Spine Specialist in Clifton, NJ

Looking for a spine specialist in Clifton, NJ? At Empire Minimally Invasive Spine and Pain, our Clifton office is home to interventional spine and pain physicians Dr. John Akhnoukh and Dr. Monika Misak. They find the source of your back or neck pain and treat it with non-surgical and minimally invasive care first. Same-week appointments are usually available for new patients. Call 732-630-7246.

What does a spine specialist do?

A spine specialist is a doctor who focuses on the spine, the discs between the bones, and the nerves that branch out to your arms and legs. The first job is a clear diagnosis. That means a careful exam, a review of your symptoms, and a look at your X-ray or MRI.

Many people assume a spine specialist means surgery. In fact, most back and neck pain is treated without an operation. The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons notes that only a small percentage of patients with a lumbar disc herniation need surgery. Our Clifton specialists are interventional physicians. They use precise, image-guided treatments aimed at the exact nerve, joint or disc causing your pain.

Spine conditions we treat in Clifton

• Herniated and bulging discs pressing on a nerve in the low back or neck
• Sciatica: pain, numbness or tingling that runs from the back down the leg
• Spinal stenosis: narrowing of the spinal canal that causes leg pain when you stand or walk
• Facet joint and SI joint pain from arthritis in the small spine joints or the joint where the spine meets the pelvis
• Neck pain and pinched nerves that send pain into the shoulder or arm
• Spinal compression fractures, often linked to osteoporosis

Non-surgical and minimally invasive options in Clifton

Your plan depends on what is causing the pain. Options offered at our Clifton office include:

• Epidural steroid injections to calm an inflamed nerve from a disc or stenosis
• Facet joint injections and medial branch blocks to find and treat facet joint pain
• Sacroiliac (SI) joint injections for low back, buttock and hip pain coming from the SI joint
• Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) to quiet the small nerves that carry arthritis pain from spine joints
• Basivertebral nerve ablation (Intracept) for certain types of chronic low back pain that starts inside the vertebrae
• The MILD procedure and the interspinous spacer for lumbar spinal stenosis
• Kyphoplasty and vertebroplasty for painful compression fractures
• Spinal cord stimulation for long-lasting back or leg nerve pain, always starting with a short trial
• Ultrasound-guided neck injections (A.C.U.T.), a technique developed by Dr. Akhnoukh

Physical therapy, activity changes and medication review are often part of the plan too. No treatment works for everyone, so your physician will explain the expected benefits, risks and recovery for each option before you decide.

When surgery is considered, and how referral works

Surgery is usually considered only when a pinched nerve has not improved after a fair trial of non-surgical care, when your MRI matches your symptoms, or when weakness is getting worse. Our Clifton physicians are not spine surgeons, so they do not perform spine surgery themselves.

If your exam and imaging suggest you may benefit from surgery, such as an endoscopic discectomy, our Clifton team coordinates a surgical consultation for you. We send your imaging and notes ahead, so you don’t have to start over. You can learn more about these procedures on our minimally invasive spine surgery in New Jersey page.

Get emergency care right away if you have loss of bladder or bowel control, numbness in the groin or inner thighs, or leg weakness that is getting worse quickly. These can be signs of severe nerve compression.

Joint, knee and shoulder problems

Not every problem that feels like back pain comes from the spine. Hip, knee and shoulder conditions are evaluated by orthopedic surgeon Dr. Jeffrey Guttman at the same Clifton office. Learn more about orthopedic care in Clifton.

Insurance at our Clifton office

Our Clifton office accepts PPO and POS plans, both in-network and out-of-network. We also treat personal injury and auto accident cases under New Jersey PIP coverage. Our team verifies your benefits before your first visit, so you know what to expect.

Visit our Clifton spine office

• Address: 1005 Clifton Ave, Suite 205, Clifton, NJ 07013
• Phone: 732-630-7246
• Hours: Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM
• New patients: same-week appointments usually available

Patients visit us from Clifton, Passaic, Paterson, Nutley, Montclair, Bloomfield, Wayne, Little Falls, Woodland Park and Totowa. See directions and full office details on our Clifton location page.

Frequently asked questions

What does a spine specialist do?

A spine specialist diagnoses and treats problems of the spine and the nerves that leave it, such as herniated discs, sciatica, spinal stenosis and arthritis in the spine. At our Clifton office, our interventional spine and pain physicians find the exact source of your pain and treat it with non-surgical and minimally invasive options first.

Is a spine specialist the same as a spine surgeon?

Not always. Some spine specialists are surgeons, and others focus on non-surgical and interventional care. Our Clifton spine specialists are interventional spine and pain physicians, not spine surgeons. If your exam and MRI suggest surgery may help, we coordinate a surgical consultation and share your records.

What insurance does the Clifton office accept?

Our Clifton office accepts PPO and POS plans, both in-network and out-of-network, and treats personal injury and auto accident (PIP) cases. Our team verifies your benefits before your visit. Call 732-630-7246 with your insurance card to confirm coverage.

How soon can I see a spine specialist in Clifton?

Same-week appointments are usually available for new patients. The Clifton office is open Monday through Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM. Call 732-630-7246 to schedule.

When should I see a spine specialist for back or neck pain?

Consider an evaluation if back or neck pain lasts more than a few weeks, keeps coming back, or spreads into your arm or leg with numbness, tingling or weakness. Loss of bladder or bowel control, numbness in the groin area, or quickly worsening leg weakness is an emergency. Go to the nearest emergency room.