Back, Neck & Spine

Expert Care for Injuries of the Back, Neck and Spine

Orthopedic specialists at the Chicago Center for Orthopedics at Weiss are experts in treating disorders and injuries of the back, neck, and spine.

Back, Neck, and Spine Conditions and Injuries

Neck and back pain is one of the most common complaints, especially if you are a senior. This pain can be immobilizing and comes from a variety of different causes. While the majority of back pain patients can be successfully treated without spine or back surgery, surgery could be the best option to treat your pain. At Weiss, we have therapists, doctors, specialists, and surgeons who all specialize in neck and back pain. Our experts provide complete and comprehensive evaluations treatment programs that are tailored to your specific needs.

Weiss specialists have expertise relieving back and neck pain with the use of new and innovative technologies. Common procedures include:

• Cervical Disc Replacement – used to replace spinal discs that are damaged beyond repair
• Discectomy – the surgical removal of part or all of a damaged disc in the neck or spine
• Epidural Blocks – an injection treatment for severe back pain
• Kyphoplasty – treatment for Vertebral Compression Fractures
• Lumbar Spinal Fusion – permanently fusing two or more vertebra together to relieve severe back pain caused by vertebra slipping out of position

For an appointment with a Weiss back specialist, to receive a second opinion or for more information on back pain treatment options available at Weiss, please call 773-564-7770.

At Weiss, we offer a wide range of nonsurgical and surgical treatment options for back and neck pain. Treatments can improve the lives of patients with scoliosis, kyphosis, spondylolisthesis, spinal stenosis, radiculopathy, disc disease, and more. Weiss guides patients through their back and spine care — from testing to post-treatment, rehabilitation and insurance assistance.

Orthopedic Surgery

If you’ve experienced a back injury, have a long-term back, spine, or nerve condition, or are living with the realities of normal wear and tear, Weiss Memorial Hospital can help. We provide convenient access to a comprehensive range of orthopedic, surgical and non-surgical techniques and procedures to help treat conditions like herniated discs, degenerative disc disease, spine or back fractures and more.

• Specialists can treat a full range of conditions affecting the back and spine.
• Conditions treated include trauma, cervical spinal disorders, degenerative disc disorders, herniated discs, spinal stenosis, trigeminal neuralgia, geriatric problems, and more
• Care is delivered in a compassionate environment where patient education and support are top priorities.

Our team of specialists will work with you to provide the best course of treatment and recovery, with a focus on exploring all your nonsurgical options first. Treatments such as anti-inflammatory medicine, ice, heat, and massage are often successful in healing back pain and helping patients return to their daily activities.

Patients who are treated surgically recover on a floor within the hospital specializing in the care of orthopedic and spine patients. After discharge, you have access to expert outpatient rehabilitation for a seamless transition to recovery.

Cervical Disc Replacement

Cervical Disc replacement is an option if you suffer from herniated discs or bone spurs in the neck, degenerative disc disease, or severe arthritis. It is typically done with cervical disc herniations that have not responded to non-surgical treatment options and are affecting your quality of life and ability to function.

Symptoms

Depending on the location of the herniation:

• an ache in the lower back
• sciatica – pain that travels through the buttocks and down a leg to the ankle or foot
• pain in the front of the thigh
• leg pain occurring in one leg

Pain from a herniated disc may:

• be constant or intermittent.
• get worse when sneezing, coughing.
• be aggravated by sitting, prolonged standing, and bending or twisting movements.
• be relieved by walking, lying down, and other positions that relax the spine and decrease pressure on the damaged disc.

Symptoms of degenerative disc disease:

• low back pain that worsens when seated
• back pain that worsens when bending, twisting and lifting
• pain that is alleviated by lying down

Treatment

An artificial disc is inserted in the space between two vertebrae. The goal is to replace the diseased or damaged disc while keeping your normal neck motion. Disc replacement can be done instead of fusing the neck and losing neck motion.

Discectomy

A discectomy is a surgery done to remove a herniated disc from the spinal canal. When a disc herniation occurs, a fragment of the normal spinal disc is dislodged. This fragment may press against the spinal cord or the nerves that surround the spinal cord.

Symptoms

Depending on the location of the herniation:

• an ache in the lower back
• sciatica – pain that travels through the buttocks and down a leg to the ankle or foot
• pain in the front of the thigh
• leg pain occurring in one leg

Pain from a herniated disc may:

• be constant or intermittent.
• get worse when sneezing, coughing.
• be aggravated by sitting, prolonged standing, and bending or twisting movements.
• be relieved by walking, lying down, and other positions that relax the spine and decrease pressure on the damaged disc.

Treatment

Surgical treatment of a herniated disc removes the fragment of spinal disc that is pushing on the nerve. Traditionally, the surgery is called an open discectomy, where the surgeon makes a small incision to remove the disc and relieve the pressure on the nerve. The surgery may also be performed endoscopically, where a small scope is inserted into the back and the surgeon, using a small video camera and X-ray, can see and remove the bone fragments causing pain.

Epidural Block

When your back or neck pain is not responding to a non-operative pain management program, the next step may be an epidural injection. There are many types of injections you and your doctor can choose from, including corticosteroid, spinal nerve blocks, cervical (neck) blocks, and lumbar facet blocks.

Symptoms

• chronic back or neck pain for months/years
• sciatica

Treatment

An injection of anti-inflammatory medication or steroid is placed in the space surrounding the membrane that covers the spinal cord and nerve roots in the spine or neck. The mediation will decrease inflammation of the nerve roots, reducing your pain. It may provide permanent or temporary relief, depending on your situation. This treatment is common after traumatic injuries or painful procedures that may cause you pain as the injection relieves your pain for several months while the injury/cause of pain is healing.

Kyphoplasty

Kyphoplasty is a minimally invasive spinal surgery used to treat painful, progressive vertebral compression fractures, which cause the vertebra to collapse. When a vertebra collapses, the spinal column above it will develop an abnormal forward curve.

Vertebral Compression Fractures may be caused by:

• osteoporosis
• tumors
• certain forms of cancer

Symptoms

• pain that does not get better with rest
• numbness, tingling or weakness in legs
• loss of control or inability to urinate

Treatment

In kyphoplasty, a tiny balloon is inserted through a small incision and placed at the fracture, creating a space between the compressed discs. Bone cement is then injected into this space to stabilize the discs. Kyphoplasty better aligns the spine, dramatically relieving your pain.

Lumbar Spinal Fusion

Spinal surgery is usually suggested after other pain-relieving methods have been tried, including medication and physical therapy.

Symptoms

• lower back pain with tingling or weakness in the legs
• leg pain or sciatica
• degenerative disc disease
• arthritis

Spinal fusion surgery is performed when there is slippage of a vertebra or curvature of the spine that can only be corrected by permanently fusing two or more vertebrae together. A piece of bone, usually taken from the hip, is used to fuse the vertebrae together. Screws and rods may be used to hold the bones together while they mend, and can also facilitate a faster recovery time. Newer techniques have been developed which are minimally invasive and 80% percent of patients that have spinal fusion have good to excellent results and see an improvement in their leg and back pain.