You don’t have to live with back or neck pain and you don’t have to have major surgery to correct it
By Ken McEntee
A person who is suffering with back or neck pain may not be very keen on an hour-long car ride to the doctor. Fortunately, University Hospitals Geauga Medical Center offers close-to-home treatment for almost any spinal condition, says Zachary Gordon, M.D., an orthopedic surgeon who specializes in spine surgery.
“We treat everything except the most complex spinal deformities and spinal cord injuries, right here in Chardon,” says Dr. Gordon, who also is the co-director of the University Hospitals Spine Institute and an assistant professor in the Department of Orthopedic Surgery at University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center. “Neck and lower back pain are the top two reasons why patients come to us for help.”
Daily activities as simple as turning, bending, standing and lifting can be made difficult by neck and back pain. It doesn’t have to be that way, Dr. Gordon assures. Treatment is available—and most conditions may not require surgery.
“We treat a vast array of conditions, from simple muscular neck and back pain to degenerative conditions of the spine, such as disc herniations, and cervical and lumbar stenosis—which can cause pain and numbness in the arms and legs—infections, tumors, traumatic injuries of the spine and spinal deformities.”
The establishment of the UH Spine Institute three years ago, he says, has helped to streamline the scheduling process so patients can get the treatment they need quicker—and usually with fewer office visits.
That may mean fewer co-pays.
A person suffering from neck and back pain can arrange an appointment through his or her primary care physician or call the UH Spine Institute directly.
“When you call, we’ll ask a couple of brief questions, so we know the right place to send you,” he says. “Depending on your condition, we may initiate conservative treatment that might consist of physical therapy, medications or injections.”
If pain remains persistent after four to six weeks following treatment, Dr. Gordon says, surgery may become an option.
Recent technological advancements in spinal surgery, including minimally invasive techniques utilized by UH spinal specialists, may result in less discomfort, shorter recovery times, and improved results for patients, he says.
“When you talk about spinal surgery, people think of a long incision over the back or neck,” he says. “Minimally invasive surgery, however, does less damage to muscles and surrounding tissue than traditional surgery, which translates into less bleeding, shorter hospital stays, lower risk of infection and people returning to normal function sooner than they would with a traditional spine operation.”
Helping patients who are struggling to do basic day-to-day activities return to a normal, productive life makes his job rewarding, Dr. Gordon emphasizes.
“You can remove somebody’s herniated disc, or you can stabilize somebody’s spine and they will sometimes tell you within hours of the operation, ‘I feel much better,’” he says. “It’s rewarding to take part in my patients’ lives and getting to know them.”
A native of Lyndhurst, Dr. Gordon attended medical school at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine.
“I was first exposed to orthopedic surgery at Case Western Reserve when I started to work with the orthopedic surgery residents,” he recalls. “The anatomy of the muscles and bones and how they all worked together made a lot of sense to me and I really enjoyed it. Plus, I enjoyed working with the orthopedic surgery residents. Many of them are my colleagues today.”
You can schedule an appointment with the UH Spine Institute by calling 440-901-6725, or learn more about services offered by visiting UHhospitals.org/Spine. UH Geauga Medical Center is located at 13207 Ravenna Road, in Chardon.