Houston Methodist Spine Care

Houston Methodist’s spine specialists offer advanced diagnosis and treatment of disorders of the upper (cervical), mid (thoracic), and lower (lumbar) spine. Our experts specialize in and treat a range of spine-related conditions, including:

• Back pain
• Cervical myelopathy
• Chiari malformation
• Facet syndrome
• Failed back surgery syndrome
• Herniated disk
• Neck pain and injuries
• Neuropathic pain
• Radiculopathy
• Rheumatologic disease
• Sciatica
• Spasticity
• Spinal cord injury
• Spinal deformity/scoliosis
• Spinal fractures and trauma
• Spinal stenosis
• Spinal tumors
• Spondylolisthesis
• Torticollis

An orthopedic surgeon can specialize in spine surgery to become a spine specialist. Orthopedic spine surgeons are experts on injuries and conditions of the musculoskeletal system with specialized training in spine surgery.

Neurosurgeons also perform spine surgery, most commonly for injuries and specific conditions involving the brain, nerves and spinal cord.

The orthopedic spine specialists at Houston Methodist work collaboratively with our world-renowned neurosurgeons to treat all types of spine-related disorders, including back and neck pain, spinal cord pinching, congenital disorders, degenerative conditions, injuries and more.

The best doctor for spine problems depends on the patient’s spinal condition and diagnosis. Your primary care provider will refer you to a specific spine specialist based on your type of spinal condition, location of spinal condition, intended surgery (if necessary) and individual needs.

Orthopedic surgeons and neurosurgeons follow similar training on the path to becoming a spine specialist, and then may choose to subspecialize in additional treatment areas (e.g., pediatrics, cervical spine, lumbar spine). Your provider may choose the best doctor based on their subspecialty, as opposed to whether they are a neurosurgeon or orthopedic surgeon.

The orthopedic spine specialists at Houston Methodist work collaboratively with our world-renowned neurosurgeons to treat all types of spine-related disorders, including back and neck pain, spinal cord pinching, congenital disorders, degenerative conditions, injuries and more.

Your treatment plan is designed for your unique back or neck pain, and includes options ranging from pain management, physical therapy and other nonsurgical procedures to minimally invasive robotic surgery that reduces risk and helps speed recovery.

Minimally invasive spine surgery options include:

• Diskectomy – commonly performed to remove the herniated portion of a disk pressing on a nerve
• Laminectomy – relieves pressure caused by spinal stenosis by removing bone to enlarge the spinal canal
• Spinal fusion – permanently fuses two vertebrae together to eliminate painful movement between them. This may be done to help with degenerative disk disease, recurrent herniated disks, spinal deformities, spinal instability and other disorders.

Most back pain resolves on its own with nonsurgical treatments such as anti-inflammatory medications, heat or ice, over-the-counter pain patches, therapeutic massage, physical therapy and corticosteroid injections.

If these options haven’t worked and you are experiencing pain, weakness and difficulty performing basic activities like standing or walking, it’s best to see a spine specialist.

Our doctors use state-of-the-art diagnostic technologies that allow us to build a targeted treatment plan unique to you. For most people, mild to moderate neck or back pain can be relieved with rest, at-home treatments and over-the-counter pain medication. Other patients may need more advanced nonsurgical spine care, such as:

• Aquatic therapy
• Integrative therapies, such as acupuncture and massage therapy
• Pain management techniques such as medications, injections and other therapies
• Physical therapy to treat spine conditions using strengthening exercises, stretching and ice/heat packs

Spine surgery can be an effective solution for the following spine issues:

• Degenerative disk disease or herniated disks
• Fractures or injuries to bones in the spine
• Spinal deformities, such as scoliosis or kyphosis (abnormal curvatures of the spine)
• Spinal stenosis (narrowing of the spinal canal)
• Spondylolisthesis (when one vertebra in the lower back slips forward on top of another)
• Weak or unstable spine caused by infection or tumors

• Make sure to bring your insurance and ID card
• Bring a list of current medications (including over the counter medications and supplements)
• Bring outside medical records (reports, clinic notes, imaging), if appropriate
• Bring a family member or a friend to offer support and a second “ear”
• Bring something to write with and on