Athletic Spine Injuries

All sports injuries are serious, but athletic spine injuries require specialized care. M. Nicholas Perenich, DO, and his team at the Spine Institute of Florida (formerly Tampa Back Institute) take a comprehensive approach to athletic spine injuries. They treat athletes of all ages, offering everything from conservative treatments to complex spinal surgeries. The practice has offices in Tampa, Crystal River, and Dade City, Florida. Call the office nearest you today or book an appointment online.

Which athletic spine injuries should I worry about?

Athletic spine injuries vary in type, location, and severity. But you should be concerned about any injury affecting this vital part of your body.

Common athletic spine injuries the team at Spine Institute of Florida treats include:

Disc herniation

Disc herniation is an injury to an intervertebral disc. These tough, gel-filled pouches cushion and separate the vertebral bones in your spine. Disc herniation happens when the outer layer of the disc tears, allowing the gel contents to leak out. 

Forceful tackles and high-impact falls can cause herniated discs in athletes. Overtraining and improper technique can also cause this spine injury.

Vertebral fractures

Any forceful trauma can cause a vertebral fracture, triggering sudden, severe pain.

Spondylolisthesis

Spondylolisthesis is a spine condition in which a vertebral body (an entire spinal bone) moves out of place, compressing a spinal nerve. This spine injury is caused by overuse or overextension of the spine. It’s common in athletes like gymnasts who hyperextend their bodies.

When should I see a spine surgeon for athletic spine injuries?

You should see the orthopedic spine surgeons at Spine Institute of Florida if you have any spine injury. They treat all spine conditions and care for athletes of all ages.

The team performs comprehensive evaluations to reach the correct diagnosis, allowing them to develop a plan that heals your injury quickly, getting you back to your sport.

Which conservative treatments for athletic spine injuries are offered?

The Spine Institute of Florida offers an array of conservative treatments for athletic spine injuries. Whether you need spine surgery will depend on which injury you’ve suffered. The team usually starts with conservative therapies like:

• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
• Activity changes
• Use of a cervical collar or back brace
• Physical therapy

They offer interventional pain procedures like epidural injections, facet joint injections, and radiofrequency ablation (heating and destroying the nerve causing the pain).

When do athletic spine injuries need surgery?

Athletic spine injuries need surgery if they’re severe or conservative care fails to improve symptoms. The Spine Institute of Florida team uses the latest surgical techniques to perform complex spinal surgeries with greater precision and accuracy.

When possible, they use minimally invasive techniques to reduce pain after surgery and shorten your recovery.

Call the Spine Institute of Florida today or book an appointment online to learn more about treating athletic spine injuries.