Call 800-774-8827 or email our Patient Advocate for an immediate evaluation and referral to a specialty trained spine surgeon.  

During your office visit with the spine surgeon, expect to undergo a basic health exam and answer a number of questions.  The information gathered will help the surgeon determine the cause of your back pain and develop a treatment plan. 

Typical questions include:

• When did the pain start?
• What activities are associated with the pain?
• What treatments have you tried?
• Does the pain radiate or travel to other parts of the body?
• Does anything reduce the pain?

In the exam, the surgeon will observe your posture, range of motion (how well and how far you can move certain joints) and physical condition, noting movements that cause pain.  The surgeon will feel your spine, note its curvature and alignment and check for muscle spasms.  You may be asked to bend in several directions and move your arms and legs.  

The surgeon may perform a neurological exam which involves testing reflexes, muscle strength, other nerve changes and pain spread (checking to see if pain spreads from your back to other parts of your body).