Conditions We Treat

Spine symptoms can come from a disc, a narrowed canal or foramen, joint degeneration, instability, deformity, fracture, or compression of a nerve or the spinal cord. Similar symptoms may have different causes, so a diagnosis depends on the history, examination, and imaging—not a keyword or scan report alone.

Most conditions begin with observation, activity modification, therapy, medication, or an injection when appropriate. Surgery is considered when symptoms, objective findings, imaging, function, and the response to less invasive care point to a problem an operation can reasonably address.

Low back and leg symptoms

• Sciatica — leg pain, numbness, or weakness from an irritated lumbar nerve root
• Herniated disc — disc material pressing on a nerve
• Spinal stenosis — canal narrowing that limits standing and walking
• Spondylolisthesis — one vertebra slipping forward on another
• Degenerative disc disease — age-related disc wear that becomes symptomatic
• SI joint pain — sacroiliac dysfunction causing low back and buttock pain
• Vertebral compression fracture — often from osteoporosis or injury
• Failed back surgery — persistent symptoms after a prior operation

Neck and arm symptoms

• Cervical radiculopathy — a pinched nerve in the neck with arm pain, numbness, or weakness
• Cervical myelopathy — spinal cord compression affecting hands, balance, and gait
• Pinched nerve — nerve root compression in the neck or low back
• Neck and back strain — muscular injury that usually improves without surgery

Alignment and deformity

• Adult scoliosis — curvature with degeneration, imbalance, or nerve symptoms

Not sure where to start?

These symptom guides help sort out what may be going on before a visit: sciatica vs back pain, stenosis vs sciatica, and why your legs hurt when you walk. If surgery has already been recommended, a second opinion is a normal next step.

New bowel or bladder dysfunction, saddle numbness, rapidly progressive weakness, severe balance decline, fever with severe spine pain, or new wound drainage after surgery needs urgent medical assessment rather than an online guide.