Summit Spinecare - A Team Approach
Four out of five Americans will have an attack of back pain during their lifetime. Many people are doomed to endless visits to the back doctor. That's because once you have your first back pain attack, you are four times more likely to have a recurrence. If you have back or neck pain, we are now in a position to help.
Summit Spinecare combines the expertise of fellowship-trained spine surgeons (the highest level of medical training in the United States) with non-surgical spine physicians and spine specialized physical therapists. Summit Spinecare represents Summit Orthopedics spine center of excellence.
Because Summit Spinecare has X-ray, physical therapy and an injection suite under one roof in the Minneapolis / St. Paul Minnesota area, the back or neck pain patient no longer has to drive around town to multiple locations for the appropriate care. All the necessary diagnostic testing and non-operative treatment under one roof eliminates the need for multiple referrals, delayed care and confusion.
A nonsurgical approach to back and neck pain
 What makes our spine center unique is its emphasis on a non-surgical approach to back and neck problems. Summit Spine in Minnesota includes physicians who specialize in non-surgical treatment of back and neck pain. They are often able to help many patients resolve their back or neck pain symptoms without the need for spine surgery.
However, sometimes, spine surgery may be unavoidable. This may be necessary because symptoms of radiating pain have not responded to non-surgical treatment options like injection therapy of customized spine physical therapy. In other cases, some symptoms like weakness or numbness in a leg or hand, or loss of control of bowel or bladder, represent emergency symptoms where back or neck surgery must be done quickly to prevent permanent paralysis of the nerves that relate to these muscles or extremities.
When spine surgery is necessary
If your back or neck problem requires surgery, Summit Spinecare has fellowship-trained, board-certified spine surgeons who already are referred the most complex spine surgery cases across Minnesota. These spine surgery cases include herniated discs, spinal fractures, spinal deformity, spinal tumor and scoliosis.
Dr. Wills, Dr. Lynn and Dr. Hartleben use some of the most advanced instrumentation and spine surgery techniques. Because of the minimally invasive techniques used by Summit Spinecare surgeons, many patients in the Minneapolis / St Paul Minnesota metroplex are able to have their spine surgery in the morning and then return home the same day to recover in the comfort of their own home.
Pain relief through a focus on function
Pain is a signal from the body to the brain that something is wrong. Either the back is too weak, too inflexible, something lifted was too heavy or the wrong body mechanics were used. And, unfortunately, those doctors who focus exclusively on pain symptoms often recommend a course of treatment that is the exact opposite of what the individual needs to recover from the back problem.
Years ago, for example, doctors treated back pain with bed rest and heavy drugs to mask the discomfort. It was found, however, that this type of treatment was actually damaging to the back, because it caused muscles in the back to get weaker, in turn, causing more strain and pain. Patients became more dependent on drugs and grew more inactive and disabled.
In fact, pain relief actually can come through movement. Low-impact sports like walking and swimming are the best way to make the back feel better and stronger.
Summit Spinecare uses written clinical protocols to improve care and reduce treatment variation — the essence of true quality management. This enables us to make sure the right thing is done at the right time, every time. This also makes sure that every nonsurgical option has been explored — such as therapy and injections — before spine surgery is considered.
While others talk about quality, we measure outcomes with patient severity data at intake and functional status post treatment. Lastly, we audit patient satisfaction so we can continually improve, because that's what quality is all about.
About Summit Spinecare | Spine Center approach to back and neck pain | Patient Success Stories | Spine Surgeons: Dr. Paul Hartleben | Dr. Bryan Lynn | Dr. Nicholas Wills | Nonsurgical Spine Physicians: Dr. John Dowdle | Dr. Thomas Cesarz | Dr. Kristen Zeller | Anatomy Library | Back and Neck Pain Prevention | Spine Pain Relief | Symptoms Chart | Educational Resources | How to Lift | Spine Conditions: | Back Pain | Neck Pain | Degenerative Disc | Herniated Disc | Spondylolysis | Spinal Stenosis | Scoliosis | Bone Spur | Spine Tumors | Back and Neck Pain Treatment | Spine Surgery | Contact Summit Spine Care | Woodbury Minnesota Location | Forest Lake Minnesota Location | Hastings Minnesota Location | St Paul Minnesota Location (near Saint Paul Cathedral) | Eagan Minnesota Location
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The pictures displayed in www.summitspinecare.com are images of physicians, patients and employees who have consented to have their pictures in this website. Content specific to Summit Spinecare is copyright © 2010 Summit Spinecare.
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