Back Pain
Back pain can be severe and disabling. At the Detroit Medical Center (DMC), we understand the burden of living with back pain. Together, we'll work to help find the source of your spinal-related pain and put you on the road to recovery.
The DMC’s Spine Center team in Detroit and Commerce Township includes:
- Surgical and nonsurgical physicians
- Pain management specialists
- Nurses specializing in spinal care
- Physical therapists
Comprehensive and Compassionate Care for Back Pain Relief in Metro Detroit
If you're looking for advanced and personalized back pain treatment, the Detroit Medical Center's experienced spine team can work with you to help give you the best course of treatment and recovery for back pain, focusing on exploring all nonsurgical options first.
However, if conventional treatment options do not work, our orthopedic spine and neurosurgeons can perform a comprehensive range of surgical back and spine procedures, including degenerative disc disease treatment, herniated disc treatment and minimally invasive back pain procedures that may result in shorter hospital stays and a quicker recovery.
The Detroit Medical Center also offers access to multiple outpatient rehabilitation clinics to help provide you with a seamless transition to recovery. Learn how DMC's Rehabilitation Institute of Michigan’s physical therapists can help you towards recovery every step of the way here.
What are the Spine Conditions Detroit Medical Center Treats?
Some of the most common spine conditions we help treat, include but are not limited to, the following:
- Chronic back and neck pain
- Degenerative back and neck conditions
- Headaches
- Herniated disc
- Osteoarthritis and osteoporosis
- Pinched nerve
- Ruptured disc
- Sacroiliac joint pain
- Sciatica
- Scoliosis
- Spinal arthritis
- Spinal cord compression
- Spinal deformities
- Spinal disc deterioration
- Spinal fractures/trauma
- Spinal tumors
What Causes Back Pain?
Back pain is one of the most common medical problems in the United States, affecting 8 out of 10 Americans at some point in their lives. It can range from a dull, constant ache to sudden, sharp pain.
Many things can cause back pain. Some of these triggers may include the following:
- Sprain
- Strain
- Degenerative disc disease
- Herniated or ruptured discs
- Spondylolisthesis
- Spinal stenosis
- Fractured vertebrae
- Scoliosis
- Inflammatory arthritis of the spine, such as ankylosing spondylitis
- Osteoporosis
- Fibromyalgia
- Endometriosis
- Infections that affect the bones of the spine or discs
- Tumors
- Pregnancy
How Can I Cure My Back Pain?
Treatment depends on the source and symptoms of the pain. Your doctor may recommend various options, including medications, nonsurgical treatments and surgical procedures, but you can also do things to improve your health and decrease your chance of developing chronic back pain.
Nonsurgical Treatment Options at the DMC Spine Center
- Medications to help relieve pain and reduce inflammation
- Anti-inflammatory or numbing injections
- Physical therapy
- Manipulation therapy of the spine and nearby tissue
- Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation
- Acupuncture
- Braces and collars to limit movement
Minimally Invasive Spine Procedures and Surgical Treatments Offered at the DMC Spine Center
Doctors resort to surgical procedures when all other treatments have not improved your symptoms. Not everyone is a candidate for surgery, even if the pain persists. The type of surgery will depend on the cause of your pain and medical history. Make sure to discuss the risks and possible benefits of surgery with your doctor if you must undergo a procedure.
Some of the advanced spine treatment options at the Detroit Medical Center’s Spine Center include:
- Anterior cervical disc decompression and fusion
- Anterior cervical discectomy
- Anterior lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF)
- Artificial cervical disc replacement
- Cervical fusion
- Disc replacement
- Interventional spine procedure
- Kyphoplasty
- Laminectomy
- Laminoplasty
- Lumbar decompression and fusion
- Lumbar fusion
- Lumbar laminectomy
- Lumbar microdiscectomy
- Microdiscectomy
- Microscopic tubular resection (MITR)
- Minimally invasive spine surgery
- Minimally invasive lumbar decompression (MILD)
- Nerve decompression
- Peripheral nerve stimulator
- Posterior cervical decompression and fusion
- Posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF)
- Spinal cord stimulators
- Spinal fusion
- Spinal revision surgery
- Transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF)
Why Do I Have Back Pain?
Several risk factors can increase a person's chance of developing back pain, including:
- Fitness level – people who are not physically fit usually have a weak back and stomach muscles that cannot adequately support the spine, which may likely cause back pain
- Weight gain – excess weight can put stress on the back, increasing the risk of back pain
- Job-related risk factors – jobs requiring heavy lifting, pushing/pulling or twisting can increase a person's risk for back pain. Having a desk job can also put you at risk for back pain, especially if you have poor posture or sit all day long in an uncomfortable chair
- Age – older adults are more prone to back pain due to degenerative diseases
- Heredity – some genetic disorders can play a role in developing back pain
How Do I Know If My Back Pain Is Serious?
Most back pain goes away with rest and medication. However, if your back pain does not improve after three days, you should consult your doctor, especially if you have back pain following an injury. Some signs and symptoms which may require a trip to the hospital include:
- Numbness and tingling
- Severe back pain that does not improve with over-the-counter pain relief
- Back pain after a fall or injury
- Back pain along with
- Trouble urinating
- Weakness, pain or numbness in the legs
- Fever
- Unintended weight loss
Why Choose the Detroit Medical Center for Back Pain?
The role of the DMC Spine Center is to help you throughout your spine care journey by offering personalized and compassionate care. Based on your diagnosis, our team of spine care doctors and staff will work with you to develop a treatment plan that is right for you. We will help you schedule timely appointments and refer you to additional doctors (should they be required).
The DMC Spine Center is located on the main campus in Detroit and at DMC Huron Valley-Sinai Hospital in Commerce Township. In addition, we have over 20 outpatient physical therapy clinics located throughout the tri-county area.
Find Orthopedic Doctors for Back Pain in Metro Detroit
Let's help you get the care you need today through compassionate service and some of the latest technology and procedures available at Detroit Medical Center’s Spine Center in Detroit and Commerce Township. To schedule an appointment with a back pain doctor, go to our find a doctor page or fill out this referral form for assistance. You may also reach us at 888-362-2500, and we'll connect you to an orthopedic back pain doctor near your location. If it's an emergency, please call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.
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