Common Conditions We Treat

Low Back Pain

Low back pain is rarely one thing — it can arise from muscles and ligaments, the discs between vertebrae, the facet joints, or the nerves exiting the spinal canal. Acute low back pain from a strain typically resolves within a few weeks with rest, activity modification and anti-inflammatory medication. Chronic low back pain lasting more than 12 weeks requires a more thorough evaluation.

Dr. Snowden takes a structured, evidence-based approach: most patients are first managed with physical therapy, home exercise and anti-inflammatories. When these are insufficient, targeted injections — epidural steroid injections or facet joint blocks — can provide relief and help clarify the source of pain.

Sciatica & Lumbar Disc Herniation

A lumbar disc herniation occurs when the soft inner material of a spinal disc pushes through the outer fibrous ring and presses against a nearby nerve root — one of the most common causes of sciatica, the radiating pain that travels from the lower back through the buttock and down the leg. Patients typically describe sharp, burning or electric pain, sometimes with numbness, tingling or leg weakness.

Most herniations improve with non-surgical treatment over 6 to 12 weeks. When symptoms are severe, involve significant weakness, or don't improve with conservative care, a lumbar microdiscectomy is a highly effective, minimally invasive procedure with a short recovery time.

Spinal Stenosis

Lumbar spinal stenosis is a narrowing of the spinal canal that puts pressure on the nerves traveling to the legs, most common in patients over 50 and typically caused by a combination of degenerative disc disease, ligament thickening and bone spur formation. The hallmark symptom is neurogenic claudication — leg pain, cramping or weakness that worsens with standing or walking and eases with sitting or bending forward.

Treatment ranges from physical therapy and epidural steroid injections to surgical decompression. Lumbar decompression (laminectomy) removes the bone and tissue compressing the nerves and is one of the most effective, durable treatments for spinal stenosis. When instability is also present, a fusion procedure may be combined with decompression.

Adult Spondylolisthesis

Spondylolisthesis occurs when one vertebra slips forward relative to the one below it — from a stress fracture (isthmic, more common in younger patients and athletes) or from degenerative disc and facet disease (degenerative, more common after 50). Symptoms depend on the degree of slip and may include low back pain, hamstring tightness, and nerve symptoms in the legs.

Mild cases are often managed non-surgically. When slippage is significant or symptoms disabling, surgical stabilization — TLIF, ALIF or OLIF — restores alignment and eliminates the abnormal motion causing pain.

Degenerative Disc Disease

Degenerative disc disease is a natural aging process in which the discs between vertebrae lose water content, height and elasticity over time. In some patients this process is accelerated or asymmetric and leads to chronic pain, either localized or referred into the hips or buttocks. In more advanced cases it can contribute to herniation, stenosis or instability.

Mild to moderate cases are typically managed conservatively. For persistent, disabling discogenic pain, lumbar disc replacement (motion-preserving) or lumbar fusion (stabilizing) may be appropriate.

When Should You See a Spine Surgeon?

Most low back pain does not require surgery — but some conditions warrant timely specialist evaluation:

  • Back pain with leg pain, numbness or weakness not improving after 6 weeks of conservative treatment
  • Progressive leg weakness or loss of function
  • Bowel or bladder dysfunction associated with back or leg symptoms (seek emergency care)
  • Pain that severely limits walking, standing, or daily activities
  • Back pain following trauma, or with unexplained weight loss or fever

Treatment Options for Lumbar Spine Conditions

Dr. Snowden offers a comprehensive range of lumbar spine treatments: lumbar microdiscectomy, lumbar decompression (laminectomy), fusion procedures including TLIF, ALIF and OLIF, and lumbar disc replacement for appropriate candidates.