Spine Care FAQ

Many insurance plans allow you to see a specialist directly, but some HMO plans require a referral. Call (225) 924-2424 and our team can check your plan.

The Baton Rouge Orthopaedic Clinic accepts most major insurance plans, including Medicare. Please call our office to confirm coverage for your specific plan.

Bring your photo ID, insurance card, a list of medications, any prior spine imaging (MRI, CT, X-ray) on disc or with the report, and notes on treatments you've tried such as therapy or injections.

No. Most patients Dr. Ferachi evaluates are treated nonsurgically. Surgery is recommended only when there is a clear structural problem that matches your symptoms and conservative care hasn't worked.

It uses smaller incisions and specialized instruments to reach the spine while minimizing damage to muscles. For appropriate patients it can mean less pain, less blood loss and a faster recovery.

Dr. Ferachi sees patients at the Baton Rouge Orthopaedic Clinic's Bluebonnet campus in Baton Rouge and at the Hammond campus on Veterans Avenue.

Call (225) 924-2424 for current availability. If you have rapidly worsening weakness or loss of bladder or bowel control, go to the nearest emergency room.

Often, yes. The body can reabsorb herniated disc material over weeks to months, and most patients improve with time, therapy and medication. Surgery is reserved for persistent pain, progressive weakness or emergencies.

Most patients walk the same day, return to desk work within one to two weeks, and resume heavier activity around six weeks, depending on their job and Dr. Ferachi's guidance.

Start with your primary care doctor for new, mild sciatica. See a spine specialist if pain lasts more than six weeks, keeps returning, or comes with leg weakness or numbness. Seeing a surgeon does not mean you will need surgery; most patients Dr. Ferachi evaluates are treated nonsurgically first.

Generally yes. Gentle walking keeps the spine moving and reduces stiffness. Avoid prolonged sitting, heavy lifting and bending until pain settles.

It is usually slowly progressive, but many people stay stable for years. Cervical stenosis that affects the spinal cord is different and is more likely to progress, so it deserves closer monitoring.

Decompression surgery reliably improves leg pain and walking distance for most well-selected patients. Dr. Ferachi will discuss expected results based on your imaging, health and goals.

Not usually at first. Guidelines recommend imaging when pain persists beyond about six weeks, when there are nerve symptoms or red flags, or when injections or surgery are being considered.

Most patients do not. The majority of people Dr. Ferachi sees for back pain are treated with therapy, medication or injections. Surgery is an option when a specific structural problem is confirmed and conservative care hasn't worked.

Yes. Compression of the C6 or C7 nerve roots commonly causes numbness in the thumb, index or middle fingers. Numbness can also come from carpal tunnel syndrome, so a careful exam is important.

Anterior cervical surgery is one of the most common and well-studied spine operations, with high success rates for arm pain. As with any surgery there are risks, which Dr. Ferachi reviews in detail before any decision.