Facts:

According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), an estimated 80% of Americans will experience lower back pain in their lifetime.

Diagnoses:

• Herniated disc:  disc herniates out of its normal position and can put pressure on a nerve.
• Lumbar stenosis:  this is narrowing of the spinal canal and can put pressure on a nerve.
• Spinal cord tumors:  a benign or cancerous growth in the spinal cord, between the membranes covering the spinal cord, or in the spinal canal. A tumor in this location can compress the spinal cord or its nerve roots; therefore, even a noncancerous growth can be disabling unless properly treated.

Treatment Options:

When there is a “pinched” nerve,  pain along with numbness and tingling into the hip  and down the leg into the foot may occur.  An MRI is needed to diagnose the severity of the problem and helps the surgeon determine if surgery is recommended.  If there is severe pressure on the spinal cord, emergent surgery may be required especially if the patient is experiencing loss of bladder control.

Dr. Swaid will evaluate you and recommend surgery to you only as a last resort.  He will often recommend conservative treatments first such as physical therapy, epidural blocks, rest and medication – and only if these measures fail will he recommend surgery.

The procedure most often performed is a lumbar microdiskectomy.   Dr. Swaid Swaid has performed over 5,000 of these operations during the 35 years he’s been in practice which makes him one of the most experienced neurosurgeons in our region.  Dr. Swaid usually does not perform procedures with instrumentation; however, he can refer you to his partner, Dr. Martin Jones and together Drs. Swaid and Jones can determine the best course of treatment for you.

Call our office today and have your back pain evaluated by Dr. Swaid.