Skip to main content
Och Spine Services

Nonsurgical Back and Neck Pain Treatment

Find a specialist

Why Choose Us

Most spine problems can be treated without surgery. Doctors who specialize in rehabilitation medicine and pain medicine work together with physical therapists to provide nonsurgical treatment options to restore function and hope.

At Och Spine at NewYork-Presbyterian, we treat more people with spine conditions than any other Hospital in New York City and Westchester.* Our spine doctors rank among the world’s top spine specialists for adults and children.

Our nonsurgical spine care team includes doctors specializing in rehabilitation and pain medicine. They are experts in the treatment of all types of spine conditions. They work together to create a personalized care plan focusing on options that may include physical therapy, non-opioid medications, or nonsurgical interventional spine procedures.

This collaborative approach, combined with our specialized expertise and the volume of spine cases we treat, has led our team to routinely diagnose and treat complex spine patients that were previously untreatable elsewhere.

*SPARCS 2023

Dr. Chou speaking with a patient

Explore Our Non Surgical Spine Treatment Options

During your first visit, our Och Spine at NewYork0Presbyterian specialists will conduct a complete evaluation and medical history. We may order advanced diagnostic imaging approaches to understand the underlying cause of your pain and accurately diagnose your condition.

Our multidisciplinary teams include physical therapists, rehabilitation medicine doctors, pain management physicians, neurologists and other experts who specialize in spine care. This allows us to consider all aspects of the complex spine and nervous system, and enables our team to create an individualized treatment plan to address your specific needs and goals.

Your doctor may recommend non-surgical spine treatments such as:

Physical therapy

Physical therapy is often one of the first solutions for back and neck pain. Guided by our spine physical therapists, patients learn how to increase muscle strength, movement, flexibility and posture. Physical therapy allows you to better understand how the spine’s movement and function impacts your discomfort.

Back and neck pain management

Pain can be debilitating, and we understand the importance of regaining your health and lifestyle. Treatments for pain relief include medication, injections, nerve blocks, and other interventional procedures. We respect all patient choices when considering pain management options. If you’re interested in other support services, such as mind-body techniques or acupuncture, we can coordinate your care with the NewYork-Presbyterian Integrative Health and Wellbeing Program.

Muscle pain treatment

Our specialists offer comprehensive evaluation and the latest treatments for muscle pain, including medications such as low-dose naltrexone and ketamine, laser treatment for pain, shockwave therapy for rehabilitation, and muscle stimulation.

Cervical spine traction

Physical therapists may use a technique called spinal traction to relieve pressure on the cervical spine and reduce neck discomfort.

Non-surgical treatments for scoliosis

Surgery isn’t always required to correct a curved spine due to scoliosis. Non-invasive back pain treatment may include bracing, physical therapy, and exercise. Some of our physical therapists are specifically trained in the Schroth Method, which is an option for scoliosis and other spinal deformities.

Dedicated, Personalized Spine Care

Och Spine at NewYork-Presbyterian is backed by Columbia and Weill Cornell Medicine physicians, including many of the world’s top spine doctors. Practicing conservative care with nonsurgical spine treatments, these multidisciplinary teams successfully help adults and children struggling with neck and back pain.

Meet our spine care team