There are 33 bones known as vertebrae within the spine, and they are classified into five sections, including cervical (neck), thoracic (mid-back), lumbar (lower back), sacrum (base of the spinal column), and coccyx (tailbone). With back pain as a leading cause of doctor’s visits in the United States, the spine is prone to a variety of conditions due to wear and tear, injury, underlying disease, aging, and more.

At Prospect Spine and Pain (PSP) in Newark, New Jersey, Dr. Maria Cabodevilla-Conn provides minimally invasive, multimodal, non-surgical pain management treatments for patients living with symptoms from common back conditions. As a fellowship-trained and board-certified Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) physician, she has the expertise to treat the entire person – not just their pain – by pinpointing the root of their condition and personalizing an effective course of treatment.

Signs and Symptoms of Spine Conditions

Whether the result of an accident, fall, congenital or inherited disorder, infection, or degenerative condition, spine pain may not only affect the back and neck but may also radiate to other areas of the body. Whatever the cause, common spine conditions present with symptoms depending on the area of the spine and whether the spinal cord is also affected. These may include:

• Weakness and/or numbness
• Stiffness/tightness
• Burning, sharp/stabbing, or dull/aching pain
• Tingling sensations
• Abnormal appearance such as rounded back or shoulders
• And more…

Spine Conditions We Treat

If you or a loved one is experiencing pain and other troubling symptoms in the back or neck, seek the opinion of Dr. Maria Cabodevilla-Conn right away. After diagnosing your condition with advanced examination tactics and medical imaging, as well as ruling out other potential causes of your symptoms, she may be able to provide the relief you need through a non-surgical, minimally invasive pain management treatment plan.

Treating acute and chronic back and neck pain, we also address common spine conditions such as:

• Bulging and herniated (ruptured) discs: As the round, flat, rubber-like discs that absorb shock between vertebrae deteriorate, their outer ring may weaken or tear. When the inner portion of the disc (nucleus pulposus) slips out of the outer ring, this is called a bulging disc. If the nucleus pulposus ruptures, this is called a herniated or ruptured disc and may result in disc fragments compressing nerve roots in the spine.
• Degenerative disc disease: This condition is not actually a disease. Instead, it is a term that describes the progressive spinal disc deterioration and arthritic changes that we all experience with age.
• Failed back surgery syndrome: This condition occurs when patients have undergone back surgery or treatment yet are still experiencing pain in the spine or legs long after their recovery period.
• Radiculopathy: Commonly referred to as pinched nerves, this condition involves the compression of spinal nerves that results in pain signals being sent throughout the body.
• Sacral dysfunctions: Affecting the sacroiliac (SI) joints that attach the pelvis to the spine and enable movement, this group of conditions is among the most prevalent causes of pain in the lumbar spine, as well as buttocks, groin, and lower extremities.
• Sciatica: A type of radiculopathy, sciatica describes the nerve-related back pain due to irritation or injury to the largest and thickest nerve in the body, the sciatic nerve, which is based in the buttocks and branches through the hips, legs, and lower back.
• Scoliosis: In adults, scoliosis is characterized as a sideways, abnormal curvature in the spine that measures 10 degrees or more. Scoliosis is most prevalent in children and teens, though it is usually diagnosed early in life.
• Spinal stenosis: This occurs if one or more spinal spaces narrow, causing increased pressure on spinal nerves that may become inflamed or pinched.
• Spondylolisthesis: This condition occurs when vertebrae slip over onto those below them and the front portion of a vertebra slides away from its posterior portion.

Request An Appointment in Newark, NJ with Dr. Maria Cabodevilla-Conn

Experiencing back or neck pain? Consult with Prospect Spine and Pain (PSP)’s Dr. Maria Cabodevilla-Conn in Newark, New Jersey, who ensures a patient’s pain management plan treats not only their pain but the entire person as well. For more information, contact us today.