CONDITIONS WE TREAT
Start with what you’re feeling.
You don’t need to know the name of your condition before you come in. Back or neck pain, numbness, weakness, trouble walking, or symptoms that persist after surgery can have many causes. The first step is understanding what’s happening — and what your options are.
Neck pain, arm pain, numbness or weakness
Cervical Radiculopathy
When a nerve in the neck becomes irritated or compressed, symptoms can travel into the shoulder, arm or hand. Patients may experience pain, tingling, numbness or weakness.
Problems with balance, walking or hand coordination
Cervical Myelopathy
Compression of the spinal cord in the neck can affect more than just the neck. Some people notice changes in balance, difficulty walking, weakness, numbness or trouble with fine hand movements such as buttoning a shirt.
Leg heaviness or pain with standing and walking
Lumbar Stenosis with Neurogenic Claudication
Narrowing around the nerves in the lower back can cause pain, numbness, weakness or heaviness in the legs, particularly while standing or walking. Symptoms may improve when sitting or leaning forward.
Pain, numbness or weakness traveling down the leg
Lumbar Radiculopathy
Often described as sciatica, lumbar radiculopathy occurs when a nerve in the lower back is irritated or compressed. Symptoms can extend from the back or buttock into the thigh, calf or foot.
When you’re still hurting after spine surgery
Ongoing Pain Following Spine Surgery
Persistent or new symptoms after a previous spine operation deserve a careful look. The goal is to understand why symptoms remain, what has already been done, and whether additional treatment — surgical or non-surgical — could be appropriate.
A diagnosis is only part of the picture.
Two people with similar MRI findings may need very different treatment.
Dr. Perrone considers your symptoms, physical exam, imaging, previous treatments and what you want to get back to doing. Treatment may include continued non-surgical care, a minimally invasive or endoscopic procedure, or a more traditional operation when appropriate.