Norman Prince Spine Institute

Comprehensive and Specialized Spine Care

Who Does the Norman Prince Spine Institute Treat?

Spine disorders are among the most complex issues within the human body, so it’s important to get an expert opinion on the cause of your pain. At your initial consultation, a physician will conduct a targeted evaluation to determine where your pain generator is before recommending treatment options.

Causes of Spine Pain 

• Degenerative spine issue – Conditions that result in the loss of normal functioning in the spine over time, like slipped discs or spinal stenosis.
• Congenital spine issue – Spinal disorders that develop before birth, usually related to issues in fetal development. 
• Spinal tumors – An abnormal mass of tissue around the spinal cord or spinal column. Tumors can be benign or malignant (cancerous). 
• Spinal deformity – An atypical alignment or curvature in the vertebral column that forms the spine. The most common spinal deformities are scoliosis, kyphosis, and lordosis.
• Spinal trauma – Damage to the spinal cord from an injury like a fall, car accident, or sports injury.

At the Norman Prince Spine Institute, we provide planned courses of care for a full range of spinal disorders, including:   

• Cervical radiculopathy
• Complex regional pain syndrome
• Degenerative disc disease
• Disc herniations
• Facet arthropathy
• Lumbar radiculopathy (sciatica)
• Lower back pain
• Muscle strain
• Neck pain
• Neuropathy
• Post-laminectomy syndrome
• Sacroiliac joint arthritis
• Spinal cord, spinal column, and sacral tumors
• Spinal deformity
• Spinal stenosis
• Spinal trauma and spinal cord injury
• Spondylolisthesis
• Spondylosis

When Should I See a Spine Doctor? 

If you’re experiencing nagging pain that is diminishing your quality of life or interfering with your daily activities, it could be time to get a professional opinion. At-home remedies like rest, pain medications, or ice can provide temporary relief, but chronic or unmanageable pain can be a sign of a spine disorder. 

Back or neck pain are the most common symptoms, but the signs of a spine disorder can vary from person to person. 

Consider making an appointment with a spine specialist if you are experiencing:

• Sharp and/or dull pain in the neck or back
• Pain spreading to the arms or legs
• Poor posture
• Restricted range of motion
• Shakiness or poor balance
• Numbness in the arms or legs

Treatment Options for Spine Disorders

Our skilled clinicians take a patient-centered, collaborative approach that includes weekly multidisciplinary patient care conferences to ensure continuity of services between our nonsurgical and surgical teams. After we have provided a diagnosis, our spine specialists will take you through our treatment options, and what will work best for you. 

Learn more about our treatment options 

Why Choose Norman Prince Spine Institute for Your Spine Care?

We’re the only comprehensive, multidisciplinary program in the region. Our skilled clinicians take a patient-centered, collaborative approach, working closely with colleagues in neurosurgery, neurology, pain medicine, interventional radiology, as well as physical and occupational therapists and other specialty-trained providers.

All of our outpatient services are accessible in our convenient, newly renovated locations on the Rhode Island and Newport hospital campuses.

Preparing For Your Visit

Some uncertainty or anxiety around your first appointment with a spine specialist is normal. Your initial evaluation will include a physical, neurological, and musculoskeletal exam and last approximately 30 to 40 minutes.

Read more about preparing for your first appointment.

Research

The Norman Prince Spine Institute participates in neuroscience and rehabilitation research as part of Brown University Health’s Norman Prince Neurosciences Institute. Our researchers receive major awards from the National Institutes of Health and are consistently recognized by peers as leaders in our fields, landing in the ranks of the Best Doctors in America and serving in leadership roles in medical professional organizations.

Learn more about our latest endeavors at the Center for Innovative Neurotechnology for Neural Repair