Back Pain and Injury

UI Health Care back pain experts offer relief from low back pain, muscle strain, herniated disc, spinal stenosis, muscle spasms, and more.
Request an Appointment
For Orthopedics and Rehabilitation related requests:
1-319-356-2223
For all other requests:
1-800-777-8442

If back pain is preventing you from living the life you want, University of Iowa Health Care specialists can help.

The causes and symptoms of back pain vary widely. It's important to choose providers who can diagnose your pain correctly and treat it effectively. 

Our team includes experts in orthopedics, neurology, spine surgery, physical therapy, sports medicine, physical medicine and rehabilitation, and other specialties.  

As part of a leading academic medical center, they offer the latest surgical and nonsurgical treatments. They'll develop a plan of care tailored just for you. 

If you've had unsuccessful treatment or surgery elsewhere, a second opinion from our experts can provide you with new options. 

Your UI Health Care team focuses on relieving your pain, helping you heal, and returning you to the activities you love

Back pain relief without surgery

With the right treatment, most people with back pain don't need surgery.  

UI Health Care offers the newest and most effective nonsurgical treatment options. Your care plan might include: 

  • Medications and injections: Anti-inflammatories, pain medications, and injectable medications can calm inflammation and relieve pain. 

  • Physical medicine: The right therapy can help reduce your pain, improve your balance and strength, and restore your flexibility. Your therapist will make a custom plan for you based on your diagnosis, goals, and needs.  

  • Nutrition and lifestyle changes and avoiding or stopping use of nicotine products can also lessen the impact of back pain. 

Advanced surgical treatments and high patient satisfaction

If other treatments haven't helped your back pain, or if you have an injury that needs repair, surgery may be the best option for you.  

UI Health Care specialists have extensive experience in surgery to relieve back pain.  

They perform more surgeries than the benchmark average. They're experts in all procedures, from herniated disc repairs to complex issues like spinal fractures, spinal tumors, and scoliosis. 

And they're among the first in the field to use the newest, gold-standard surgical techniques.  

The results speak for themselves. Patients who have spine surgery at UI Health Care have fewer complications than average, so they get on their feet and soon start moving. And they report higher-than-average satisfaction with their surgeries.

Back pain and injury treatments

  • Anterior lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF)
  • Back brace
  • Changes in lifestyle or activity
  • Cold packs and heat therapy
  • Discectomy
  • Dynamic stabilization
  • Foraminotomy
  • Injections
  • Kyphoplasty and vertebroplasty
  • Laminectomy
  • Laminoplasty
  • Lumbar disc replacement
  • Minimally invasive spine surgery
  • Physical therapy
  • Revision surgery
  • Sacroiliac (SI) joint fusion
  • Scoliosis surgery
  • Spinal decompression
  • Spinal fusion
  • Transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF)

Back pain and injury conditions treated

  • Ankylosing spondylitis
  • Back spasms
  • Cervical myelopathy
  • Cervical radiculopathy
  • Chordoma
  • Degenerative disc disease
  • Diffuse idiopathic skeletal hypertrophy (DISH)
  • Failed back surgery syndrome
  • Flat-back syndrome
  • Herniated disc
  • Kyphosis
  • Lumbar stenosis
  • Muscle strain
  • Myelopathy
     

Our Care Team

Joshua M. Eisenberg, MD portrait

Joshua M.
Eisenberg
MD

  • Orthopedics and Rehabilitation
4.91 out of 5 (49 ratings)
Cassim M. Igram, MD portrait

Cassim M.
Igram
MD

  • Orthopedics and Rehabilitation
4.58 out of 5 (1,656 ratings)
Catherine R. Olinger, MD, MS, FAAOS portrait

Catherine R.
Olinger
MD, MS, FAAOS

  • Orthopedics and Rehabilitation
4.73 out of 5 (435 ratings)
Andrew J. Pugely, MD portrait

Andrew J.
Pugely
MD

  • Orthopedics and Rehabilitation
4.69 out of 5 (1,550 ratings)
Timothy W. Thomsen, MD portrait

Timothy W.
Thomsen
MD

  • Emergency Medicine
  • Orthopedics and Rehabilitation
4.80 out of 5 (576 ratings)
Terese Whipple, MD portrait

Terese
Whipple
MD

  • Emergency Medicine
  • Orthopedics and Rehabilitation
Britt Marcussen, MD portrait

Britt
Marcussen
MD

  • Family Medicine
  • Orthopedics and Rehabilitation
4.63 out of 5 (958 ratings)
Tyler Slayman, MD portrait

Tyler
Slayman
MD

  • Family Medicine
  • Orthopedics and Rehabilitation
4.74 out of 5 (1,421 ratings)
Ashlee L. Enzinger, MD, FAAP, CAQSM portrait

Ashlee L.
Enzinger
MD, FAAP, CAQSM

  • Orthopedics and Rehabilitation
4.62 out of 5 (386 ratings)
Andy Peterson, MD, MSPH portrait

Andy
Peterson
MD, MSPH

  • Orthopedics and Rehabilitation
4.54 out of 5 (1,102 ratings)
Jangbo Lee, MD, PhD portrait

Jangbo
Lee
MD, PhD

  • Neurosurgery
4.32 out of 5 (136 ratings)
Lisa Woodroffe, MD, CAQSM portrait

Lisa
Woodroffe
MD, CAQSM

  • Orthopedics and Rehabilitation
4.72 out of 5 (517 ratings)
Laura Conner, MPAS, PA-C, MA, ATC, LAT, CES portrait

Laura
Conner
MPAS, PA-C, MA, ATC, LAT, CES

  • Orthopedics and Rehabilitation
4.88 out of 5 (535 ratings)
Kyle Kroymann, MPAS, PA-C portrait

Kyle
Kroymann
MPAS, PA-C

  • Orthopedics and Rehabilitation
4.67 out of 5 (713 ratings)
Jonathan A. Rueter, MMS, PA-C portrait

Jonathan A.
Rueter
MMS, PA-C

  • Orthopedics and Rehabilitation
4.64 out of 5 (855 ratings)
Courtney Seffker, MPAS, PA-C portrait

Courtney
Seffker
MPAS, PA-C

  • Orthopedics and Rehabilitation
4.71 out of 5 (335 ratings)
Troy Smith, MPAS, PA-C portrait

Troy
Smith
MPAS, PA-C

  • Orthopedics and Rehabilitation
4.64 out of 5 (168 ratings)
Renee Meade, MSN, ARNP, ANP-C portrait

Renee
Meade
MSN, ARNP, ANP-C

  • Orthopedics and Rehabilitation
4.76 out of 5 (166 ratings)

Seeking effective treatment for back pain?

We'll connect you with an expert who can help.
Call 1-319-356-2223 Request an appointment Refer a patient

Locations and Offices

Orthopedic Clinic
John Pappajohn Pavilion (JPP)
Lower Level, Elevator I
1-319-356-2223
Clinic
Orthopedic Clinic
In Medical Center
200 Hawkins Drive, Iowa City, IA 52242
UI Sports Medicine
Level 1
1-319-384-7070
Clinic
UI Health Care Sports Medicine facility exterior photo
In Iowa City, Prairie Meadow Drive
2701 Prairie Meadow Drive, Iowa City, IA 52242
Iowa River Landing - Floor 5
Fifth Floor
1-319-467-2000
Clinic
Lobby photo of the fifth floor of Iowa River Landing
In Iowa River Landing
105 East 9th Street, Coralville, IA 52241
Sports Medicine - Cedar Rapids
Suite 2300
1-319-731-1430
Clinic
Interior front desk of the new sports medicine location
In Cedar Rapids, 10th Street SE
411 10th Street SE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52403
Clinical Trials currently in progress
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Educational Resources

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Awards and Recognition

Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Distinction® Center+ designation
Expertise in knee and hip replacement and spine surgery has earned UI Health Care the Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Distinction® Center+ designation. This means we're a center of excellence that delivers high-quality specialized care and better results.