Our mission at the Spine Center at New England Baptist Hospital is to deliver cutting-edge, non-operative treatments for a broad variety of spinal disorders. Our aim is to provide the highest quality care based on the best available scientific data while focusing on maximizing and improving overall function for every patient we evaluate.
For more information or to make an appointment with one of our Spine experts please contact us at SpineCenter@NEBH.org. Please make sure to include contact information so that our scheduling staff may better assist you.
Physicians at the Spine Center at New England Baptist Hospital:
The medical specialists of the Spine Center are all experts in the evaluation, treatment and management of a large spectrum of spinal disorders.
James Rainville, MD, Chief, Spine Physiatry
Carol Hartigan, MD
Janet Limke, MD
Eugenio Martinez, MD
Cristin Jouve, MD
Enrique Peña, MD
Treatment Forms:
We offer a broad scope of treatment options for a variety of problems:
Education & informed decisionmaking: All patients are fully educated about the natural history, prognosis and treatment options available for their specific problem as well as given practical expert advice on the management of their symptoms.
Exercise-based physical therapy: For many patients, specific exercise based treatments are offered with the aim to improve strength and physical function.
Medications/spinal injections: After a comprehensive evaluation by one of our physicians, oral medications as well as specific spinal injections may be offered concurrently for the management of pain while under active treatment.
Exercise-Based Physical Therapy Program:
At the Spine Center, we offer an internationally recognized approach based on proven and objective tools in the treatment of spinal pain. Aggressive exercise based programs have been found to both safe and effective for the treatment and management of back pain. After a thorough medical evaluation with one of our physicians, physical therapies based on resistance training and stretching are often recommended and have been found to be effective in both improving back pain as well as ability to return to desired activities.
Spinal Injections:
After a comprehensive evaluation by one of our physicians, oral medications as well as specific spinal injections may be offered concurrently for the management of pain while under active treatment.
Highly experienced, fellowship-trained Neuro-Radiologists at New England Baptist are experts in performing a variety of spinal injections aimed at treating pain and symptoms.
Common Procedures:
Epidural/Nerve Root Blocks: inject steroid and anesthetic medicine into the space next to the covering of the spinal cord and spinal nerves ("epidural" space). This procedure is typically used for neck, back, leg or arm pain that may be due to a disk herniation. Arm or leg symptoms are often called a "pinched nerve" but the medical term is radiculopathy.
Lumbar/Cervical Facet Joint Blocks: inject steroid and anesthetic medicine into the capsule of the facet joint. The facet joints are located in the back of the spine where they help control the position and movements of the vertebrae. As people age, the facet joints often become arthritic and in some people these arthritic joints may become painful. Facet joint blocks may help to reduce this pain.
Research and Academics:
The Spine Center holds great pride in past academic achievements as well as rigorously constructed peer-reviewed articles published by our clinicians. The research conducted by our physicians has served to expand the knowledge base as well as enhance clinical assessment and treatment of numerous spinal conditions.
As a patient, you may be invited to participate in current research study.
Current Research:
- The Natural History of Lumbar Disk Herniations in Elderly Persons
- Exercise-Based Treatment and Evaluation of Spinal Stenosis
Education:
The Spine Center serves as a teaching site for fellow and resident physicians at Harvard Medical School, Spaulding Rehabilitation Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Residency program as well as BIDMC and Children's Hospital Boston. Many patients enjoy their encounters with young physicians working under the supervision of our highly experienced spine experts.
In addition, we offer a one-year fellowship program in non-operative spine care available to residency graduates or other specialists in the field of physical medicine and rehabilitation. Physicians interested in the one-year fellowship program can contact Ellen Quartarone at equartar@caregroup.harvard.edu.
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