Spine Care

Nacogdoches Medical Center offers specialized neurosurgical spine care for the East Texas community through the Nacogdoches Institute of Spine Care (NISC). We provide spine care services from diagnosis to treatment and rehabilitation.

Count on our expertise and technology to treat spinal conditions, spinal cord injuries, back pain and more. We have a dedicated neurological critical-care unit, long-term rehabilitation and outpatient follow-up care.

The Nacogdoches Institute of Spine Care (NISC) is a premier program for comprehensive spine care in East Texas.

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Get Back Your Mobility with Advanced Spine Care

Whether you’re suffering from a back injury or back pain, enduring a spine condition for a long time or living with the realities of normal wear and tear, our neurosurgeons and spine specialists through the Nacogdoches Institute of Spine Care (NISC), we offer convenient access to a comprehensive range of spine pain treatment options to treat conditions like degenerative disc disease, herniated discs, back fractures and pain, neck abnormalities and more.

Our spine specialists in Nacogdoches, TX provide personalized treatment and care from diagnosis to recovery. We focus on exploring non-surgical spine pain treatment options first. If you need surgery, we have specially trained neurosurgeons ready to provide the best surgical options based on your condition.

The Nacogdoches Medical Center’s spine care program is designed specifically for back and neck pain patients. We incorporate some of the latest research to help you take measures to lessen or prevent your pain. Our team includes:

Board-certified neurosurgeons specializing in spine surgery
A clinical coordinator in charge of your care
Specialists in:

Neuroscience
Pain management
Physical therapy
Radiology

What Conditions Do We Treat?

Back or spine fractures – an injury along the backbone
Degenerative disc disease – the damage in the pads between the spinal discs that usually happens as a person ages
Herniated disc – characterized by a protruding, ruptured or bulging spinal disc
Kyphosis – the abnormal curving of the back
Radiculopathy – also known as a pinched nerve
Scoliosis – a condition where the spine is curved sideward
Spine cancer – the presence of abnormal cell growth in the spine
Spondylolisthesis – one of the bones in the spine slips out of position

Expert Care for Spine Conditions and Back Pain

Our patients have undergone initial assessment and were referred to the practitioners of our Spine Program for treatment. We strive to provide you with streamlined care for your timely recovery.

We start our treatment plans with non-surgical spine pain management treatments, such as heat and cold therapy, massage, physical therapy or anti-inflammatory drugs. Your doctor may recommend surgery if your pain does not resolve using non-invasive methods. A neuro spine surgeon may use minimally invasive techniques for less pain, faster recovery and fewer complications.

Back pain can range from annoying to agonizing. It is the second most common reason for seeing a doctor, yet many people endure the suffering longer than necessary before seeing a back pain specialist.

Nacogdoches native Ed Pool was experiencing debilitating back pain until the spine care team at NMC was able to help him. Now, thanks to the compassionate care he received, he is completely pain free and back to enjoying his life again.

Whether your pain is caused by injury or disease, if back pain is keeping you from enjoying a full and active life, our spine specialists are here to listen and work with you to find a solution.

They will provide a personalized treatment plan for you because they know just how far a helping hand can go.

What Causes Back Pain?

Up to 85% of Americans will experience a form of back pain in their life. Low back pain is commonly caused by a problem in one or lower back parts such as the ligaments, muscles, spine and nerves. Acute back pain may last up to a few weeks, while chronic back pain may last beyond three months. Some of the most common causes of back pain are:

A herniated or ruptured disc
Abnormal spine curvatures (i.e., scoliosis, lordosis, kyphosis)
Arthritis
Bladder issue
Fibromyalgia
Kidney infection or kidney stones
Osteoporosis
Spine infection
Sciatica
Spine cancer
Spinal stenosis
Strained muscles

What are the Risk Factors for Back Pain?

The following may increase a person’s risk for back pain:

Arthritis
Engaging in high-impact activities without warming up or stretching first
Obesity
Old age
Physical inactivity
Smoking

What Can You Do to Relieve Back Pain?

We recommend seeing a back pain doctor at Nacogdoches Medical Center for severe or acute back pain to get the needed treatment. Use the following to assist with back pain relief:

A firm mattress and supportive pillows
A heating pad or ice pack application to the affected area
Low-impact activities like stretching, walking or yoga
Over-the-counter pain relief cream
Stress management through deep breathing, meditation etc.
Shoes that provide additional support

How Do You Know if Your Back Pain Is Serious?

Back pain is a common condition, but it may also signify a more serious condition. If you experience these symptoms, do not delay care:

Back deformity or swelling
Chest pain
Fever
Loss of bladder or bowel control
Numbness and tingling around your buttocks or genitals
Numbness, tingling or weakness in one or both legs
Pain after a fall or a blow to the back
Pain that comes with a throbbing sensation in the stomach
Pain that worsens at night
Pain that worsens when you cough, sneeze or have a bowel movement
Pain that makes it difficult for you to stay or fall asleep
Unexplained weight loss

How Do Back Pain Doctors Diagnose Back Pain?

Our back pain doctors diagnose back pain by testing the patient’s:

Ability to stand and walk
Leg strength
Reflexes
Sensation in the legs
Spinal range of motion

For more severe symptoms, the neuro spine doctor may also request other tests and screenings, such as:

Blood tests
Bone scans
Computed tomography (CT) scan
Electromyography (EMG)
Urine tests
X-ray

What are the Non-Surgical Treatment Options for Back Pain?

Although low back pain can be painful and debilitating, almost 90 percent of low back pain cases are temporary and improve without surgery. Your spine care doctor may recommend any of the following non-surgical treatment options first:

Physical therapy
Anti-depressants
Back braces
Ice or heat therapy
Muscle relaxants
Prescription medications such as ibuprofen and naproxen
Steroid injections
Topical rubs and ointments

What are the Surgical Treatment Options for Back Pain?

If non-surgical options are not enough to relieve back pain, the doctor may endorse you for a surgical treatment option, including the following:

Artificial disk replacement
Discectomy
Foraminotomy
Nucleoplasty
Spinal decompression
Spinal fusion
Spinal laminectomy
Vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty

What Types of Back Pain Require Surgery?

According to the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS), patients with any of the following back pain-related conditions may benefit from surgical treatment:

Degenerative disc disease
Herniated or ruptured disk
Spondylolisthesis
Vertebral fracture

Back in Action

The thought of undergoing surgery can be frightening for some patients. But rest assured that our neurosurgeons are experienced in what they do. Count on us for compassionate care and support every step of the way.