Conditions
Spine conditions we treat
From the neck to the lower back, Brandon A. Ortega, MD, diagnoses and treats the full range of spine conditions with fellowship-trained expertise. Explore the conditions below to understand your symptoms and the treatment options available in Long Beach and Torrance, California.
Arm Pain, Numbness & Tingling Treatment in Los Angeles
Arm pain, numbness, or tingling may develop when a nerve in the neck becomes irritated or compressed. Treatment begins by determining whether symptoms originate in the cervical spine, shoulder, elbow, wrist, or another part of the nervous system. Many cases improve through physical therapy, medication, activity changes, or injections, while progressive weakness or persistent nerve compression may require surgery.
Cervical Radiculopathy Treatment in Los Angeles
Cervical radiculopathy occurs when a nerve root in the neck becomes compressed, irritated, or inflamed. The condition can cause pain that travels from the neck into the shoulder, arm, or hand, along with numbness, tingling, burning sensations, or muscle weakness. At BAO Spine, patients receive individualized evaluation and treatment for cervical radiculopathy and other conditions affecting the cervical spine. Depending on the source and severity of nerve compression, treatment may include physical therapy, medication, cervical spinal injections, or surgery to create more room for the affected nerve. The appropriate treatment depends on which nerve root is involved, what is causing the compression, how long symptoms have been present, whether muscle weakness is developing, and how significantly the condition affects work, sleep, and everyday activities.
Degenerative Disc Disease Treatment in Los Angeles
Degenerative disc disease treatment focuses on reducing neck or lower-back pain, improving mobility, and addressing nerve symptoms associated with worn spinal discs. Most patients begin with physical therapy, medication, activity changes, or injections. Artificial disc replacement or spinal fusion may be considered when symptoms remain disabling and testing identifies a specific disc that can be treated surgically.
Herniated Disc Treatment in CA
Herniated disc treatment focuses on relieving pain and neurological symptoms caused when displaced disc material irritates or compresses a spinal nerve or the spinal cord. Most patients improve without surgery through activity modification, physical therapy, medication, or injections. Surgery may be considered for persistent pain, progressive weakness, spinal cord compression, or emergency neurological symptoms.
Low Back Pain Treatment in Los Angeles
Low back pain treatment begins by identifying whether symptoms arise from the muscles and ligaments, spinal discs, joints, nerves, or another condition. Many episodes improve within several weeks through activity modification, physical therapy, medication, and other nonsurgical care. Persistent pain, radiating leg symptoms, weakness, or major functional limitations may require specialist evaluation and, in selected cases, surgery.
Lumbar Disc Herniation Treatment in Los Angeles
Lumbar disc herniation treatment focuses on relieving lower-back pain and symptoms caused by pressure on a spinal nerve, including sciatica, numbness, tingling, and leg weakness. Most patients improve without surgery through activity modification, physical therapy, medication, or injections. When symptoms remain severe or neurological function worsens, minimally invasive decompression or microdiscectomy may be considered.
Lumbar Radiculopathy Treatment in Los Angeles
Lumbar radiculopathy occurs when a nerve root in the lower spine becomes compressed, irritated, or inflamed. The condition can cause pain that travels from the lower back into the buttock and leg, along with numbness, tingling, burning sensations, or muscle weakness. At BAO Spine, patients receive individualized evaluation and treatment for lumbar radiculopathy and related conditions affecting the lower spine. Depending on the cause and severity of the nerve compression, treatment may include physical therapy, medication, spinal injections, or surgery to relieve pressure on the affected nerve. The appropriate treatment depends on which nerve root is involved, what is causing the compression, how long symptoms have been present, whether muscle weakness is developing, and how significantly the condition affects walking and daily activities.
Neck Pain Treatment in Los Angeles
Neck pain treatment begins by identifying whether symptoms arise from muscles and ligaments, spinal discs, joints, nerves, or the spinal cord. Many episodes improve through physical therapy, medication, posture changes, and other nonsurgical care. Persistent pain, radiating arm symptoms, weakness, balance problems, or loss of hand coordination may require evaluation by a spine specialist.
Nerve Compression Treatment in Los Angeles
Nerve compression occurs when surrounding bone, disc material, ligaments, or other tissues place excessive pressure on a nerve or the spinal cord. This pressure can interfere with normal nerve function, causing pain, numbness, tingling, burning sensations, muscle weakness, or problems with coordination. At BAO Spine, patients receive individualized evaluation and treatment for nerve compression affecting the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine. Depending on the cause and severity of the compression, treatment may include physical therapy, medication, spinal injections, or a surgical decompression procedure. The appropriate treatment depends on where the compression occurs, how long symptoms have been present, whether weakness or spinal cord symptoms are developing, and how the condition affects normal activities.
Persistent Spine Pain After Failed Conservative Care in Los Angeles
Persistent neck or back pain may require further evaluation when physical therapy, medication, activity changes, or injections have not provided lasting relief. A spine specialist can reassess the diagnosis, review previous treatment, and determine whether another nonsurgical option or a carefully selected procedure may help. Failed conservative care does not automatically mean surgery is necessary.
Radiculopathy Treatment in Los Angeles
Radiculopathy occurs when a spinal nerve root becomes compressed, inflamed, or damaged. It may cause pain, numbness, tingling, or weakness that travels from the neck or back into an arm or leg. Many cases improve with physical therapy, medication, activity modification, or injections, while persistent or progressive nerve compression may require surgical treatment.
Revision Spine Surgery in Los Angeles
Revision spine surgery evaluates and treats persistent, recurrent, or new symptoms following a previous spinal procedure. Treatment is based on the underlying cause and may range from physical therapy, medication, or injections to revision decompression, fusion repair, or hardware replacement. A previous operation does not automatically mean another surgery is necessary; the first step is identifying whether a correctable structural or neurological problem remains.
Sciatica Treatment in Los Angeles
Sciatica treatment focuses on relieving irritation or compression affecting the nerves that form the sciatic nerve. Symptoms may include pain traveling from the lower back or buttock into the leg, along with numbness, tingling, or weakness. Many cases improve within several weeks through activity modification, physical therapy, medication, or injections, while persistent or progressive nerve compression may require surgery.
Spinal Deformity Treatment in Los Angeles
Spinal deformity treatment addresses abnormal curvature, alignment, or vertebral positioning that may cause pain, posture changes, nerve compression, or difficulty standing and walking. Many patients can manage symptoms with physical therapy, medication, injections, or short-term bracing. Surgery may be considered when deformity progresses, neurological symptoms develop, or pain and imbalance substantially limit daily life.
Spinal Stenosis Treatment in Los Angeles
Spinal stenosis treatment focuses on relieving pressure on the spinal cord or nerve roots caused by narrowing within the spine. Symptoms may include neck or back discomfort, radiating arm or leg pain, numbness, weakness, reduced walking tolerance, and balance problems. Many patients begin with physical therapy, medication, exercises, or injections, while progressive neurological symptoms or severe functional limitations may require surgical decompression.
Spondylolisthesis Treatment in Los Angeles
Spondylolisthesis occurs when one vertebra slips forward relative to the vertebra beneath it. Depending on the degree of movement and whether nearby nerves are affected, the condition may cause lower back pain, stiffness, sciatica, numbness or weakness in the legs. At BAO Spine, we provide personalized spondylolisthesis treatment in Los Angeles for patients with mild, moderate and advanced spinal instability. Treatment may include physical therapy, medication, targeted spinal injections or surgery when conservative care does not provide sufficient relief. The right treatment depends on several factors, including the cause and grade of the slippage, the severity of your symptoms, the presence of nerve compression and the effect the condition has on your mobility and quality of life.
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