How to Choose the Right Spine Specialist in Hamilton

TOG at Rothman Orthopaedic Institute Offers World-Class Spinal Care

Searching for a spine specialist in Hamilton? Look no further than TOG at Rothman Orthopaedic Institute. In an effort to better serve the community in central New Jersey, you now have world-class spine specialists in Hamilton available right in your own community.

How does this benefit you as the patient? Each spine specialist treats thousands of patients every year, integrating the latest orthopaedic treatment, interventions, and medical advancements. Our specialists are leaders in clinical research and innovators of advanced treatment modalities. Believe it or not, the best “spine specialists near me” are part of the team right here at Rothman Orthopaedic Institute.

What’s so Special About a Spinal Specialist?

You may wonder why your own family doctor can’t treat your spine. Understanding the complexity of your back and spine will help answer that question! Your spine is comprised of 33 individual bones stacked one on top of the other. This spinal column provides the main support for your body, allowing you to stand upright, bend, and twist, all while protecting the spinal cord from injury. Strong muscles and bones, flexible tendons and ligaments, and sensitive nerves contribute to a healthy spine.

If any of these structures are affected by strain, injury, or disease, it can cause pain. Having your back in the hands of anyone who is not an expert at caring for the many possible conditions that can arise from such a complex structure would be a mistake. Thankfully, in Hamilton, spine specialists are now easily accessible.

Experience Counts

Patients who have injured their backs or who suffer from back pain should be evaluated by orthopaedic spine specialists who are trained in musculoskeletal injuries and best qualified to offer you treatment. When choosing a healthcare provider, it is important to know what kinds of conditions they have experience treating. Your healthcare provider should be happy to provide you with such information.

Orthopedic surgeons may be Medical Doctors (MD) or Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) who have completed a five-year surgical residency focused on the treatment of musculoskeletal conditions. This additional investment of time spent studying unique conditions really does make a difference to the patients they treat. In addition, Rothman Orthopaedic Institute spine surgeons are fellowship trained which requires additional years of specialized surgical training.

What does a spine specialist do? Your orthopaedic specialist will perform a physical exam to assess the injury. She or he will order x-rays to determine how serious the condition is. Depending upon your injury or condition, additional studies may be needed such as CT scans or MRIs.

Your condition may require help from Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation physicians or by another orthopaedic subspecialist. The benefit for patients of Rothman Orthopaedic Institute is that we offer all these services under one roof. This includes exploring avenues for non-surgical treatment such as physical therapy. Physical therapy is an integral part of back pain treatment. Your therapist can teach you exercises to increase flexibility, strengthen your back and abdominal muscles, and improve your posture. Regular use of these techniques can help prevent pain from returning.

What to Do for Back Injuries

Back pain typically falls into two categories, chronic pain or acute pain. Chronic pain is long term and is usually related to an underlying cause such a arthritis or another condition. Acute pain is sudden onset pain, usually a result of an injury.

In the case of a back injury, you may not feel the effects immediately. Pain may not appear right away, or you may feel it will pass with time. However, symptoms of pain should not be ignored. Remember, more than 80% of adults will experience significant back or neck pain at some point during their life.

Surgical Solutions for Back Pain

The surgical options for back pain are vast. Of course, any surgical solutions would be based very specifically on your condition and diagnosis and would take into consideration other health factors. Below is a list of just a few examples of surgical interventions for your back:

• Spinal Fusion: Fusion is a surgically created solid bone bridge between two or more adjacent vertebrae.

• Discectomy: This is a term that means to remove a disc that may have herniated and may be causing pain down an arm or leg.

• Spinal Decompression: This refers to any surgical technique which aims to free the space for the nerves in the spinal canal or foramen. A number of different surgical methods are commonly used to achieve a decompression.

Find a Spine Specialist in Hamilton

Contact us today to see how we can assist you with your orthopaedic needs. For more information on treatment and finding a Spine Specialist in Hamilton, please visit Rothman Orthopaedic Institute here or contact us at 1-800-321-9999.