If chronic pain in your neck or spine holds you back from daily activities, sports or a comfortable night’s sleep, the neck and back pain rehabilitation specialists at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center can help.
Our integrated care team of multiple providers in Columbus, Ohio, is nationally known for designing personalized treatment plans to help you strengthen your back and neck, reduce pain and prevent recurring injury. Whether you’re recovering from back surgery, dealing with a sports injury, whiplash, a serious fall, or managing a chronic condition, our nonsurgical spine care options can help relieve your pain and improve your ability to function.
What is neck pain and spine rehabilitation?
If you need therapy after a back or neck injury or if first-line treatment from your primary care provider or physical therapist hasn’t resolved your chronic pain, you may need neck and back rehabilitation from our therapy experts.
In our spine and neck pain program, treatment focuses on finding the true source of pain and restoring function without unnecessary surgery. Your customized treatment plan will depend on the cause of your pain, your personal goals and health history. Nonsurgical treatment can include physical therapy, steroidal injections and anti-inflammatory medication.
Physical medicine and rehabilitation physicians (physiatrists) and therapists are experts in how the spine, nerves and muscles work together to support movement and function. They apply their expertise to diagnosing and treating neck and back pain using conservative therapies, whenever possible.
Who is a candidate for neck pain and spine rehabilitation?
Back or neck pain can range from a dull, constant ache to a sudden, sharp pain, and may last for days or months. We treat people with pain caused by:
- Arthritis
- Degenerative disc disease
- Osteoporosis, which is the thinning or loss of bone tissue over time
- Radiculopathy, which is damage to the sciatic nerve extending from the lower back down the back of the leg
- Herniated disc
- Muscle injury or strain
- Spinal stenosis
- Sprains
- Whiplash
Symptoms of neck and back pain that rehabilitation can support
The Ohio State Wexner Medical Center’s rehabilitation experts have experience treating a wide range of symptoms, including:
- Pain in the neck, upper back or lower back
- Pain that radiates into the shoulders, arms, hips or legs
- Stiffness or reduced range of motion
- Numbness or tingling in the arms, hands, legs or feet
- Muscle weakness, tightness or spasms that make lifting, walking or gripping difficult
- Pain that worsens with certain movements, prolonged sitting or standing
Back pain accompanied by an inability to urinate or control bowel or bladder function, or back pain with a fever, could be signs of a more serious infection or a severe spinal condition. Visit the emergency department if you experience this type of back pain.
Nonsurgical treatment for back and neck pain
Chronic back or neck pain doesn’t necessarily mean you need surgery. At Ohio State, we exhaust all noninvasive options first before recommending surgery. You and your provider together will develop a treatment plan that includes a combination of options.
Physical therapy
Our physical therapists specialize in complex spine and neck conditions. They’ll create an evidence-based plan tailored to your needs and current range of motion.
Additional nonsurgical treatments include:
- Adapting daily tasks to be easier on your back
- Real-time ultrasound imaging (RUSI) of movement in the spine area to retrain and stabilize your spine
- Anti-inflammatory medications
- Guidance on maintaining a healthy weight to ease pressure on your back
- Pilates, yoga and aquatic therapy to strengthen back muscles
- Acupuncture or dry needling for pain control
- Spinal injections, such as epidurals or nerve blocks, to relieve pain
- Spinal cord stimulation
Services we offer for neck pain and spine rehabilitation
You’ll begin with a comprehensive evaluation that includes a detailed history, a physical and neurologic exam and a review of any imaging. From there, our team will tailor a treatment plan for you focused on function and long-term improvement. Your team will adjust your treatment plan over time based on how your body responds. Your care plan may include:
- Diagnostic tests, such as X-rays, MRIs or other imaging
- Electromyography (EMG) test to measure the electrical activity of muscles
- Nerve conduction studies performed with EMG to determine if a nerve is functioning normally
- Physical therapy
- Exercise programs, including aquatic therapy
- Occupational therapy to help you adapt or regain activities of daily living
- Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) to provide short-term pain relief
- Integrative medicine
- Acupuncture
- Chiropractic therapy, such as spinal manipulation or adjustment
- Massage
- Anti-inflammatory pain medication
- Pain management
Why choose Ohio State for neck pain and spine rehabilitation?
Our experienced team of specialists collaborates to provide conservative care based on rehabilitation to ease pain, manage your condition, promote recovery, increase function and prevent reinjury. Here’s why people choose Ohio State’s rehabilitation services for treatment of neck and back pain:
Personalized care: You’ll receive a personal evaluation and an individualized care plan to guide you toward your health goals. While we offer you rehabilitation and other nonsurgical treatments, you’ll have immediate access to expert surgical care, if needed. Our rehabilitation team works in close collaboration with the advanced spinal care specialists at the Ohio State Wexner Medical Center.
Nation’s best: Ohio State’s rehabilitation program consistently ranks among the best in the nation. As an academic medical center, we offer comprehensive medical expertise, the most advanced technologies and treatment techniques, and innovative care backed by research.
Accredited programs: We’re proud that our inpatient rehabilitation programs at Dodd Rehabilitation Hospital and our outpatient rehab programs are accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF). CARF recognizes our programs as meeting the highest standards in quality, safety and outcome measures, which support risk reduction and accountability in our patient care.