Published on July 30, 2010
Living With Back and Neck Pain?
The new Genesis Spine Center opens in Bettendorf to help
Celeste Miller, M.D.
Celeste Miller, M.D., is accustomed to seeing patients with back or neck pain who have been to 5-10 doctors seeking relief. They’re weary of going from doctor to doctor to find help, particularly when it hurts to move.
A multi-disciplinary approach
“We’re excited about this new program and to have found Dr. Miller to lead it,” says Rob Nelson, M.D., Vice President of Clinical Services for Genesis Health System. “She has experience with starting up spine centers, so she was a perfect fit for us. Her multidisciplinary approach to patients with back and neck pain will be key to the Genesis Spine Center’s success.
“Dr. Miller has the skills and the compassion to deal with these complex patients who oftentimes have been to multiple doctors and found no relief."
The Genesis Spine Center, located at Genesis Medical Park, Maplecrest, will treat patients with all types of pain, including neck and back pain, sciatica, arthritis, fibromyalgia, whiplash and work-related injuries.
Most recently, Dr. Celeste Miller practiced in Pekin, Ill, where a high demand for spine care in that town helped hone her vision for a comprehensive, multi-disciplinary approach to spine problems.
The Ames, Iowa native and graduate of the University of Iowa, recently moved to the Quad Cities with her husband Daryl K. Miller, M.D., who is a board-certified Rheumatologist in Moline.
As members of Genesis Health Group, the physicians add two new specialties to the Quad Cities’ largest physician group. Leading the Genesis Spine Center, Dr. Celeste Miller will diagnose the cause of patients’ pain; delve into their individual challenges; and, recommend care ranging from injection therapy, physical therapy, complementary and alternative therapies, surgical interventions and more.
Patients may see other experts throughout the Genesis system of care, but they will have Dr. Miller as “the familiar face” to lead and coordinate their treatment. That’s a source of security, she says, for patients who often go alone from doctor to doctor to find help.
“Many patients with back and neck pain traditionally get their medication from one physician,” Dr. Miller says. “Then they’ll go to another physician for a pain injection. Then, those doctors may refer the patients to the neurosurgeon. Patients may wait several months to get an appointment, only to be told they’re not surgical candidates. They’re frustrated; they’re still in pain; and, they still have no answers.
“The vision of the Genesis Spine Center is to have one place where the patient can have all of their options provided to them. When they come in, I’ll evaluate them and confirm if their diagnosis is appropriate. I can provide EMG (electromyography) and nerve conduction studies and assess if any other diagnostic studies are needed.”
At every first appointment, patients also meet with a Genesis physical therapist, who evaluates them for any mechanical impairments. Four Genesis physical therapists, who work at various locations across the region, will work with Spine Center patients. The Maplecrest location also offers a warmwater therapy pool and a fibromyalgia program with support group.
A team of experts
“My patients appreciate that I listen and spend time with them,” Dr. Miller says. “I ask a lot of questions -- from how they are sleeping and if pain is disrupting their family and work relationships to asking them about their moods. Some patients are depressed, agitated or get angry quicker. They may have troubles with memory or attention span. If you don’t treat those aspects of the pain, too, then they can’t move forward.”
When appropriate, Dr. Miller will provide pain interventions, including epidurals and joint injections with flouroscopic guidance. In the same building, Genesis Pain Center physicians also offer therapeutic injections and radiofrequency denervation.
Patients may be referred to Genesis Health Group physician Bruce McElhinney, D.O., who specializes in osteopathic manipulation, or a psychologist who specializes in pain management and provides biofeedback. Eventually, Dr. Miller hopes the center will offer complementary therapies, such as acupuncture and massage therapy.
Dr. Miller also will meet to review the case with an orthopedic surgeon or a neurosurgeon when surgery is an option for her patient.
Whether its medications, injections, muscle stimulators or braces, the treatment options will become part of Genesis Spine Center patients’ comprehensive care plan. They can refer to the written plan again and again for hope and guidance.
Back pain is one of the top reasons patients seek medical care, and it’s on the rise. More and more people are overweight. They don’t exercise enough to maintain muscle strength and endurance. Poor posture also contributes to back pain. People sit slumped forward at a desk all day, putting wear and tear on their neck and back. Overuse, degenerative wear and tear on the discs and joints of the spine, as well as acute trauma, all contribute to frequent doctor appointments.
“Ideally, it’s best to see patients early on, when they’re in the acute stage. You can shut down the pain, so they don’t develop chronic pain issues,” Dr. Miller says. “When patients have been in pain for 3-6 months, chances are they will never be totally free of that pain. That’s when you try to modify their pain and make it more workable, so they can maximize their function and enjoy a better quality of life.”
To schedule an appointment at the Genesis Spine Center, call (563) 421-3290.
