Spinal Treatments at Newton-Wellesley Hospital: Q&A With Dr. Jessica P. Aidlen

Jessica P. Aidlen, MD, is an orthopedic surgeon specializing in spine surgery at Newton-Wellesley Hospital's Spine Center. Since joining Newton-Wellesley in 2012, she has focused on surgeries for degenerative spine conditions, including minimally invasive techniques.

"Spine care is whole-person care," Dr. Aidlen said. "The goal with every patient we see is to provide the right combination of treatments and approaches so they can get back to their normal, functional lives."

Dr. Aidlen answers questions about surgical and non-surgical spine treatments, including what to expect and why patients trust Newton-Wellesley for their spine care.

What conditions are treated at the Spine Center?

The Newton-Wellesley Spine Center treats adults across the spectrum of spine conditions, from general neck and back pain to serious fractures. We also care for high school and college athletes.

Most conditions we treat are related to aging. As we get older, the spine can cause pain or limit normal function. For example, degenerative spine conditions can cause pain, limited mobility, balance issues, or numbness and weakness in the arms or legs.

While some spinal conditions take years to develop, others are acute and happen suddenly. These often happen when someone moves too quickly or forcefully. Think of someone who lifts a heavy box the wrong way and herniates their disk, for example. They can suddenly experience severe pain and can't get out of bed, work, or take care of their kids. Their activities of daily living are significantly affected. We can help patients with these kinds of acute conditions get back to normal life.

What treatments are offered at the Spine Center?

We offer a variety of surgical and non-surgical treatments. In fact, many of our patients never see the inside of an operating room! Instead, they may receive other treatments like:

• Pain management injections
• Physical therapy
• Massage therapy
• Ultrasound or electrical stimulations
• Radiofrequency treatments
• Behavioral medicine and pain psychology services

When non-surgical treatments don't work, the next step would be spine surgery. Because surgery can be a big decision, our philosophy is to do the right surgery, for the right problem, at the right time.

Can you describe the spine surgery options at Newton-Wellesley?

Every surgery we perform is done to address the patient's specific needs. Some spine issues require more extensive reconstructive surgery, while some can be done through less invasive techniques. If a patient is an appropriate candidate, minimally invasive surgery has several benefits over open surgery, including less pain and blood loss, shorter surgery times, less time spent in the hospital, and quicker recovery.

Our spine surgeons are experts in different techniques and approaches to the spine, including:

• Microdiscectomy to remove part of a herniated disc that is pressing on the nerve
• Cervical and lumbar disc arthroplasty to replace a damaged disc with an artificial one to maintain mobility
• Nerve decompression to relieve pressure on the nerves that are causing pain or numbness
• Cervical and lumbar fusion to join two or more bones in the neck or lower back to stabilize the spine
• Laminectomy to remove part of a bone in the spine to relieve pressure on the spinal cord or nerves

Even some of the most complex spinal fusions can now be done in a minimally invasive way, because we use robotics and video navigation to operate precisely while not damaging the soft tissue around the spine.

At what point should someone see a doctor for back pain?

You should consider talking to your doctor if you've had back pain for more than six weeks, over-the-counter medications and exercise/stretching aren't helping, or if you have acute symptoms like numbness, weakness and tingling in the arms and legs, or frequent falls. At Newton-Wellesley, a dedicated Spine Center navigator will set you up with the right provider. We'll work with you to break the cycle of pain and get you back to doing the things you love.

What can patients expect after spine surgery?

Our goal is to get you back on your feet as quickly as possible. Soon after surgery, you'll start walking and learning good body mechanics. We'll also work on your core and overall muscle strength as you recover.

To manage pain after surgery, we use a multimodal approach with different types of medications, cold therapy (ice), and walking. Our goal is to manage your pain while minimizing use of opioids. We also offer a pre-surgery pain management program called Empowered Relief. In this program, you'll take part in a two-hour session with our behavioral medicine and psychology providers. You'll learn to manage your pain with breathing techniques, meditation, and mobility exercises.

After you leave the hospital, our physical therapists, physical medicine doctors, and rehabilitation specialists will continue to work with you to help with your long-term recovery.

Focusing on our whole-person care approach, we encourage healthy nutrition both before and after surgery. It's important to eat the right foods to help your recovery and maintain bone and muscle health for the long term. We'll also work with you to address any mental health or chronic pain issues that may affect the outcome of your surgery.

What makes getting treatment at the Spine Center unique?

Patients in Greater Boston have many choices when it comes to spine care. However, we're the only center that offers everything under one roof—from surgery and physical therapy to pain management and other specialty care.

You can rest easy knowing that every provider on your team is working closely together to care for you. Your providers will coordinate visits and meet regularly to review your individual case.

We treat our patients and each other like family.

Spine surgery sounds scary. Should I be worried?

Spine surgery has come a long way in the last 20 years, with new techniques that are effective, safe, and designed for a speedy recovery with less pain. Don't let fear keep you from taking the first step. If you are uncomfortable and can't function normally, you don't have to live like this for the rest of your life.

We'll be with you every step of the way, making sure you completely understand what's causing your pain, your treatment options, and how we can work together to meet your goals and set you up for long-term spine health.