Back Pain Doctors & Spinal Treatment Specialists – The Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery Institute

Back pain is the most common reason for doctor visits and missed days of work. The odds of you having debilitating back pain sometime in your life is a staggering 80 percent. But consider how dependent your body is on your back muscles and your spine. Mid-back pain may not be as common as lower back pain, but it still dramatically affects your life. When you can’t walk, work or exercise without pain, you can’t enjoy life. If that sharp pain in your middle back never goes away, visit back pain specialist Dr. Branko Skovrlj at NU-Spine in Edison, NJ for a diagnosis. Call the team of spine pain doctors today for an evaluation.

How Does Back Pain Show Up?

Your spine supports the weight of your body, allows flexible movements and protects your central nervous system. Due to its importance and delicate anatomy, your back becomes more prone to injury and damage the older you get. When the pain develops around your thoracic spine, it’s known as mid-back pain.

Middle back pain happens in the area below your neck, but above the bottom of your rib cage. It’s not the most common type of back pain, but it still affects your day-to-day activities if it hits you. Acute mid-back pain starts suddenly and lasts for up to six weeks. Chronic pain, on the other hand, is long-term. It develops over a longer period and stays with you day after day. Some symptoms of back pain include:

Muscle aches
Dull pain
A burning sensation
Sharp, shooting or stabbing pain
Pain that gets worse with bending, lifting, standing or walking
Pain radiating down your leg
Muscle tightness or stiffness
Numbness or tingling in your arms, legs, chest or belly
Weakness in your arms or legs
Loss of bowel or bladder control

With an early diagnosis at the NU-Spine back pain center facility in Edison, NJ, spinal doctors can restore your back to its full function. Our renowned back pain specialists, led by neurosurgeon Dr. Branko Skovrlj use a multi-disciplinary approach to middle back pain treatment to ensure the best outcomes. Come into the modern practice whenever you’re experiencing back pain.

What Causes Back Pain?

Back pain can originate in any area of your back, neck or hips for a variety of reasons. That’s why you must get a reliable diagnosis from an experienced back pain doctor.

Only after determining the right cause of your pain can you be effectively treated. Some of the typical causes of back pain include:

A muscle or ligament strain
Poor sleeping habits
Aging that leads to degeneration of the bones, joints, muscles and ligaments
Thinning bones, often caused by osteoporosis
Bulging or herniated discs, an ailment that requires chronic back pain treatment
Infections of your kidneys or bladder
Pelvic inflammatory disease
Scoliosis, a condition where the spine curves abnormally
Having to push, pull, lift or carry heavy loads often
Long driving sessions without regular breaks to stretch
Muscle damage due to poor exercising techniques
Weakened muscles due to lack of activity
Fractured vertebrae from an accident or fall
Incorrect posture while sitting or standing, leading to spinal damage
Degenerative joint disease in your neck or lower back
Osteoarthritis, (OA) which affects over 30 million adults in the country
Ankylosing spondylitis is also a type of arthritis that affects the spine
A tumor in the middle back
Cancer of the spine

Am I at Risk for Back Pain?

You may be at a greater risk of developing mid-back pain if you fall into certain categories, some of which are in your control and some aren’t. Your risk increases if you:

Work at a job requiring heavy lifting or long periods of sitting
Are obese or overweight
Are advanced in years
Are pregnant
Don’t participate in physical fitness exercises
Smoke cigarettes
Have certain genetic factors
Suffer specific medical conditions, such as arthritis

The NU-Spine spinal doctors use advanced technology to diagnose and treat the underlying cause of your mid-back pain. Your back pain doctor walks you through the diagnosis process so you know what to expect. He also discusses the most effective treatment options for your troublesome back, based on your physical health and diagnosis.

What Non-Invasive Treatments for Back Pain Exist?

If you search for back pain treatment near me in Edison, NJ, you’ll find the NU-Spine spine treatment practice. Dr. Skovrlj, your experienced back pain treatment doctor, uses a combination of methods including non-surgical, traditional and surgical procedures for the best results. This is not a one-size-fits-all treatment center.

Your spinal surgeon uses advanced technology — such as MRI, X-ray, CT scans, electromyography (EMG) and blood tests — to reach an accurate diagnosis. From there, your initial, non-invasive treatment options may include:

Pain relief medication, such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs) and analgesics
Topical rubs and ointments
Anti-depressants
Cortisone steroid injections for severe back pain
Physiotherapy and occupational therapy

Why May I Need Surgery for My Back Pain?

If the non-invasive therapies prove inadequate to address the pain and other symptoms you’re experiencing, back pain surgery may be the next option. If you have nagging pain that radiates down your leg or progressive muscle weakness, the cause may be nerve compression. Your spinal specialist knows the best minimally invasive techniques to restore function and how to relieve back pain, such as:

Finding Back Pain Treatment Near Me

When surgical intervention is necessary to treat your back pain, choose a fellowship-trained spine surgeon who delivers the most advanced and minimally invasive treatment options available today, including laser spine surgery, spinal fusion, endoscopic posterior cervical foraminotomy and discectomy, sciatica treatment, and spinal reconstruction surgery.

Locate a board-certified neurosurgeon offering effective back pain treatment near you and specializing in treating patients with both common and complex spinal disorders and deformities using minimally invasive surgical solutions to help them overcome or manage their spine condition and get their life back on track.

At NU-Spine, The Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery Institute in NJ, you have access to a highly trained team of spinal specialists who use a patient-centered approach. They tailor treatment to suit your diagnosis for the most effective outcome. Don’t let your mid-back pain inhibit your normal life. Contact the best spinal doctor and get back to a full range of activities.

Page Updated on Sep 8, 2023 by Dr. Branko Skovrlj (Neurosurgeon / Spine surgeon) of NU-Spine: The Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery Institute in New Jersey

Dr. Branko Skovrlj, MD, is a board-certified neurosurgeon and a fellowship-trained spine surgeon specializing in complex and minimally invasive spinal surgery, spinal revision surgery, and spinal deformity surgery for acute and chronic back pain relief. He combines advanced surgical techniques, vast skills, knowledge, and training to provide evidence-based treatments focused on successful long-term outcomes, with importance on both functionality and an aesthetically pleasing result with minimal to no visible scarring.

Dr. Skovrlj received his undergraduate degree from Clayton State University in Atlanta, GA, and his Doctorate of Medicine from SUNY Upstate Medical University in Syracuse, NY. He then completed the Neurosurgery Residency, Complex Spine and Deformity Surgery Fellowship, and Minimally Invasive, Complex Spinal, and Deformity Surgery Fellowship programs at Mount Sinai's Icahn School of Medicine in New York City. A member of numerous professional societies with multiple nominations and awards for his contribution to spine surgery, Dr. Skovrlj has over 50 peer-reviewed publications in the field of spine surgery and has presented over 150 clinical research papers at prestigious national and international meetings. He is also affiliated with multiple medical facilities and hospitals in NJ, including Chilton Medical Center and Saint Joseph's University Medical Center.

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