Back & Neck Pain
Effective pain management for neck and back pain
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Pain Management at the Spine Center
If you have back or neck pain, you’re not alone. In the vast majority of cases, the pain goes away over time. The wait can be frustrating, but treatment isn’t necessary for most people.
If your pain doesn’t go away, the specialists at the Spine Center at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) are here to help. Our providers take a patient-centered approach to your care. The goal is to deliver as much treatment as you need to relieve your pain while avoiding costly procedures that may not be necessary.
Our Diagnostic Services
The key to managing back or neck pain is to locate its source. For example:
- Back pain accompanied by hip pain could originate from the lumbar spine, and not be the result of a primary joint problem of the hip itself.
- A shoulder injury can cause pain in your neck.
- Neck-related disc disease can manifest as shoulder and arm pain.
Once your Spine Center care team has pinpointed the source of your pain, we’ll develop an individualized treatment plan for you. For many people, the pain will go away over time. But if your pain lasts for more than six weeks, you may need more medical attention.
Treatments We Offer
Our specialists work with you to determine the best treatment option(s) for your back or neck condition. At the Spine Center, we start with the least invasive treatments first. It’s important to realize that most back and neck pain will respond to non-surgical treatment options and you may not need spine surgery.
Your initial care plan may include some combination of these treatments:
- Exercise
- Hot and cold packs
- Over-the-counter pain medication
- Physical therapy
If rest and conservative interventions don’t help, it may be time to consider other treatment options. These may include a trigger-point injection or a non-opioid pain medication. If that still doesn’t help, we may recommend an injection for pain relief.
More About Back & Neck Pain
Going to the doctor when you're not feeling your best can cause you to forget important questions you wanted to ask. Bring a list of questions with you, and take notes during your doctor’s visit. These questions can help ensure we cover all the important points when you are suffering from back or neck pain:
- What's causing my pain?
- What is the significance of my pain? Is it a sign of ongoing damage?
- Are there any other symptoms I should be aware of that could indicate a more serious condition?
- Are there activities I should temporarily or permanently avoid to ease pain?
- Could my workstation be affecting my pain?
- How much bed rest should I get while I'm suffering pain?
- What treatment options should I consider for my pain?
- How long should I take medication or do special exercises for pain?
- Are there alternative therapies that I should consider?
- What can I do to prevent pain from persisting or returning?
Get more details on preparing for your first Spine Center appointment.
A physiatrist specializes in diagnosing and caring for spine and musculoskeletal disorders. These include disc herniations and back arthritis, as well as fractures or tumors of the spine. A physiatrist treats using these non-surgical means:
- Exercises
- Medication
- Minimally invasive procedures
The Spine Center's physiatrists collaborate with our neurosurgeons, orthopedic surgeons and pain management specialists. Working together, we can decide whether you would benefit from non-operative treatments instead of surgery.
