Spine Care
Comprehensive Care for Back and Neck Pain
Constant neck and back pain may be related to problems with the spine. San Ramon Regional Medical Center offers advanced treatments to help patients find lasting relief from conditions ranging from lower back pain to spinal stenosis. Our doctors review all back pain relief options from physical therapy to non-surgical or surgical procedures to help you find a way to restore quality of life.
Spine conditions occur in the cervical (neck), thoracic (mid-back) or lumbar (low back).
Non-Surgical Treatment for Back Pain
Often the first step in treating spine pain is to explore a range of non-surgical treatment options such as:
- Pain Management – We offer several ways to manage pain, including biofeedback, medication, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation and counseling.
- Injections – Injections may offer temporary relief based on the type and location of the pain. We offer epidural steroid injections, cortisone steroid injections, facet joint injections and injections to the nerve root sacroiliac.
- Physical Therapy – A physical therapist may help strengthen the muscles around the spine with passive and/or active treatments, stretching and exercises suggestions for low impact and/or strengthening.
Surgical Services for Spine
If non-surgical options are not effective, some conditions may require surgery, and injuries may require surgery first. Other conditions that we treat with surgery include:
- Herniated Discs
- Myelopathy and Stenosis
- Spondylolisthesis
- Vertebral Fractures
- Degenerative Disc Disease
- Spinal Cord Compression
- Sciatica
- Scoliosis
- Cervical
San Ramon Regional Medical Center has board-certified spine surgeons that can help determine surgical treatment options for spine care. Surgical options may include:
If a smaller injection is possible for treatment, the discectomy is called a microdiscectomy. Even small amounts of disc material that is out of place can put pressure on the spinal cord, sac of nerves or spinal nerve roots.
One way to remove a herniated disc is through a procedure in which part of the lamina is removed as well as a portion of a ligament. This procedure enlarges the spinal canal to relieve pressure on the spinal cord, sac of nerves or nerve roots.
Surgeons insert an endoscope through a small incision, which can help minimize the amount of tissue injury, trauma and post-operative pain.
The doctor performs the surgery using a robotic arm to guide the procedure. Globus ExcelsiusGPS™ is a sophisticated system that is designed to make spinal fusion safer and help with precise placement of implants and hardware placement. Surgeons can pre-map their surgical approach to increase accuracy using navigation and 3D technology. The minimally invasive approach enables the surgeon to separate the muscles surrounding the spine rather than cutting through them. Benefits include smaller incisions, less tissue and muscle damage, and less pain, less blood loss and faster recovery. Learn more about Robotic Surgery at San Ramon Regional Medical Center.
Bone grafts, screws and rods may join two or more vertebra together to eliminate motion between the vertebra that causes pain.
An accident or injury may require immediate surgery to repair damage to the spine including decompression and/or stabilization of the spine.
Similar to trauma, surgeons specifically work on the spinal cord.
A previous spine procedure may require adjustment of hardware.
Regardless of your condition, the spine team at San Ramon Regional Medical Center has the experience and commitment to provide comprehensive and compassionate care.
Breakthrough Spine Procedure at San Ramon Regional Medical Center is a Game Changer
While you may know that the World Health Organization (WHO) reports that low back pain is the leading cause of disability worldwide, what is less known is that back injuries aren’t always due to aging: even 50% of young people experience back pain during adolescence.
What can be devastating is that undetected stress fractures in the spine can, potentially, lead to a lifetime of back pain. Some of these adolescents – typically young athletes may have these undetected stress fractures (pars fractures), which can progress into an actual break, called spondylolysis. If it progresses, the spinal disc can slip forward, which is what you may have heard called a “slipped disc.”
In fact, a slipped disc can cause severe back pain and nerve related symptoms later in life and is a common cause for spinal fusion surgery in the Unites States.
However, there is good news: in recent surgery using an innovative, minimally invasive technique at San Ramon Regional Medical Center, Dr. Saqib Hasan, successfully performed Endoscopic Pars Fracture Repair to address pars fractures in young athletes. This technique, which Dr. Hasan believes could be the first in California, fixes the fracture in the vertebra while stopping further slippage.
In this complex procedure, Dr. Hasan was able to perform a back fracture repair, bone grafting and screw placement using endoscopic and computer-based navigation technologies.
“It is a big step forward from more traditional, open spine surgery that typically involves significant cutting and dissecting of the back muscles,” said Dr. Hasan. “I can safely and accurately accomplish complex surgical tasks with incisions that are only the size of a number two pencil.”
Unlike traditional surgeries, this minimally invasive approach uses an endoscope—a small
camera and surgical instrument system that requires only tiny incisions. The result is faster
recovery, less pain and a quicker return to activity, including sports. This comprehensive procedure is already helping young athletes pursue their dreams by lowering the long-term risk of spinal fusion
surgery. Among the first fellowship-trained endoscopic spine surgeons in the United States, Dr. Hasan is at the forefront of next-gen minimally invasive spinal care.
This advancement is some of the latest in technology at San Ramon Regional, which was the first hospital in the U.S. to acquire the da Vinci robotic surgical system and where the world’s first voice-activated robotic surgery was performed.
“The best thing about being part of San Ramon Regional Medical Center, is that we have access to some of the latest and greatest cutting-edge technologies in the Unites States,” said Dr. Hasan. “By leveraging these new technologies, surgeons can be innovative in the way we treat our patients and elevate the standard of care.”
Back, Neck and Spine Pain and Procedures FAQ
Back pain affects as many as 80 percent of adults at some point during their lifetime. Anything from improper lifting to aging may cause back pain. Some of the most common causes of back pain include:
- Stretched or strained muscles
- Injuries that damage the muscles, bones or tissue
- Herniated (slipped) discs
- Osteoporosis
- Obesity or excess weight
- Poor posture
- Pregnancy
While back pain is common among adults, you should talk to your doctor if it becomes more frequent or severe.
Fortunately, most back pain problems can be treated effectively without surgery. Treatment options include:
- Anti-inflammatory medicine
- Limiting activity
- Physical therapy
- Pain medication as needed
Incorporating the following guidelines into your daily routine may help to minimize back pain and promote a strong and healthy spine:
- Exercise regularly to keep the muscles in your back strong and flexible
- Stretch before exercising to warm up your muscles
- Avoid standing or sitting in one position for too long
- Maintain your proper body weight as excess weight strains your back muscles
- Use proper lifting and moving techniques
- Get help if an object is heavy or an awkward size
- Don't twist when lifting
- Avoid smoking
Use good posture when sitting or standing
Magnetic resonance imaging, or MRI, gives clear, detailed pictures of soft tissue near bones, the cardiovascular system and other organs. Specifically for back pain, an MRI allows doctors to look deep inside the body without surgery and can assist in diagnosing herniated discs and nerve damage.
A myelogram is a type of x-ray that uses a dye or contrast material and a special machine called a fluoroscope that takes moving x-rays and displays them on a monitor. Myelograms detect many spinal ailments, including:
- Infection
- Inflammation
- Herniated discs (spinal discs that stick out beyond their normal area) that press on nerves
- Spinal stenosis
- Spinal tumors and lesions
Most back pain can be conclusively diagnosed using one or more of four diagnostic tests. These include:
- X-rays (which show problems like arthritis and bone disease)
- Computerized Tomography (CT) Scan
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Test
- Myleogram
Some conditions or injuries require surgery. These conditions include:
- Compressed spinal cord
- Disk degeneration
- Fractures
- Herniated discs
- Infections or tumors
- Instability in the spine
- Severely pinched nerves
- Spinal stenosis (narrowing of the bones of the spine)
- Spinal deformity
Surgery may also be recommended for those individuals who have symptoms of nerve damage. These symptoms include:
- Pain radiating down the leg or arms
- Acute pain in the affected area
- Numbness
- Weakness or tingling in arms or legs
- Loss of bowel or bladder control
A number of factors can increase the risk of back pain, including:
- Age
- Fitness
- Diet
- Heredity
- Race
- Other diseases
- Occupational risk factors
- Cigarette smoking
Computerized Tomography, or CT, is an X-ray technique that produces more detailed images of your internal organs than a conventional X-ray can produce. CT Scans are used to:
- Diagnose muscle and bone disorders, such as osteoporosis
- Pinpoint the location of a tumor, infection or blood clot
- Guide procedures such as surgery, biopsy and radiation therapy
- Detect and monitor certain diseases such as cancer and heart disease
- Detect internal injuries and internal bleeding
Today, interventional radiologists offer a minimally invasive, non-surgical treatment for spinal fractures. Vertebroplasty or kyphoplasty may help reduce or eliminate the pain associated with spinal fractures. This treatment helps stabilize spinal fractures caused by osteoporosis.
Individuals suffering from even mild back pain should consult a doctor if they experience:
- Numbness or tingling
- Severe pain that does not improve with rest
- Pain after a fall or an injury
- Pain plus any of the following: trouble urinating, weakness, numbness in the legs, fever or unexplained weight loss