Services

SPINE CARE

SPINE CARE

Chronic Spine (Neck), Thoracic Spine (Upper Back), Lumbar Spine (low back)

Dr. Anthony Russo and his spine clinic team, Nathan Shuttlesworth, PA,  Katelyn Stetzner, NP provide the highest quality spine care in Montana.  Dr. Russo and his team specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of spine-related conditions that may be causing your back or neck pain. They understand how this pain can limit your activities and decrease your quality of life. Their goal is to work with you to relieve your pain and restore your mobility so you can enjoy life again with either surgical or non-surgical treatment options.

After a thorough examination and review of your medical history, Dr. Anthony Russo and his spine clinic team will discuss your diagnosis and treatment options. Back or neck pain can often be treated without surgery. If surgery is deemed necessary to relieve your pain, you can be confident that Dr. Anthony Russo, has enhanced training in performing spine surgery. Many procedures can now be performed using a minimally invasive approach.

Dr. Anthony Russo understands that damage to the spinal cord is not only disruptive but potentially devastating to those affected. Spine conditions and injuries should be examined by a spine specialist for prompt and proper diagnosis. We specialize in a variety of spine procedures.

ExcelsiusGPS Robot:

Dr. Anthony Russo uses a robotic guidance and navigation system for surgery.  This technology is designed to improve safety and accuracy in the operating room.  The ExcelsiusGPS provides improved visualization of patient anatomy through the procedure to help optimize patient treatment.  The system is designed to streamline the surgical workflow and reduce radiation exposure to surgeons and staff.

SYMPTOMS OF SPINE DISORDER

If you are experiencing any of the following symptoms of spine, neck or back pain, it’s important to seek treatment as soon as possible before your injury or condition worsens:

  • Disruption of sleep due to pain

  • Persistent achiness or stiffness in the lower back after sitting for an extended period of time

  • Stiffness of the neck and shoulders, especially in the morning

  • Sudden, sharp pain in a localized area of the back

  • Pain that affects posture while sitting, standing, or walking

  • Joint pain or swelling in the neck and shoulders

  • A popping noise or feeling in the back after straining or heavy lifting

  • Weakness, numbness, tingling, or clumsiness of the arms or legs

  • Loss of balance when walking

  • Incontinence Bowel or Bladder

  • Sensory disturbance/sensitivity of the arms and legs

The Spine

  • The spine is a highly complex and critical component of the human body, protecting the spinal cord while offering strength, structure, and flexibility. The spine’s ability to provide support and mobility simultaneously makes it more susceptible to injury. Since spine injuries can affect virtually any body part, there is a wide range of conditions and injuries encompassed by spine pain, thereby causing a wide range of symptoms. From scoliosis and stenosis to sciatica and herniated discs, spine pain can be the result of a serious condition.

  • Dr. Anthony Russo and his spine team understand that damage to the spinal cord is not only disruptive but potentially devastating to those affected. Spine conditions and injuries should be examined by a spine specialist for prompt and proper diagnosis.

Neck Pain

  • Pain in the neck is most commonly the result of four main causes: trauma to the cervical spine, poor posture, muscle strain, or degenerative disc disease. Pain from injuries, overuse, and wear and tear can last for a few hours or days, or it can be a chronic problem that lasts for weeks or years.

  • In the event of a traumatic incident, whiplash can occur, which is when the neck is distorted or jerked by sudden force.

  • If you are experiencing cramping or tightening of the lower neck muscles, your neck pain may be emanating from poor posture or a muscle strain. Though not all sources of neck pain involve injury, the severity of pain can gradually escalate with long-term diseases and conditions such as osteoarthritis a disease involving inflammation of the spinal joints.

  • When left untreated, a neck condition or injury can cause further damage, and leave you with chronic pain. In some cases, pain in the neck can be a sign of a serious medical condition, and specialized treatment should be sought to ensure that a proper diagnosis is made.

Back Pain

  • As one of the more common ailments afflicting Americans, lower back pain can be categorized as acute, lasting only for a few days, or chronic, if your discomfort is persistent and ongoing. The majority of back pain symptoms stem from inflammation due to overuse or an acute injury of the muscles, joints, or tendons from a slip or a fall, or set in and become worse over time due to your age, loss of muscle elasticity, or loss of bone strength. Other causes of back pain include, but are not limited to, osteoarthritis, herniated discs, spinal stenosis, spinal deformities, and fractures. Understanding and adhering to proper posture and lifting techniques can help decrease your chance for sustaining a back injury, such as a fracture, herniated disc, or strained muscle.

  • Nonsurgical Remedies

  • You may experience some low back pain relief through nonsurgical remedies, such as massage therapy, acupuncture, rest, heat, ice, physical therapy, injection therapy. However, if your pain persists despite non operative treatment then surgical intervention may be necessary.

  • Spine Treatments – Cervical (Neck), Thoracic (Mid-Back), Lumbar (Lower Back)

Cervical (Neck):

  • Cervical Radiculopathy

  • Cervical Spinal Stenosis

  • Cervical Spine Anatomy

  • Neck Pain

  • Multilevel Posterior Cervical Laminectomy and Fusion

  • Posterior Cervical Fusion

  • Posterior Cervical Microforaminotomy and Discectomy

  • Pseudarthrosis/ Non-Union Failed/ Previous Cervical Surgery

  • Anterior Cervical Discectomy

  • Anterior Cervical Corpectomy and Fusion

  • Anterior Cervical Decompression and Fusion

  • Cervical Total Disc Replacement

  • Cervical Total Disc Replacement

  • Cervical Laminectomy

  • Cervical Laminoplasty

Thoracic (Mid Back):

  • Kyphoplasty

  • Scheuermann’s Disease

  • Compression Fractures

  • Thoracic Disc Herniation

  • Thoracic Spine Anatomy

  • Spinal Cord Stimulator Placement

  • Scoliosis

  • Thoracic Spinal Fusion

  • Thoracic Laminectomy and Decompression

  • Pseudarthrosis/ Non-Union Failed/ Previous Thoracic Surgery

Lumber (Low Back):

  • Low Back Pain

  • Lumbar Spine Anatomy

  • Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion (ALIF)

  • Anterior Lumbar Corpectomy and Fusion

  • Lumbar Degenerative Disc Disease

  • Lumbar Disc Herniation

  • Lumbar Discectomy

  • Lumbar Facet Joint Arthritis

  • Lumbar Laminectomy/ Neural Decompression

  • Lumbar Spinal Stenosis

  • Minimally Invasive Lumbar Microdiscectomy

  • Instrumented Posterolateral Lumbar Fusion

  • Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion (PLIF)

  • Spinal Decompression

  • Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion (TLIF)

  • Spondylolisthesis Reduction and Fusion

  • Lumbar Spondylolysis

  • Pseudarthrosis/ Non-Union Failed/ Previous Lumbar Surgery

General Conditions of the Spine (not an inclusive list):

  • Bulging and herniated discs

  • Spinal stenosis

  • Degenerative disc disease

  • Scoliosis and congenital spine deformities

  • Sciatica

  • Whiplash

  • Slipped vertebrae – spondylolisthesis

  • Stress fracture – spondylolysis

  • Sacroiliac joint pain

  • Spondyloarthropathies

  • Nutrition and your spine

Common Back Pain Treatments (not an inclusive list):

  • Spinal lumbar fusion

  • Artificial lumbar disc replacement

  • Artificial cervical disc replacement

  • Minimally invasive lateral access spine surgery

  • Minimally invasive posterior fusion spine surgery

  • Lumbar discectomy

  • Kyphoplasty/vertebroplasty

  • Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF)

  • Laminectomy

  • Laminaplasty

  • Microdiscectomy

  • Spinal cord stimulation

  • Epidural Steroid Injections