Issue link: https://blog.providence.org/i/1499650
10 | Health Matters: Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center F ew of us think much about our spines until we find ourselves in severe discomfort—and then it is often all we can think about. Here at Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center, we believe in a personalized, innovative approach to spine care that considers each patient's needs and conditions. As a leader in back and neck care, our team at the Howard and Hycy Hill Neuroscience Institute treats hundreds of patients with spinal conditions every year, ranging from herniated disks and neck pain to more complex problems like spinal tumors, scoliosis and fractures. We spoke with neurosurgeon James H. Nguyen, MD, about the importance of spine care and how the right treatment can change your life. Dr. Nguyen specializes in complex spine surgery and minimally invasive surgery, utilizing state-of-the-art technology to provide comprehensive, compassionate care. Why is spine care so important? You don't realize how much you use your back until you can't. We use our spines our entire lives, and when problems arise, people can be really affected. But I've found that we can really help people who are suffering get back to their normal lives. What symptoms might prompt someone to visit you? I tell patients this: I'm happy to see them for anything remotely causing discomfort, whether it's pain, numbness or weakness of the limbs. A lot of what we do here is related to pain and quality of life—patients who aren't moving around or walking, can't do things around the house or can't function as they normally do. Those problems aren't as dramatic as a stroke or a brain tumor, but over time they can lead to a loss of function. What range of treatments do you offer? I discuss our treatment options with people daily. We offer everything from physical therapy and medication management to spinal injections and surgery. The way I think of it is "What's the minimal thing I can do, but also provide effective and durable relief?" "Durable" is a keyword: If you're back next month in the same kind of pain, then it's not durable. People are understand- ably scared of having spine surgery. If there's one take-home message, it's that we try to be selective and precise about who we choose to operate on. For the right person and with the right proce- dure, spine surgery can be very, very effective. What makes Providence Saint Joseph so remarkable for spine care? Patients can sometimes feel lost in the machinery of big academic institutions. But Providence Saint Joseph is a place where you can receive world- class, cutting-edge care while also having face-to- face interactions and a personalized experience. One thing I bring to our medical center is more complex surgery for adult deformities, such as adult scoliosis or cervical kyphosis, which is an exaggerated curve of the neck. It's a big reconstruction, but for the right person it can be life-changing. What does recovery from spine surgery look like? In the old days, we used to keep people restricted for a longer period of time. But we've learned that it's better to get people back on their feet as fast as possible. People do better when they 're out of the hospital and aren't being told, "Don't do this, don't do that." How can we protect our spine health? I'd say maintaining core strength and a healthy weight. Your spine's job is to support your weight, and the more weight that's on it, the harder its job is and the faster it'll deteriorate. If you're looking for an easy first step, take a walk whenever you can, especially after meals. We've Got Your Back Offering state- of-the-art spine care with a personal touch Before After