SpineCare: Treating Your Back and Neck Pain

Back and neck pain can interfere with your daily activities and reduce your quality of life. But depending on the cause of your back and neck pain, there are a variety of effective treatment options. Here to tell us more is Carley Sauter, MD, a physical medicine and rehabilitation physician with the Froedtert & MCW SpineCare Program. 

What are the common causes of low back and neck pain and how can it be prevented? 

Low back and neck pain are some of the most common reasons for people to go to the doctor, and common causes for this would be strains and sprains, injuries like falls and also degenerative conditions. While degeneration is normal, sometimes arthritis and other things can cause pain. In terms of prevention, there are ways that people can prevent spine problems even at home by using good posture, good mechanics, staying active and keeping their back strong and healthy.

What are the types of back and neck issues your team treats? 

We treat a variety of conditions, from simple things like sprains and strains that we previously mentioned to common conditions including disc herniations, pinched nerves, lumbar stenosis and other related conditions. We also treat more complex conditions, including spinal fractures, tumors and infections.

Is there a difference in where a person receives care for their back and neck pain?

Yes, one of the big benefits to being in an academic health network is our ability to provide a sophisticated and wide variety of evaluation options, treatment options, and also give patients an individualized program that includes treatment with either nonsurgical teams, surgical teams and all the other medical providers that can help improve their condition as well.