How Orthopedic Surgeons Treat Sports-Related Spine Injuries

Whenever you play a sport, you run the risk of an injury. Many athletic injuries are quite treatable, thankfully, and you’ll be back on the court or field soon — if, that is, you embrace appropriate treatment.

Up to one in five sports injuries affect the neck or lower back. And while all sports injuries demand concern, those that impact your spine tend to require specialized attention and care. 

Dr. Nicholas Perenich and his team at Spine Institute of Florida in Dade City and Spring Hill specialize in treating athletic spine injuries.

If you or a loved one has suffered a spine injury while playing a sport, read on to learn how orthopedic surgeons can help.

Common sports-related spine injuries

Sports injuries of the spine range from mild and temporary to severe and chronic. Some occur suddenly, due to an event like a collision or fall. Others form gradually from overuse. 

Poor form, exercising on uneven ground, skimping on protective gear, and using worn out or poorly fitting shoes also raise your risk.

The most common athletic injuries we see at Spine Institute of Florida include:

• Broken bones known as vertebral fractures
• Disc herniation, in which a cushiony discs in your spine gets damaged or compressed
• Spondylolisthesis, where an entire spinal bone shifts out of place, compressing a nerve
• Soft tissue sprains and strains 

While contact sports, like football, often lead to fractures and herniated discs, spondylolisthesis stems from hyperextension in activities like gymnastics. 

How orthopedic surgeons treat spinal sports injuries

Treatment for your athletic spine injury depends on the type and severity, as well as your overall health. In relatively mild cases, our team may recommend conservative care, such as:

• Activity changes
• A back brace or cervical collar
• Cold or warm compresses 
• Physical therapy
• Over-the-counter medication, such as ibuprofen

You may benefit from one or a combination of these treatments as your spine heals and your symptoms improve.

Spine injury procedures

If your symptoms carry on regardless of conservative treatment, you may benefit from a minimally invasive procedure, such as epidural or facet joint injections or radiofrequency ablation. 

Spine injections place anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving medication at the source of your pain for quick results that may last for weeks or months. Radiofrequency ablation uses heat to destroy a problematic nerve.

For severe spinal sports injuries, we may suggest surgery. A laminectomy, for example, removes a small part of your spine to alleviate nerve pressure. Spinal fusion joins two vertebrae together for better stability and less pain.

To learn more about athletic spine injury treatment or get started with personalized support, call Spine Institute of Florida or schedule an appointment through our website today.