Spine care

Back pain specialists in Las Vegas, Nevada

Southern Hills Hospital and Medical Center is leading the way in technological advances when it comes to spine care. Southern Hills Hospital is the first hospital to use a specialized surgical robot to support improved precision and recovery. Our hospital is also the first in Nevada to use augmented reality for spine surgery. As a patient, you will be incredibly pleased with the unit’s spacious rooms, state-of-the-art nurse call system and some of the best views in the Las Vegas Valley, providing a serene and healing environment.

For more information about the spine program at Southern Hills Hospital, call us at (702) 916-6390.

Back, neck and spine conditions we treat

Our hospital is fully equipped to diagnose and treat issues affecting the back, neck and spine. Conditions we treat include:

• Ankylosing spondylitis (arthritis that causes pain and stiffness)
• Bone spurs
• Bulging discs
• Chiari malformation (a condition where brain tissue extends into the spinal canal)
• Compression fractures
• Degenerative disc disease
• Facet joint arthropathy (a degenerative spine condition)
• Failed back syndrome (persistent pain after surgery)
• Flatback syndrome (the lower spine loses some of its normal curvature)
• Foraminal stenosis (narrowing of the cervical disc space caused by enlargement of a joint)
• Herniated discs
• Kyphosis (forward rounding of the back)
• Myelopathy (an injury to the spinal cord caused by severe compression)
• Radiculitis (compression of a nerve root as it exits the spinal column)
• Radiculopathy (a disease of the root of a nerve)

Back pain

Back and spine pain is one of the most common causes for doctor visits in the United States. In fact, about 50 million Americans suffer from chronic back pain. This type of pain most often occurs in patients between 30 and 50 years old. It's also the number one reason adults younger than 45 years old miss work.

If you’re dealing with this debilitating condition, you’re definitely not alone. In most cases, back pain subsides after a few days of rest and basic self-care, such as icing or heating the affected area. However, in some cases, a back injury can require emergency care. Seek prompt medical attention if:

• The pain remains severe even after resting or taking medication.
• You experience loss of control in your legs or arms, tingling or numbness, which could be signs of a spinal cord injury.
• Your back pain results from an injury or fall.
• Your back pain results in loss of bowel or bladder control.

Back pain treatment and relief

When cases of back pain aren’t considered an emergency, a doctor can usually diagnose and treat it in the office. Your doctor may first prescribe muscle relaxants and a brief period of rest, followed by light activity, which can aid recovery and healing.

If pain does not respond to treatment, imaging tests may be needed to determine if the issue is due to arthritis or another bone disease. Additional diagnostic tests may be used to determine if the pain is caused by a problem with soft tissue. Doctors may also suggest physical rehabilitation to increase flexibility and muscle strength. In most cases, surgery is not needed. Some cases that may require back surgery include disk problems or severe arthritis.

Many patients suffering from lower back pain assume there is no cure and wait too long to see a doctor. If your back is aching, please don’t wait. Talk to your doctor, and you’ll be back on track before you know it.

Spine treatments

The Spine Program at Southern Hills Hospital provides a personalized program to treat the pain and discomfort you are facing. Our dedicated team is with you every step of the way. If your condition requires surgery, we will prepare you for your surgical procedure and guide you through recovery.

Spine surgery

We are the first hospital in Las Vegas and one of the few hospitals in the country to offer groundbreaking augmented reality (AR) guided spine surgery. Our surgical robot is the first of its kind in Nevada and allows surgeons to create smaller incisions while providing them with more accuracy.

Through AR-guided spine surgery, our surgeons can “see” a patient’s spine in 3D through the skin during minimally invasive spine surgery. This provides better control and visualization, which may lead to easier, faster and safer surgeries.