Your Spine Care Team

At UPMC, we take a team approach to spine care. Working together with you, our highly skilled specialists from multiple fields strive to provide the highest quality care. With state-of-the-art facilities and access to cutting-edge research, we provide the latest and most advanced treatment options.

When you have back pain, talking to your primary care provider (PCP) about your symptoms is a good first step. Not only can they rule certain conditions out and others in, but it also helps them know where to refer you. After they refer you, they can help coordinate your care.

Find the Right Care For You

Who Is on My Spine Care Team?

Once you are referred to UPMC for spine care, you may see one or more specialists depending on your specific condition. Doctors usually take a conservative approach to treating back pain, starting with physical therapy and other pain management techniques. When surgery is needed, minimally invasive approaches often are available.

You may see one or more of the following specialists at UPMC.

Spine surgeons

UPMC spine surgery experts use the least invasive, most effective treatments for back and spine conditions. Our spine specialists offer both traditional and minimally invasive surgical treatments for spinal disorders.

Physiatrist

Physiatrists are doctors with specialty training in physical medicine and rehabilitation. They use specialized techniques to treat neurological disorders, musculoskeletal problems, and pain issues. Their goal is to help you return to daily activities.

A physiatrist will:

• Design personalized rehabilitation programs to improve function, mobility, and strength.
• Evaluate and diagnose back pain.
• Focus on nonsurgical approaches to managing spine pain, such as lifestyle modifications, medications, nutritional counseling, personal coaching, and physical therapy.

Pain management specialist

Pain management doctors help people with spine pain manage their discomfort.

Their key approaches are:

• Injections and nerve blocks to reduce inflammation and pain.
• Lifestyle and behavioral modifications, such as weight management, to reduce stress on the spine.
• Minimally invasive procedures such as radiofrequency ablation, which uses heat to reduce nerve pain, or spinal cord stimulation, which involves implanting a device to block pain signals.
• Prescription medication to manage inflammation and pain, such as muscle relaxants, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and sometimes opioids for severe pain.
• Pain management plans individualized to your condition and needs, potentially tailored to include a combination of therapies.

Physical therapist

A physical therapist can:

• Address the root cause of your pain to help prevent recurrence and promote long-term spine health.
• Show you how to stretch to improve the flexibility of your spine and surrounding muscles to help alleviate stiffness and pain.
• Teach you exercises to strengthen the muscles supporting your spine to minimize pain and prevent future issues.
• Teach you proper posture and body mechanics to minimize everyday spine strain.
• Use different types of therapy to reduce your pain and inflammation.

Your physical therapist may be a primary spine practitioner (PSP), a PT who has advanced training in the care of patients with spinal disorders.

Support staff

Integral to your care is our team of excellent nurses, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and other support staff who are experienced in caring for people with spine issues. They assist in all aspects of care and support.