Neck | Cervical

What Is the Cervical Spine?

Your neck is just one section of your spine, a flexible colmn of bones and soft, malleable discs that run from the base of your skull to the top of your pelvis. The cervical spine includes seven bones that make up your neck. The discs between the vertebrae act as shock absorbers so you can move freely without pain.

When you injure or develop a disease in the cervical spine, it becomes difficult to perform everyday activities that involve turning your head. And you move your head more often than you realize. Common symptoms that indicate cervical spine damage include:

• Neck pain
• Radiating back pain
• Difficulty walking steadily
• Muscle spasms
• Numbness in your arms and hands

Dr. Branko Skovrlj at NU-Spine: The Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery Institute in Edison, NJ is a leading neurosurgeon who specializes in treating neck and back pain. He uses cutting edge, minimally invasive spine surgeries. The earlier you undergo treatment, the better chance you have of preventing further cervical spine damage.

What Causes Neck and Upper Back Pain?

A sudden move that strains the muscles in your neck can cause neck pain. So can osteoporosis, which leads to small spinal fractures. Untreated, neck pain and other symptoms severely impair your ability to perform everyday tasks, including eating and bathing.

The most common cervical spine disorders almost always begin with minor neck pain that worsens over time. Conditions your neurosurgeon treats on a regular basis include:

• Cervical degenerative disc disease
• Cervical degenerative joint disease
• Osteoarthritis
• A herniated disc
• A slipped disc
• A pinched nerve
• Cervical stenosis
• A neck Injury
• A spinal cord injury
• A compression injury
• Hunchback

What Can I Do About Neck Pain?

After trying conservative treatments like rest and heat packs to relieve your pain, your family doctor may prescribe stronger painkillers. But when neck and upper back pain continue, it’s time to turn to an expert in cervical spine treatment at NU-Spine. The most common types of minimally invasive procedures used to treat cervical spine disorders include:

• Cervical disc replacement
• Endoscopic posterior cervical foraminotomy and discectomy
• Laminectomy
• Minimally invasive laminectomy
• Corpectomy
• Discectomy
• Spinal fusion
• TLIF
• XLIF
• Revision surgery
• Microdiscectomy

Don’t wait for pain to get worse. Don’t wait until you’re disabled. Contact Dr. Skovrlj at NU-Spine today for an evaluation.

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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