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Amandeep Bhalla, MD
Non-Surgical Care in Long Beach, CA: Dr. Bhalla, orthopedic spine surgeon in Long Beach

Care services · Long Beach, CA

Non-Surgical Care in Long Beach, CA

Most neck and back pain gets better without an operation. Dr. Bhalla starts with a careful evaluation, builds a plan around physical therapy, medication and targeted treatment, and recommends surgery only when it is clearly the better choice.

Non-Surgical Care in Long Beach, with patients welcome from across South Bay, Orange County and the greater Los Angeles area.

Book a consultation(562) 427-8119

Overview

What is non-surgical spine care?

Non-surgical, or conservative, care means treating the source of your pain without an operation. It begins with understanding what is actually causing your symptoms: your history, a physical exam and, when needed, X-rays or an MRI. Many patients are relieved to learn that a scan can look worse than they feel, and that a clear plan can get them moving again.

Your plan may include physical therapy, anti-inflammatory medication, changes to activity and, when appropriate, image-guided injections to calm an irritated nerve or joint. Dr. Bhalla is a surgeon, and that is why this matters: he will tell you plainly when surgery will not help, and when it might.

Book a consultation(562) 427-8119
Non-Surgical Care: patient care
Non-Surgical Care: recovery

Is it right for you

Who is it for?

Nearly everyone with new neck pain, back pain, sciatica or arm pain should start here. The exceptions are the warning signs described below, which need prompt attention.

Conditions treated

  • Neck and back pain
  • Herniated discs
  • Sciatica and pinched nerves
  • Spinal stenosis
  • Degenerative disc disease
  • Sacroiliac joint pain

Common symptoms

  • Pain that comes and goes
  • Pain after a lift, a twist or a long day
  • Numbness or tingling that is not getting worse
  • Stiffness and reduced movement

Near you

Non-Surgical Care in Long Beach, CA

Dr. Bhalla provides non-surgical care for people in Long Beach and the surrounding cities. Dr. Bhalla leads the Spine Center at MemorialCare Long Beach Medical Center.

If you live in Signal Hill, Lakewood, Seal Beach, Orange County or anywhere nearby, a consultation is a short drive away.

Book a consultation

Patients come to us from

  • Long Beach
  • Signal Hill
  • Lakewood
  • Seal Beach
  • Los Alamitos
  • Cypress
  • Bellflower
  • Torrance
  • Huntington Beach
  • Carson

Not on the list? We see patients from across Southern California.

Benefits

Why start here?

Conservative care is safe, works for most people and keeps every option open.

  • No operation

    Most people improve with time, therapy and the right guidance.

  • Lower risk

    It avoids the risks of anesthesia and surgery when they are not needed.

  • Clear answers

    A careful evaluation shows what is, and is not, causing your pain.

  • Surgery stays an option

    If you do need an operation later, you will know it was the right call.

Recovery

What does a typical plan look like?

Every plan is different, but most people follow a path like this.

  1. 01/First visit

    Evaluation and a clear plan

    History, exam and imaging if needed. You leave knowing what is going on and what comes next.

  2. 02/Weeks one to six

    Therapy and symptom relief

    Physical therapy, medication and activity changes. An injection may be added to calm a nerve or a joint.

  3. 03/Weeks six to twelve

    Review and decide

    We check your progress together. Most people are better. If you are not, we talk about the next step.

Safety

When surgery is, and is not, the answer

Surgery is not the answer for most back and neck pain. It becomes worth discussing when pain or nerve symptoms continue despite a fair trial of treatment, when weakness is getting worse, or when imaging shows a problem that will not settle on its own. Get urgent care for loss of bladder or bowel control, rapidly worsening weakness, numbness in the groin or saddle area, or fever with severe spine pain.

Frequently asked questions

Will I need surgery?

Most people do not. About nine in ten herniated discs improve within a few months, and many episodes of back pain settle with time and therapy. Dr. Bhalla recommends surgery only when it is the better option for you.

How long should I try conservative care?

For most problems, six to twelve weeks is a fair trial. Weakness that is getting worse, or any of the warning signs above, should not wait.

Do injections cure the problem?

No. Injections reduce inflammation and pain so you can move and take part in therapy. They do not repair the underlying problem, and they are not right for everyone.

Can I see Dr. Bhalla if I do not want surgery?

Yes. Many patients come for an expert opinion and a non-surgical plan. A consultation does not commit you to anything.

Other services

More ways we treat the neck and back.