Back, Mid-Back & Neck Pain.
Most back, mid-back and neck problems don't require surgery. The question is what will actually work for your specific situation. Sometimes that's conservative care. Sometimes it's not. We're honest about both.
What We Treat
Common back, mid-back and neck conditions:
Herniated or bulging discs
Sciatica and radiating pain
Spinal stenosis
Facet joint arthritis/pain
Degenerative disc disease
Chronic neck pain and headaches
Whiplash and accident-related injuries
Our Approach.
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Most back, mid-back and neck pain improves with conservative care. We start with:
Targeted physical therapy
Activity modification
Anti-inflammatory strategies
Time and patience
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If conservative treatment isn't working, we offer interventional procedures:
Epidural steroid injections (cervical, thoracic, lumbar)
Facet joint injections
Radiofrequency ablation for long-term relief
Nerve blocks
Trigger point injections
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Sometimes conservative approaches aren’t enough. In those cases, Dr. Hassan works with fellow spine surgeon Dr. Kumar to evaluate:
Minimally invasive options that Dr. Hassan can perform (endoscopic discectomy, foraminotomy).
Complex surgical procedures that require Dr. Kumar's specialized expertise (multi-level fusions, reconstructive surgery).
You'll get an honest assessment of which approach, if any, makes sense for your specific situation.
Treatment Options Explained:
Epidural Steroid Injections
Delivers anti-inflammatory medication directly to irritated nerves. Works well for disc herniations and spinal stenosis causing leg or arm pain. Relief typically lasts 3-6 months, sometimes longer.
Facet Joint Injections
Targets the small joints in your spine that can become arthritic and painful. Can provide diagnostic information (is this the pain source?) and therapeutic relief.
Radiofrequency Ablation
Uses heat to interrupt pain signals from spinal nerves. For patients who get good but temporary relief from injections, ablation can provide 6-12 months or longer of relief.
Physical Therapy
Not generic stretching. Targeted therapy that addresses your specific biomechanical problems, strengthens weak areas, and retrains movement patterns.
When Conservative Treatment Doesn't Work
Sometimes even after you've done everything right - PT, appropriate injections, activity modification – you still might be significantly limited.
That's when we discuss surgical options. We only recommend surgery when:
Conservative treatment has genuinely failed
There's structural damage that won't heal on its own
Progressive neurological symptoms indicate risk of permanent damage
Quality of life is severely impacted despite comprehensive treatment
“I highly recommend Dr. Hassan. I am extremely happy I was referred to him for my back pain. He put me on a regimen that has allowed me to enjoy my daily life. I am so grateful I can finally play with my children again! Dr. Hassan is thorough, friendly, patient, and knowledgeable. Do not hesitate to set up an appointment.”
— Matt B.