About the Comprehensive Spine Center at UK HealthCare

Spine conditions affect millions of people every year. Some patients may think surgery is their only option, even when other treatments could be just as helpful. Others may wait months to see the right specialist. Many end up scheduling their own appointments, tests and follow-ups, adding stress to an already difficult situation.
We do things differently. Our team works together from the start and guides each person to the right care at the right time.

Our program brings together several specialties focused on the spine:

• Our team of orthopaedic surgeons and neurosurgeons treat bone, joint and nerve-related issues affecting the spine.
• Physical medicine and rehabilitation (PM&R) helps people regain strength, move better and get back to daily life.
• Interventional pain management offers nonsurgical options such as targeted injections to reduce pain.
• Physical and occupational therapy helps restore movement, reduce pain and improve function.

These specialists work side by side with advanced practice providers, physician assistants and rehab experts who have advanced training in spine care. We stay connected so care moves faster and feels more coordinated.

At the Comprehensive Spine Center at UK HealthCare, we don’t rush to operate. That’s because research and our own experience show that most people get better without surgery. But we also know that there’s never just one right answer when it comes to spine care.

When we get a new referral, we look for the best place to start. That often means physical therapy, guided exercise or targeted injections to ease pain and improve movement.

This approach helps people avoid unnecessary surgery, extra tests and long waits. If surgery becomes the right choice, we’re ready. Until then, we focus on the safest and most effective treatments.

Our team includes:

• Spine surgeons
• Doctors who specialize in rehabilitation, pain relief and spine care
• Advanced practice providers and nurses with years of spine experience

We help more than 14,000 new people each year, making us one of the busiest and most experienced spine programs in the region.

We treat many spine conditions, including:

• Back and neck pain
• Herniated and degenerative discs, which can cause pain or limit movement
• Spinal stenosis, or narrowing of the space inside the spine that can put pressure on nerves
• Nerve compression or pinched nerves, which can cause pain, numbness or weakness
• Spine deformities such as scoliosis (sideways curve) and kyphosis (forward stooping)
• Injuries from falls, car accidents or other trauma
• Fractures caused by osteoporosis (a condition that weakens bones) or aging

We designed the Comprehensive Spine Center to improve every step of spine care. From the first referral, we connect each person with the doctor or specialist best suited to help.

We avoid repeat imaging, unnecessary visits and long gaps between appointments. We coordinate imaging, therapy and follow-up care so no one has to figure it out alone. We also stay in touch with referring doctors to keep care on track.

Already, our approach is working. Since launching the Comprehensive Spine Center, we’ve been able to schedule people faster, give them clearer answers and help them avoid unnecessary surgeries. Referring doctors value our speed, communication and quality of care. People leave feeling better and able to return to their lives with less stress.

In Kentucky, distance and access can make it harder to get spine care. We make it easier by offering:

• A single, centralized process for referrals
• Nurse practitioners and physician assistants with advanced spine training to expand access
• Help arranging therapy, imaging and follow-up appointments

We also work with other health systems in the region to coordinate care and share what we learn.

As part of UK HealthCare, we do more than provide care. We also take part in research, study new treatments and train the next generation of spine specialists.

People we serve have access to advanced tools, therapies and clinical trials, such as research studies that test new treatments, that many other hospitals can’t offer.

The Comprehensive Spine Center brings the right experts together, puts people first and focuses on treatments that work.

Talk with your doctor about a referral to the Comprehensive Spine Center at UK HealthCare. We’re ready to help you feel better.