosis, functional weakness — not just fatigue — in the limbs can get better or go away. This is why getting a medical diagnosis is important.

Leg pain — Can include numbness, tingling, pricking sensations, burning pain and muscle weakness in the leg(s). It is a good idea to check with a medical professional if you have prolonged or recurring leg pain that can’t be managed with over-the-counter pain relievers.

Neck pain — Can include pain that’s worsened by holding your head in one place for long periods, decreased ability to move the head, headaches and muscle tightness in the neck. If you have prolonged or recurring neck pain that over-the-counter pain reliever doesn’t help, you might consider seeing a medical professional.

Scoliosis and spinal deformity — Scoliosis and spinal deformities are often noticed as people grow — usually well before adulthood. Signs can include sideways curvature of the spine that can make the shoulders, hips or waist appear uneven. Pain and/or limited mobility in the back, shoulders and neck are also possible symptoms.

Spinal stenosis — Most common among those over age 50, this narrowing of the spaces within the spine can result in pain, numbness or tingling in the arms, legs or back due to pressure on the spinal cord and nerve roots. This condition can appear in the neck or lower back — and on rare occasions in the mid-back.

Spinal tumors — A spinal tumor is a mass of abnormal cells within the spine. Tumors can be noncancerous (benign) or cancerous (malignant) and can cause weakness in the arms, legs or chest; loss of sensation throughout the body; and pain in the neck or back that can spread to the hips, legs, feet or arms. Making an appointment with a medical professional for early diagnosis and treatment of spinal tumors can make a big impact on outcomes.