Back And Neck Pain
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Santa Cruz Osteopathic
Richard Bernstein, D.O.
Osteopathic Physician specializing in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation located in Capitola, CA
Back and neck pain are among the most common daily frustrations for millions of people. If you’re tired of greeting each day by limping to the medicine cabinet, consider a whole new approach: Osteopathic Medicine at Santa Cruz Osteopathic in Capitola, California. Expert osteopathic physician Richard Bernstein, D.O., uses cutting-edge integrative care to give you long-term relief from back and neck pain. Make an appointment by calling or clicking the online booking tool now.
Back and Neck Pain Q & A
Why is the spine so vulnerable to damage?
Your spine is a complex chain of vertebrae (the bones), each separated by discs that absorb shock. It extends from your neck all the way down your back, which leaves an unfortunately large chance for damage and injury.
Your discs don't have their own blood vessel supply so they get nutrients and oxygen from above and below the vertebrae. When your discs are damaged, they can’t heal efficiently because of near-constant internal pressure.
Because your discs withstand pressure every day simply from sitting, bending down, lifting up, and other movements, it's common for small tears to develop. This allows swelling and can cause the disc's inner nucleus to protrude. Damaged spinal discs can also put pressure on spinal nerves to worsen your pain.
What causes back and neck pain?
Some of the most common reasons for back and neck pain include:
- Degenerative disc disease
- Bulging disc
- Herniated, 'slipped' or 'ruptured' disc
- Sciatica
- Radiculopathy
- Facet syndrome
- Spinal stenosis
Dr. Bernstein can diagnose the cause of your back or neck pain and then design a pain relief plan for you.
What other symptoms accompany back and neck pain?
Your specific symptoms depend on the underlying condition. Back and neck pain can often happen at the same time as pins-and-needles tingling, radiating pain, and sporadic numbness or weakness in your extremities.
Can I treat back and neck pain without surgery?
With an osteopathic approach, back and neck pain is very treatable without surgery. At Santa Cruz Osteopathic, Dr. Bernstein often prescribes several types of therapy at one time, giving you the fastest recovery and pain relief possible.
Some of the different treatments that you may have for back and neck pain include:
Osteopathic Manual Medicine
Osteopathic Manual Medicine is a type of physical, hands-on care in which Dr. Bernstein manipulates your body carefully to relieve pain and improve function.
This type of treatment includes stretching, light pressure, and resistance exercises. The treatment is completely painless.
Regenerative medicine
Regenerative medicine treatments place stem cells around damaged tissue like spinal discs. Stem cells can regrow and replace damaged tissue, reduce local inflammation, and relieve your pain.
Spinal decompression therapy
SpineMED® spinal decompression therapy relieves pressure within your spinal discs, which is one of the main causes of back and neck pain. Through gentle mechanical vertebrae separation, your vertebral discs get the blood flow needed to heal.
Dr. Bernstein also offers other treatments, like trigger point injections, based on your needs. Your back and neck pain treatment plan could give you significant pain relief in only a few weeks, so don’t wait to get help.
Call Santa Cruz Osteopathic or book your consultation online today.
