Primary care physicians are often the first to see patients with back pain; however, if SI joint dysfunction is suspected it is important to be evaluated at an advanced spine center as soon as possible, since early and expert intervention can keep the condition from getting worse.
The spine team at Och Spine at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center — expert spine surgeons along with their team of physicians, nurses, physical therapists, and pain management specialists — provide comprehensive, integrated care for patients with SI joint dysfunction and many other conditions of the spine. Patients receive a complete continuum of care, from diagnosis to treatment and recovery.
We generally begin with nonsurgical, non-invasive options (see Diagnosing and Treating Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction). For patients who do need surgery, we offer the latest in minimally invasive surgical techniques using state-of-the-art equipment. Patients recover faster, have less pain, and get back to their normal daily activities sooner than they could with older surgical methods.
Our surgical faculty includes some of the very best world-renowned specialists:
Kai-Ming Fu, MD, PhD, is the co-director of Spinal Deformity and Scoliosis Program at Och Spine at NewYork-Presbyterian at the Weill Cornell Medicine Center for Comprehensive Spine Care and chief of neurological surgery at NewYork-Presbyterian Lower Manhattan Hospital. He obtained his undergraduate degrees from Stanford University and his medical and graduate training in the M.D./Ph.D. program at Albert Einstein College of Medicine. He has extensive fellowship training in orthopedic and neurosurgical deformity surgery in both the pediatric and adult populations. Dr. Fu specializes in minimal access surgery for deformity as well as having advanced training in open techniques. He is well published in the field of deformity and is an Active Fellow of the Scoliosis Research Society. (Read more about Dr. Fu.)
Robert Snow, MD, PhD, is a board-certified neurosurgeon who has routinely been named to lists of Castle Connolly Top Doctors and New York magazine’s Best Doctors in New York. He has advanced skills and expertise in all areas of neurosurgery, with specialized training in spine surgery. He is on the faculty of Weill Cornell Medicine and performs surgery at NewYork-Presbyterian Weill Cornell Medical Center.
At Och Spine at NewYork-Presbyterian at the Weill Cornell Medicine Center for Comprehensive Spine Care, patients with facet joint syndrome may also be seen by:
Physiatrists: These rehabilitation physicians specialize in treating injuries or illnesses that affect movement. They manage non-surgical approaches to back pain, including the pain of facet joint syndrome.
Pain Management Specialists: Advanced pain management techniques allow many patients to avoid surgery altogether. Our specialists work with patients to develop an individual treatment plan that can get them back to their daily lives, without pain and without surgery. Pain management specialists can also help patients recover more quickly, or with less pain, after surgery.
Physical Therapists: These specialists have expertise in a wide range of non-surgical techniques to help prevent or overcome pain and build strength to help prevent future injuries. A physical therapist may work with a patient as an alternative to surgery, or after surgery to help rebuild strength.
The spine surgeons at Och Spine at NewYork-Presbyterian at the Weill Cornell Medicine Center for Comprehensive Spine Care are fortunate to be part of the NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital team, routinely ranked as one of the top hospitals in the United States. Together, the NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center team is the best choice for your back.
