SpineCare: Expert Back and Neck Pain Relief

When suffering from painful back and neck problems, it can be reassuring to have an entire team of spine specialists ready to help. That is an important benefit of SpineCare, which has several locations within the Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin health network. Here, back and neck experts from a variety of disciplines collaborate to bring patients relief.

“In medicine there are few conditions where one magic bullet will fix the whole problem,” said Chen Cui, MD, physical medicine and rehabilitation physician and MCW faculty member. “Sometimes back or neck pain is related to one specific thing, but often a more global picture is needed. That’s why having our collaborative approach is helpful for patients.”

A Strong Partnership Blends Different Specialties

SpineCare gives patients access to physical medicine and rehabilitation physicians, as well as chiropractors and other spine specialists.

Physical medicine and rehabilitation physicians are experts in diagnosing and treating conditions that affect the body’s ability to function, in essence, how people move and manage everyday tasks. At SpineCare, these doctors work closely with chiropractors, who make chiropractic adjustments to mobilize joints of the spine.

“I use different techniques, depending on what the patient needs,” said Nicole Trochil, DC, chiropractor and MCW faculty member. “Through one technique, myofascial release, I can stretch and apply manual pressure to the tissue surrounding the muscle. This helps loosen restricted movement and improve mobility.”

Trochil creates a treatment plan for a patient by taking a history. She asks detailed questions about back and neck symptoms, including when they began and if these symptoms interfere with daily activities like bathing and getting in and out of a car. She also does a thorough exam that includes neurologic testing and orthopaedic examination to gather comprehensive information for an accurate diagnosis. An X-ray or MRI is ordered if imaging is needed.

The SpineCare team also includes neurosurgeons, spine surgeons, physical therapists, pain specialists, and spine-trained nurse practitioners and physician assistants. Practitioners from these different specialties share information to determine the best treatment plan for the patient.

“Chiropractors and physical therapists often meet with their patients weekly, so they are able to pick up on subtle functional deficits,” Dr. Cui said. “And because they’re meeting with the patient more often, they may know more about aspects of the patient’s life impacting their function.”

Nonsurgical Spine and Back Pain Relief Options

In many cases, the SpineCare team helps patients find relief with conservative, noninvasive measures, including educating patients about the factors that underlie their pain. Physical therapists work with patients to address pain through movement and strength building.

Dr. Cui is trained in pain medicine and can help patients address back and neck pain with nonopioid medications like anti-inflammatory and nerve-blocking medications. Patients may benefit from injections of steroids or local anesthetics that numb the area.

“Generally, we do not view the injection as the solution on its own,” Dr. Cui said. “It’s a supplemental piece to the bigger picture.”

In some cases, Dr. Cui offers ablation procedures, which involve applying heat to a nerve and blocking pain signals to the brain. People may also benefit from seeing the pain psychologists on the SpineCare team, who can be particularly helpful in cases of chronic pain.

If surgery is needed, patients meet with the team’s experienced neurosurgeons.

Comprehensive SpineCare Program

SpineCare practitioners care for people with a wide range of conditions that cause back and neck pain, including spinal stenosis, herniated discs, scoliosis, spinal fractures and rare conditions such as Chiari malformation.

“A passion of mine is treating people who have back pain during pregnancy,” Trochil said.

Through SpineCare’s Second Opinion Program, people diagnosed with a spine condition, especially one for which surgery has been recommended, can benefit from the SpineCare team’s assessment and expertise.

“To provide informed and coordinated care, we can access a patient’s electronic health record and review prior imaging, as well as any previous treatments they have received,” Trochil said. She and her colleagues can see if a person has been diagnosed with conditions such as osteoporosis or has had past surgeries or joint replacements.

“This access allows us to look at the person as a whole,” Trochil said. SpineCare Clinics are located at Tosa Health Center and the Orthopaedic, Sports and Spine Center in Menomonee Falls.

SpineCare features a team approach to spine care — all in an outpatient setting, affording patients one-stop-shop convenience. Call 414-955-7199 for an appointment. Learn more at froedtert.com/spine-care.