Back & Spine Center
If you have an issue with your spine that is causing discomfort or prolonged pain, you don't have to suffer. At the Wake Orthopaedics Spine Center, our board-certified, fellowship-trained spine surgeons are dedicated solely to comprehensive state-of-the-art spine care.
We are the leading minimally invasive spine surgery center in the Triangle, offering outpatient same-day spine surgery. From minimally invasive spine surgery to state-of-the-art reconstructive surgery, the Spine Center is the premier spine choice in Wake County and beyond.
We Treat a Range of Conditions
We use the most advanced and latest technology to treat a range of back and spine conditions, such as:
Our complete approach to the spine allows us to return patients to their prior level of function and help them return to their active, pain-free lifestyle. Our orthopedic spine specialists tailor treatment to each individual patient meaning that you receive the right care, from leading spine specialists, at the right time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Have chronic back or neck pain? We’re answering some of your most ask spine pain questions.
A majority of people will experience low back pain in their lifetime. While low back pain is different from one person to the next, there are some common causes:
- Age
- Overactivity
- Disc injury
- Disc degeneration
- Degenerative Spondylolisthesis
- Spinal Stenosis
- Scoliosis
Cervical radiculopathy, or "pinched nerve", occurs when a nerve in the neck is compressed or irritated where it branches away from the spinal cord and is often caused by "wear and tear", a sudden injury, or traumatic episode.
A slipped disc, ruptured disc and herniated disc are all similar. Discs are soft, rubbery pads found between the hard bones (vertebrae) that make up the spinal column. The discs between the vertebrae allow the back to flex or bend. Discs also act as shock absorbers. A disc slips, ruptures or herniates when part of the center pushes through the outer edge and back toward the spinal canal. This puts pressure on the nerves.
A bulging disc occurs when the spongy discs between the vertebrae become compressed and bulge out.
Neck pain may result from abnormalities in the soft tissue – the muscles, ligaments, and nerves – as well as in bones and discs of the spine. Common causes of neck pain are soft-tissue abnormalities due to injury (a sprain) or prolonged wear and tear. In rare instances, infection or tumors may cause neck pain.
There are some key determinates when considering back surgery:
- You have a deformity
- Your pain is radiating to your arms & legs
- You have persistent pain without relief
- Your condition is worsening quickly
When a spinal condition is suspected or detected, your primary care provider will likely refer you to either a neurosurgeon or orthopaedic spine surgeon. Both are considered specialists and perform complicated spine surgeries; however, their differences lie in their specialized focus areas and training.
Historically, orthopaedic spine surgeons and neurosurgeons often worked together in complementary roles during surgery. However over the last several decades, training in orthopaedic spine and neurosurgery has become similar to the point that there is very little difference. Neurosurgeons have more expertise in brain conditions and orthopaedic surgeons have more expertise in spinal deformities, but the differences in training do not change the treatment or outcomes for the vast majority of procedures.
For advanced spine treatments, we work alongside WakeMed’s Back & Spine Center to provide our patients the highest level of care and expertise to get you back to living pain-free.
Back & Spine - Resources
Back pain symptoms have the potential to get in the way of our daily activities and impact our quality of life, which is why we’re passionate about finding effective treatments for our patients. For more information on common lower back and spine pain conditions, please explore the below resources from the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons:
Our Providers
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At Wake Orthopaedics, it’s our goal to ensure you receive the best care possible, and that may be with a different provider than you originally selected due to their area of specialization. Answer a few questions and we’ll pair you with a Wake Orthopaedics provider that best fits your needs.