A Non-Surgical Spine Doctor Near You
Pain Management
If you have neck or back pain, you may wonder what kind of spine doctor to see. Many people assume a spine doctor means surgery. That's not always true. Many spine problems can be treated without open surgery.
GSMC is led by Dr. Dharam Mann, who completed fellowships in pain management, cardiac anesthesia and critical care at Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard.
At Garden State Medical Center, our team diagnoses spine pain and treats it with minimally invasive and non-surgical procedures. GSMC does not perform open spine surgery.
What a non-surgical spine doctor does
Our role is to find the part of your spine that's causing pain and treat it with the least invasive option that makes sense. That can mean physical therapy and medicines. It can mean image-guided injections. For some people, it means a minimally invasive procedure done through a needle or a small incision.
If a surgical opinion makes sense, we'll tell you plainly and help you find the right referral. You can also come to us for a second opinion if you've been told you need surgery.
Minimally invasive spine procedures we offer
These procedures are for specific problems. They aren't right for everyone, and none comes with a guarantee.
- MILD procedure. For lumbar spinal stenosis that causes leg pain or heaviness when you walk or stand. Through a very small opening, tissue that crowds the nerves is removed. It's done as an outpatient procedure.
- Basivertebral Nerve Ablation. For chronic low back pain that comes from the spine bones' endplates, known as vertebrogenic pain. It treats the basivertebral nerve inside the bone. Certain MRI findings help show who may benefit.
- Minimally invasive SI joint fusion. For confirmed sacroiliac joint pain that hasn't improved with other care. It uses the CornerLoc system through a small incision.
- Spinal cord stimulation. For long-lasting back and leg nerve pain, including pain after past spine surgery. You try it first with a short trial, so you can see if it helps before deciding on a long-term device.
Other spine treatments
Many people never need the procedures above. Other options include:
- Epidural steroid injections for a pinched nerve or sciatica
- Nerve blocks to find and treat an irritated nerve
- Radiofrequency ablation for arthritic facet joints
Are you a candidate?
The right treatment depends on your exam, your imaging and how your pain behaves. At your visit, we'll go over your MRI with you and explain what we see. Then we'll talk about which options fit, the risks of each and what a realistic result looks like. Results vary from person to person.
GSMC participates with all Aetna plans, including Aetna HMO. For other plans, our staff will check your benefits. We can't promise coverage for any procedure.
Spine care at our 7 offices
Every office is open Monday through Friday, 8am to 5pm. Your spine consult happens at the office you choose. Procedures may be scheduled at a different GSMC location.
Toms River (Hooper Ave)
1314 Hooper Ave, 1st Floor, Toms River, NJ 08753. Toms River is our central hub for spine care in Ocean County. It's a good place to start if you're weighing several spine options and want them explained in one visit. Visit the Toms River office page.
Manahawkin
1109 Beacon Ave, Manahawkin, NJ 08050. Southern Ocean County has a busy summer season, and many people put off spine care until fall. Our staff can help you plan visits and procedures around work and travel. Visit the Manahawkin office page.
Whiting
1100 NJ-70, Entrance B, Whiting, NJ 08759. In Whiting, spinal stenosis often shows up as trouble walking the clubhouse loop or standing in line. We measure progress by the activities that matter to you. Visit the Whiting office page.
Freehold
322 Professional View Dr, 300 Building, 2nd Floor, Freehold, NJ 07728. Busy schedules are the norm in western Monmouth County. We'll help you plan spine treatment around work, school and family. Visit the Freehold office page.
West Long Branch
100 NJ-36, Suite 1K, West Long Branch, NJ 07764. Long commutes and desk jobs are hard on the spine. Here we see neck and back pain from daily drives, plus pain that continues after past spine surgery. Visit the West Long Branch office page.
Brick
1608 NJ-88, Suite 102, Brick Township, NJ 08724. The GSMC team covers our Brick office. They evaluate spine pain and can help decide whether a minimally invasive procedure is worth exploring. Procedures may be scheduled at another GSMC office. Visit the Brick office page.
Barnegat
249 S Main St, Suite 5, Barnegat Township, NJ 08005. The GSMC team covers our Barnegat office. Many patients here are retirees or outdoor workers. The team can start your spine evaluation close to home and coordinate next steps. Visit the Barnegat office page.
Book a visit
If spine pain is holding you back, let's look at all your options. Request a visit online at the GSMC office closest to you. Bring your MRI report, and we'll go over it together.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a spine doctor and a spine surgeon?
A non-surgical spine doctor diagnoses spine pain and treats it with therapy, medicines, injections and minimally invasive procedures. A spine surgeon performs open surgery. Many people start with a non-surgical spine doctor.
Who is a good candidate for the MILD procedure?
MILD may help people with lumbar spinal stenosis who get leg pain or heaviness when standing or walking and feel better when sitting or bending forward. An exam and imaging help decide if it fits you.
How do I know if Basivertebral Nerve Ablation is right for me?
Basivertebral Nerve Ablation is for chronic low back pain that comes from the vertebral endplates. Certain changes on your MRI can point to this kind of pain. We review your imaging and history to see if you may qualify.
Will spine treatment fix my pain for good?
No one can promise that. Some people get lasting relief, some get partial relief and some don't respond. We'll talk honestly about what's realistic for you.