LOWER BACK PAIN
Chronic or acute pain in the lumbar region affects millions of people and can significantly impact your ability to work, exercise, sleep, and enjoy daily activities. At Tarpon Spine Center, we've spent over 25 years helping Tarpon Springs residents find lasting relief from lower back pain through comprehensive, non-surgical treatment.
What Causes Lower Back Pain?
Chronic or acute pain in the lumbar region affects millions of people and can significantly impact your ability to work, exercise, sleep, and enjoy daily activities. At Tarpon Spine Center, we've spent over 25 years helping Tarpon Springs residents find lasting relief from lower back pain through comprehensive, non-surgical treatment.
Common Symptoms:
- Dull, aching pain in lower back
- Pain worsens with sitting or standing
- Stiffness and reduced flexibility
- Difficulty bending or lifting
- Pain radiating into buttocks or legs
- Muscle spasms
Why Choose Tarpon Spine Center?
With 25+ years of experience, state-of-the-art technology including the DRX9000 spinal decompression system, and a 4.9-star patient rating, we've helped thousands overcome lower back pain and return to active, pain-free lives. We accept most insurance plans including Medicare, Medicaid, and auto insurance, and offer 0% in-house financing.
UPPER BACK PAIN
Pain between the shoulder blades (thoracic spine) is often caused by poor posture, muscle tension, or rib joint dysfunction. It's especially common in desk workers and those who spend hours looking at screens. At Tarpon Spine Center, we specialize in treating upper back pain by addressing both the immediate discomfort and the underlying postural issues causing it.
What Causes Upper Back Pain?
Upper back pain typically results from poor posture during desk work or computer use, muscle tension and trigger points from stress or overuse, rib joint dysfunction where the ribs connect to the spine, thoracic spine misalignment restricting normal movement, carrying heavy bags or backpacks, and sleeping in awkward positions.
Common Symptoms:
- Sharp pain between shoulder blades
- Muscle tightness and knots
- Difficulty taking deep breaths
- Pain worsens with sitting or computer work
- Burning or aching sensation
- Stiffness and reduced flexibility
The Posture Connection
Most upper back pain is directly related to forward head and rounded shoulder posture. When your head moves forward just one inch, it adds 10 pounds of stress to your upper back. We don't just treat your pain—we teach you how to maintain proper posture, set up an ergonomic workstation, and perform corrective exercises at home.
What to Expect
Many patients experience significant relief after their first few adjustments, especially when combined with postural corrections and home exercises. Acute upper back pain typically responds within 2-4 weeks, while chronic pain from years of poor posture may require 6-8 weeks of care.
SCIATICA
Nerve pain radiating from the lower back down through the buttock and leg is often caused by a herniated disc or spinal stenosis compressing the sciatic nerve. This painful condition can cause severe shooting pain, numbness, and weakness. At Tarpon Spine Center, our DRX9000 spinal decompression system has helped hundreds of patients find relief from sciatica without drugs or surgery.
What Causes Sciatica?
Sciatica occurs when the sciatic nerve—the largest nerve in your body—becomes compressed or irritated. Common causes include herniated or bulging discs pressing on the nerve root, spinal stenosis narrowing the spinal canal, degenerative disc disease causing nerve compression, piriformis syndrome where muscle spasm compresses the nerve, and bone spurs on the spine.
Common Symptoms:
- Shooting pain down one leg
- Numbness or tingling in leg/foot
- Pain worsens with coughing or sneezing
- Burning or electric shock sensations
- Weakness in the affected leg
- Difficulty standing or walking
Why Immediate Treatment Matters
Sciatica that's left untreated can lead to permanent nerve damage, chronic pain, and progressive weakness. The longer the nerve remains compressed, the more difficult treatment becomes. Early intervention provides the best outcomes and fastest recovery.
Success Rate
Clinical studies show spinal decompression has an 87% success rate for sciatica caused by disc problems. Many patients notice improvement within the first week of treatment, with continued relief as they progress through their care plan.
HERNIATED DISC
When the soft inner material of a spinal disc pushes through the outer layer and presses on nearby nerves, it's called a herniated disc (also known as a slipped disc or ruptured disc). This condition can cause severe pain, numbness, and weakness. Our DRX9000 spinal decompression creates negative pressure to help the disc material retract, relieving nerve compression without surgery.
What Causes a Herniated Disc?
Discs act as cushions between your vertebrae. They can herniate due to age-related degeneration where discs lose water content and become less flexible, sudden injury or trauma from lifting, twisting, or impact, repetitive stress on the spine from poor posture or improper lifting, genetics and family history of disc problems, and being overweight which increases stress on the lower back discs.
Common Symptoms:
- Radiating arm or leg pain
- Numbness and tingling
- Weakness in affected limb
- Sharp pain with movement
- Pain worsens with sitting, bending, or lifting
- Reduced reflexes
Avoid Surgery with Proven Conservative Care
Most herniated discs respond well to conservative treatment, making surgery unnecessary. Our DRX9000 system has over 87% success rate for disc-related conditions. Many patients who were told they needed surgery have found complete relief through our non-surgical approach.
What to Expect
Treatment typically involves 15-20 spinal decompression sessions over 4-6 weeks. Many patients experience significant relief within the first few sessions, with continued improvement throughout their care plan.
SPINAL STENOSIS
Narrowing of the spinal canal that puts pressure on the spinal cord and nerves is called spinal stenosis. It's common in older adults due to age-related changes and causes pain, numbness, and difficulty walking long distances. At Tarpon Spine Center, we offer non-surgical treatments to manage spinal stenosis symptoms and improve your quality of life.
What Causes Spinal Stenosis?
Spinal stenosis typically develops gradually over time due to osteoarthritis causing bone spurs that grow into the spinal canal, thickened ligaments that bulge into the canal, herniated discs taking up space in the canal, degenerative changes from aging, and less commonly, congenital narrowing present from birth.
Common Symptoms:
- Pain relieved by leaning forward
- Leg cramping when walking
- Numbness in legs or feet
- Weakness in legs
- Difficulty walking long distances
- Pain improves with sitting or bending forward
Living Better with Spinal Stenosis
Many patients with spinal stenosis can maintain active, comfortable lives with proper management. We'll teach you how to modify activities to minimize symptoms, perform exercises that create space in your spinal canal, use proper body mechanics to protect your spine, and maintain the improvements achieved through treatment.
What to Expect
Spinal stenosis is typically a chronic condition requiring ongoing management. Most patients notice improvement in pain and walking tolerance within 4-6 weeks of beginning treatment. Regular maintenance care helps keep symptoms under control and prevents worsening.
BULGING DISC
When a spinal disc extends beyond its normal boundary but hasn't ruptured, it's called a bulging disc. While less severe than a herniated disc, a bulging disc can still cause significant pain if it contacts nerve roots. The good news? Bulging discs respond exceptionally well to spinal decompression therapy at Tarpon Spine Center.
What Causes a Bulging Disc?
Discs can bulge due to age-related degeneration where discs lose height and bulge outward, poor posture putting uneven pressure on discs, repetitive stress from improper lifting or bending, sudden injury or trauma, being overweight increasing pressure on spinal discs, and weak core muscles failing to support the spine properly.
Common Symptoms:
- Localized back pain
- Pain with certain movements
- Possible nerve symptoms
- Stiffness and reduced mobility
- Pain worsens with sitting or bending
- May or may not have radiating pain
Bulging Disc vs. Herniated Disc
A bulging disc is like a hamburger that's too big for its bun—the disc material bulges outward but the outer layer (annulus) remains intact. A herniated disc occurs when that outer layer tears and the inner gel leaks out. Bulging discs are earlier-stage problems and typically easier to treat than herniated discs.
Preventing Progression
Catching and treating a bulging disc early can prevent it from progressing to a full herniation. Our treatment not only addresses your current symptoms but also strengthens your spine to prevent the condition from worsening.
What to Expect
Most patients with bulging discs respond quickly to treatment. You may notice improvement within the first few decompression sessions, with continued relief over 4-6 weeks of care. Many patients achieve complete resolution of their symptoms.
Don't let a bulging disc progress to a herniation. Call (727) 937-2086 for early intervention.
Office Hours: Mon, Wed, Thu: 8am-6pm | Tue: 9am-6pm | Fri: 9am-5pm
Location: 1244 South Pinellas Avenue, Tarpon Springs, FL 34689
