Spine Disorders | Ohio State Medical Center

Back and spine trouble is one of the most common causes of chronic or debilitating pain among adults.

An illustration of a spine and its parts Spine disorders can interfere with nearly all aspects of your life, including daily work and fun outings with friends and family. If you hope to become more active, the spine experts at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center can help.

Our team of orthopedic spine specialists, neurosurgeons, physical medicine and rehabilitation physicians, anesthesiologists and physical and occupational therapists are experts in treating very complex spine diseases, conditions and deformities.

With leading diagnostic tools, advanced treatments and breakthrough research, Ohio State Spine Care offers the best care for adults and children with complex spinal conditions and deformities.

About your spine

The spinal column is your body’s main support structure. It is composed of bones, joints, muscles, ligaments, tendons, nerves and the spinal cord. Problems in the spine can be caused by injuries or underlying health problems. These issues usually don’t resolve on their own, so seeking care from experts who can provide an accurate diagnosis and the best, least invasive treatment is important.

The spine is divided into three areas of interlocking vertebrae: the neck (cervical spine), the middle (thoracic spine) and the lower (lumbar spine). The lumbar spine is the strongest part of your back and supports the weight of your upper body.

Our spine specialists in Columbus, Ohio, work closely with you to understand how your spine disorder is affecting your life and then review the best treatment option — whether it be surgical or nonsurgical.

Spine conditions we treat

Ohio State Spine Care experts treat any condition, disease or disorder that may be affecting the health of your spine. Learn more about our diagnosis and treatment of specific spine disorders:

Back injuries: sprains, strains and fractures Injuries can lead to a spraining of the ligaments in your spine or fractured vertebrae. Osteoporosis can lead to fractures, as well.

Cervical spinal stenosis This is a compression of the spinal cord in the neck, occurring most often in people over 50 years old.

Chronic back pain Back pain that lasts three months or longer, even if it comes and goes, is considered to be chronic.

Degenerative disc disease This occurs when the spinal discs, or cushioning, between your spine vertebrae wear down. This happens over time, most often due to getting older.

Discitis A rare viral or bacterial infection of the spinal discs.

Facet Joint Syndrome A condition that can cause significant pain in the back and neck.

Herniated disc This condition is also known as “slipped disc.” Usually occurring in the lower back, this common source of back pain usually heals on its own over time.

Lumbar spinal stenosis This happens when the space inside your backbone is too small, which causes pressure on the spinal cord and nerves within the spine.

Myelopathy This occurs when pressure on the spinal cord, often due to spinal stenosis, leads to neurological symptoms such as loss of balance or fine motor skills.

Neck Pain Neck pain may often resolve on its own, but persistent or severe neck pain should be evaluated by your doctor.

Pinched nerve A compressed nerve is causing pain in different areas of your body. A pinched nerve may be caused by a herniated disc that has worsened.

Sciatica Sciatica is mild to severe pain anywhere along the sciatic nerve, the longest nerve in the body.

Spinal curvatures (scoliosis and kyphosis) A curving or severe rounding of the back and spine.

Spinal Stenosis A condition characterized by the narrowing of the spinal canal, which houses the spinal cord and nerve roots.

Spine tumors Tumors that develop in your spinal canal — the bones of your spine — or as the result of other cancer spreading to the spinal column from other parts of your body.

Spondylolisthesis A condition in which a bone in the spine slips forward or backward in relation to the vertebra below it.

Vertebroplasty and Kyphoplasty Two minimally invasive procedures used to treat spinal fractures.

How are spine disorders diagnosed?

Our diagnostic process includes a physical and neurological examination, which may include the use of lights or reflex hammers to assess motor, sensory and reflex skills.

Your doctor may order further imaging testing if necessary, such as an X-ray or MRI. These tests will give your physician detailed images of any deterioration or abnormality in your bones or soft tissues.

Treatment for spine disorders

Our spine specialists are committed to fully understanding your specific spine disorder and its effects on your life. Depending on your condition, your treatment plan may include nonsurgical or surgical options. At Ohio State, we always begin with nonsurgical options before recommending a more invasive treatment. Common treatment plans include:

Lifestyle changes – smoking cessation, building strength in your back with Pilates or yoga, practicing proper posture
Nonsurgical spine treatments – acupuncture, anti-inflammatory medications, physical therapy, spinal injections or spine orthobiologics
Surgical treatments – decompressions surgery, herniated disc surgery, spinal fusion, spinal cord stimulation and spinal fusion

These are a few examples of the procedures our experts can perform. For a more complete list of procedures, view specific spine conditions to learn about our offerings at Ohio State.

Revision spinal surgery

We also offer revision spine surgery, also known as a second spinal surgery, at Ohio State Wexner Medical Center. This procedure may be recommended by your doctor for reasons such as:

Failure of first spinal surgery to resolve your pain after three months of surgery
You’re experiencing a degeneration or herniation of a disc near the area of your spine that was operated on
An unrelated segment of your spine may develop a spine condition

Why choose Ohio State spine care for your treatment

Ohio State Spine Care brings together the collective expertise of neurological physicians, orthopedic doctors and physical therapists who all specialize in spine disorders and injuries.
Our team always starts with the least invasive treatment to provide you with the best result possible.
If you need surgery, our fellowship-trained surgeons perform more complex spine surgeries here than at any other health center in central Ohio.
We can predict whether a job or activity could injure your spine, using our biomechanical testing (studying the action of external and internal forces on the body). We’re also developing unique programs to analyze how activities and movements can stress the spine.
You can participate in groundbreaking clinical trials through our associations with national and international spine organizations.
Through Ohio State Spine Care Registry, we track our patients’ outcomes (including physical function and quality of life) and compare these to national and international results to help us select the most effective treatments.

Patient Stories

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Andrew's back to pain-free

Meet Andrew: His degenerative spine disorder caused pinched nerves and severe back pain. Nonsurgical treatments didn’t relieve his pain, so he chose to have minimally invasive surgery at Ohio State. Thanks to Ohio State Spine Care, Andrew is living pain-free.

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Getting her life back after spine surgery

Before Beth had surgery to correct her degenerative disc disease, her days revolved around controlling her back pain. Since having artificial disc replacement surgery with Francis Farhadi, MD, PhD, a neurosurgeon specializing in spine disorders, Beth's days are focused on what she enjoys, like being active and spending time with her family.

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Back to normal

For years, Dick suffered from severe pain in his back and legs. He decided to visit Safdar Khan, MD, an orthopedic surgeon at Ohio State. Dr. Khan diagnosed him with severe spinal stenosis and recommended surgery to reduce his pain. Today, Dick is pain-free and back to normal.

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Sarah's experience with spinal fusion

Until she met Safdar Khan, MD, an orthopedic surgeon at Ohio State, Sarah struggled with severe back pain. She could no longer garden, travel or even walk her dog. Sarah had spinal stenosis. She underwent spinal fusion surgery with Dr. Khan. Now Sarah is pain-free, active and back to doing the things she loves.

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Pam's journey with scoliosis

Born with scoliosis, Pam's spinal deformity became so debilitating, she could hardly move. She found herself walking bent over with difficulty breathing. Finally, Pam visited Stephanus Viljoen, MD, a spine neurosurgeon at Ohio State, who performed a surgical procedure to straighten her spine. Today, Pam is finally walking tall and pain-free.

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Cindy's story of spinal stenosis

For years Cindy suffered from severe back pain. She was diagnosed with spinal stenosis, which causes pressure on the nerves of the spine.Once she visited Stephanus Viljoen, MD, a neurosurgeon specializing in spine disorders at Ohio State, Cindy has new lease on life.

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Susan shares her experience

Susan had severe osteoarthritis and scoliosis; her spinal deformity was making it difficult to breathe and stand up straight. Following years of back pain and multiple surgeries, Susan visited Francis Farhadi, MD, PhD, a spine neurosurgeon at Ohio State. He performed a surgical procedure to re-align her spine. Now Susan is living her life to the fullest.

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