If you haven’t experienced serious back or neck pain, then you don’t know how bad it can be. And if you have, then you really know. The pain can range from mildly inconvenient to debilitating. For some, dealing with spinal issues is a daily struggle and can make even the simplest tasks—standing up or bending over—a challenge.
These pains aren’t something you have to live with, and you may be surprised to learn that one of the most effective routes to pain relief is from a neurosurgeon. “Neurosurgeons are uniquely qualified to treat back pain because they are specialists in both the brain and the spine,” says Dr. Ricky Kalra, a neurosurgeon with Kalra Brain & Spine Institute in Frisco. “Our expertise gives us a complex understanding of how nerves interact with the rest of the body. This is especially important for patients who need surgery.”
According to Dr. Kalra, because the spine connects to so many parts of the body, it can be treated in many ways. Back and neck pain can be the result of a variety of issues, including spine radiculopathy, scoliosis, herniated discs, spine tumors, spinal trauma, and degenerative disc disease, among others. “From general practitioners to chiropractors, spine doctors and physical therapists, there is no shortage of places to turn for advice on your spine,” Dr. Kalra says. “The challenge is knowing who to trust.”
An experienced neurosurgeon treating spinal issues should offer the most conservative treatments that yield the greatest benefit, such as physical therapy, medication, injection treatments, and artificial cervical disc replacements. The goal should be to alleviate pain with the longest-lasting solution and the least amount of recovery.
If the physician you see for back pain jumps straight to a complex spine surgery as a solution, Dr. Kalra recommends seeking a second opinion or another option. In fact, he encourages this for all his patients as he believes it’s the best approach to caring for the spine. He also recommends seeking treatment as soon as symptoms worsen. “If back pain has started to affect your quality of life, don’t ignore the symptoms,” he says. “Whether through daily exercises, a minimally invasive procedure, or the latest technological advancements in spine surgery, we will work with you to ensure that your treatment is exactly what you need—and nothing more—so you can get back to living your life.”
About Dr. Ricky Kalra
Dr. Kalra, a native of Plano, is a neurosurgeon with a deep focus on spine health. He has published more than 20 nationally recognized scientific articles and book chapters and is one of only a few neurosurgeons in Dallas-Fort Worth specializing in complex scoliosis corrections. Following his training in spinal fusions, Dr. Kalra went on to complete a spine surgery fellowship with training in Germany, focusing on minimally invasive approaches to spine treatment and complex scoliosis.
Dr. Kalra also has an active tumor practice, collaborating with medical and radiation oncologists to provide a multidisciplinary approach to patients with brain cancer. This commitment is what sets Kalra Brain & Spine apart from other neurosurgery practices. When world-class training meets hometown values deeply rooted in family and community, the result is the kind of medical care you’ve always hoped for.
These pains aren’t something you have to live with, and you may be surprised to learn that one of the most effective routes to pain relief is from a neurosurgeon. “Neurosurgeons are uniquely qualified to treat back pain because they are specialists in both the brain and the spine,” says Dr. Ricky Kalra, a neurosurgeon with Kalra Brain & Spine Institute in Frisco. “Our expertise gives us a complex understanding of how nerves interact with the rest of the body. This is especially important for patients who need surgery.”
We will work with you to ensure that your treatment is exactly what you need—and nothing more—so you can get back to living your life.
Dr. Kalra
According to Dr. Kalra, because the spine connects to so many parts of the body, it can be treated in many ways. Back and neck pain can be the result of a variety of issues, including spine radiculopathy, scoliosis, herniated discs, spine tumors, spinal trauma, and degenerative disc disease, among others. “From general practitioners to chiropractors, spine doctors and physical therapists, there is no shortage of places to turn for advice on your spine,” Dr. Kalra says. “The challenge is knowing who to trust.”
An experienced neurosurgeon treating spinal issues should offer the most conservative treatments that yield the greatest benefit, such as physical therapy, medication, injection treatments, and artificial cervical disc replacements. The goal should be to alleviate pain with the longest-lasting solution and the least amount of recovery.
If the physician you see for back pain jumps straight to a complex spine surgery as a solution, Dr. Kalra recommends seeking a second opinion or another option. In fact, he encourages this for all his patients as he believes it’s the best approach to caring for the spine. He also recommends seeking treatment as soon as symptoms worsen. “If back pain has started to affect your quality of life, don’t ignore the symptoms,” he says. “Whether through daily exercises, a minimally invasive procedure, or the latest technological advancements in spine surgery, we will work with you to ensure that your treatment is exactly what you need—and nothing more—so you can get back to living your life.”
About Dr. Ricky Kalra
Dr. Kalra, a native of Plano, is a neurosurgeon with a deep focus on spine health. He has published more than 20 nationally recognized scientific articles and book chapters and is one of only a few neurosurgeons in Dallas-Fort Worth specializing in complex scoliosis corrections. Following his training in spinal fusions, Dr. Kalra went on to complete a spine surgery fellowship with training in Germany, focusing on minimally invasive approaches to spine treatment and complex scoliosis.
Dr. Kalra also has an active tumor practice, collaborating with medical and radiation oncologists to provide a multidisciplinary approach to patients with brain cancer. This commitment is what sets Kalra Brain & Spine apart from other neurosurgery practices. When world-class training meets hometown values deeply rooted in family and community, the result is the kind of medical care you’ve always hoped for.
