Spine services at Aurora St. Luke's Medical Center

What if surgery wasn’t your only option for treating back pain? We explore nonsurgical treatment options before surgery is even considered. Dr. Mustafa Farooque, a spine physiatrist, leads a team of interdisciplinary specialists – so whether you need surgery, rehabilitation or a combination approach, you’ll get the right treatment with the right specialist at the right time.

Learn more about back pain

Did you know that 80% of people experience back pain at some point in their lives?

If you’re one of them, you don’t have to live with constant pain.

We’re here to help. In most cases, back pain can be managed conservatively – without surgery. So call, and find out about treatments that will help you stop complaining about your bad back and get you back to an active life.

With one call you’ll be connected to our expert team of therapists, rehabilitation specialists, surgeons and radiologists. Your nurse navigator will help you through every step of the process.

When back pain just doesn’t go away, making an appointment with us is your first step to recovery. Call us at 414-649-3300 to explore your options.

Is your back and neck pain cause for concern?

Back and neck pain can interrupt even the simplest things in life, and lasting or severe discomfort along your spine could point to a serious problem. Our back and neck pain quiz helps evaluate your spine function, pain symptoms and risk factors, and gives you an idea what to do next based on your results.

Take the back and neck pain quiz

Treatments for back pain

Here’s some great news: Back pain often goes away on its own in a few days or weeks. Aspirin and rest may be enough to heal you. But if the pain doesn’t go away or you’re not able to do simple movements, it’s time for expert help. Our multidisciplinary team of physicians specialize in general back and neck pain, muscle strains, herniated discs, lumbar stenosis, spinal fractures and tumors.

When you make an appointment, your doctor will treat not just your back, but you as a whole person. We’ll ask about your medical history, lifestyle and what you’re looking for. More importantly, we’ll find a treatment option that works for you.

Your treatment options might include:

• Physical therapy: Heat treatment, exercise and massage are three effective ways to treat back pain without drugs or surgery.
• Orthopedics: Correcting problems with muscles or bones can often bring relief. Physiatry: Sometimes back pain can be alleviated by treating nerve and muscle damage.
• Pain management: Medication and other pain relieving therapies can improve your quality of life by allowing you to stay active.
• Chiropractic: If your joints aren’t lined up properly, your nerves, muscles, organs and back can be affected. Seeing a chiropractor can help get you straightened out.
• Massage therapy: Massage eases muscle aches in your back by decreasing stress and muscle tightness.
• Acupuncture: Originally from China, acupuncture helps alleviate distressing physical, emotional and mental conditions, including back pain. Treatment involves an acupuncturist pricking your skin with tiny needles.
• Behavioral health: Because the mind and body are intricately linked, stress can trigger back problems. Working with a behavioral health psychologist to improve your emotional and mental state often relieves back pain.
• Neurosurgery: Surgery to the spinal cord may bring relief when the options above don’t provide adequate pain relief.

Contact us

Don’t suffer with persistent back pain. There is a treatment option that’s right for you. Give us a call at 414-649-3300 to make an appointment today.