Our Team Backs You Up

If you’ve ever said “Oh my aching back is really bothering me today,” you’re not alone. Numerous research studies show that four out of five adults have at least one episode with back pain sometime during life. In fact, more than 31 million visits were made to physician offices in 2003 because of back problems. (Source: National Center for Health Statistics; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; 2003 National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey.) It is easy to see that back pain is one of the most common reasons for health care visits and missed days on the job.

Back pain is the most frequent concern of patients seeing orthopedic physicians. At Tallahassee Orthopedic Clinic patients suffering from back, neck or spine conditions are treated by specialists in a separate unit designed for their special needs, The Spine Center at TOC.

The Spine Center Treatment Team
The spinal medical treatment team at The Spine Center at TOC is comprised of three physicians, all with an impressive variety of credentials, skill sets, and extensive experience.

The Spine Center Treatment team also includes;

Together they offer comprehensive evaluations and treatment plans for all neck, back and spinal problems and conditions.

At The Spine Center, our team of highly trained, experienced sub-specialists and clinicians treat a broad spectrum of spinal conditions, disorders and injuries including:

The human back is indeed a well-designed structure meant to function with nearly every move we make. However, it is also vulnerable to strain, overuse and serious injury if not well-maintained with exercise, care and a healthy dose of caution.

While back pain can be disabling, most back pain is preventable and in fact does not require surgery or even medical intervention. The majority of individuals suffering from common acute or short term back pain will gradually see improvement with self-care and home treatment within a few days or weeks. Chronic back pain is defined by The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), a part of the National Institutes of Health, as back pain that persists three or more months.

While it may take weeks for the pain to completely disappear, you should experience some improvement within 72-hours of self-care.

Persistent Back Pain?
Contact The Spine Center at TOC
If you are not seeing improvement within 72-hours, contact your primary care provider or The Spine Center at Tallahassee Orthopedic Clinic (according to the rules of your health plan), at 850.219.1930 and speak to one of our clinical staff about setting an appointment for an evaluation with a physician.

After a through examination and evaluation by our spinal treatment team, you will be given a treatment plan best suited to your particular condition. We offer both surgical and non-operative treatments (also known as “conservative care”) for different conditions.

Non-Operative Treatments also known as Conservative Care
Dr. Gregg Alexander, a non-surgical spine specialist, directs all conservative care treatment plans for patients not requiring surgical intervention for back, neck and spine conditions. Dr. Alexander brings a comprehensive approach to patient care. His medical degree is in the area of Family Medicine; his Bachelor of Science degree is in Pharmacy. Prior to joining TOC in 1992, Dr. Alexander acquired 14 years of hospital emergency room medical experience as both an ER medical director and care provider. In addition to being a current member of the faculty of Florida State University College of Medicine, Dr. Alexander is the Medical Director of the TOC MRI unit, a position he has held since 1996.

Conservative Care

Surgical Treatment
In the most serious cases, when the condition does not respond to other therapies, surgery may relieve pain caused by back problems or serious musculoskeletal injuries. 

TOC’s highly trained spinal specialists, Dr. Charles Wingo and Dr. Thomas Park, both perform a full spectrum of surgical procedures including cervical, thoracic and lumbar surgery. A complete listing of surgical procedures performed at The Spine Center at TOC is listed below.

Dr. Charles Wingo, an orthopedic surgeon since 1970 is also a veteran of the United States Air Force. Dr. Wingo has focused his practice on cervical, thoracic and lumbar spinal surgery since completing a spine surgery fellowship in 1985 at Norton Kosair Hospital at the University of Louisville at which time he joined TOC. In addition to providing patients with more than 35 years of expertise in a broad range of orthopedic procedures, Dr. Wingo has devoted the past 21 years to the spine. He has a passionate interest in motion preservation, which includes anterior lumbar disc replacement and flexible posterior lumbar stabilization.

In 2002, Dr. Thomas Park joined TOC bringing additional experience and skill sets as he was a practicing Physical Therapist prior to attending medical school and completing his orthopedic surgical residency.  In addition to treating neck and back pain, Dr. Park has a special interest in treating spine deformities. In his residency and fellowship, he spent extensive time with the surgical management of scoliosis and kyphosis. He currently offers a dedicated Scoliosis Clinic as part of his office schedule.

Surgical Procedures Performed at The Spine Center at TOC

We perform the following procedures: