Dr. Booker is a physiatrist, also known as a physical medicine and rehabilitation doctor. She specializes in nonsurgical spine treatments and sports medicine.
Spine care
Find relief from back or neck pain with personalized, nonsurgical and surgical treatments from expert spine specialists.
Spine care
Find relief from back or neck pain with personalized, nonsurgical and surgical treatments from expert spine specialists.
Spine care at UW Medicine
Even minor spine problems can leave you sore, stiff and unable to enjoy life as you usually would. From common conditions to the most complex spine disorders, UW Medicine spine experts offer a variety of treatment options to help you achieve a better quality of life.
We’ve got your back
At UW Medicine, we take a personalized approach to planning your care. You can expect us to:
- Match you with the spine experts that are right for you
- Take the time to listen and answer questions
- Thoroughly investigate the cause of your symptoms
- Partner with you to develop a care plan tailored to your needs
Anatomy of the spine
Your spine consists of bones, muscles, ligaments and nerves. Your spine is your main support structure that helps your body move and function. The five sections of the spine are:
- Cervical – Neck region of the spine
- Thoracic – Upper to middle back region of the spine
- Lumbar – Lower back region of the spine
- Sacrum – Region of the spine below the lumbar
- Coccyx – Bottom/tailbone region of the spine
- Arthritis of the spine (degenerative arthritis of the spine)
- Back pain and neck pain
- Degenerative disc disease, spondylosis
- Disc herniation (including bulging, protruding and extrusions)
- Fractures of the spine (including compression fractures)
- Infections of the spine
- Neurogenic claudication, spinal stenosis (narrowing of the nerve canal)
- Sciatica, radiculopathy (pinched nerve)
- Scoliosis, lordosis, kyphosis and spine deformity (abnormal curves of the spine)
- Spine instability and trauma
- Spondylolysis and spondylolisthesis (slipped vertebrae)
- Sports injuries
- Sprains and strains (soft tissue pain)
- Tumors and cysts of the spine
Our spine specialists
Your care team at UW Medicine may include one or a variety of specialists, such as:
- Nonsurgical doctors (sports medicine or physical medicine and rehabilitation doctors)
- Primary care doctors
- Physical and occupational therapists
- Pain management specialists
- Radiologists
- Rehabilitation psychologists
- Spine surgeons
Your dedicated care team will help you return to activities you love. Rely on us to work together to ensure your care is effective and your experience feels seamless, even as your needs may change.
Featured spine doctors
Lyndsey Booker, MD
Christoph P. Hofstetter, MD
Dr. Hofstetter specializes in complex spine surgery with an emphasis on minimally invasive techniques and a focus on degenerative spinal disorders and spinal oncology.
Richard J. Bransford, MD
As a skilled spine surgeon, Dr. Bransford is committed to helping each and every patient understand their condition, expected outcome and prognosis.
See all spine doctors
Nonsurgical spine treatments
Most back and neck problems can be treated without surgery. Our physiatrists (physical medicine and rehabilitation doctors) will suggest the least invasive options first and encourage you to take an active role in your recovery. Just as professional sports teams rely on our doctors to keep them in the game, you can trust the team at UW Medicine to help you return to activities you love as quickly and safely as possible.
Your treatment plan may include therapies such as:
- Physical therapy
- Prescribed exercise programs
- Medications
- Pain coping strategies
- Acupuncture or other holistic therapies
- Spine injections
Nonsurgical spine care to restore your back
Surgical spine treatments
When nonsurgical therapies cannot relieve your pain, UW Medicine also offers surgical treatments from a team of expert spine surgeons. We have advanced training and experience in procedures that range from minimally invasive spine surgery, including endoscopic spine surgery, to complex surgeries and fusions of all types.
We have advanced training and experience in procedures including:
- minimally invasive surgery
- fusions of all types
- complex surgeries
Our surgeons are here to help throughout your treatment and beyond.
Explore spine surgery options
Featured spine clinic locations near you
Spine Center at Harborview
Ninth & Jefferson Building, 908 Jefferson St., Seattle, WA 98104
Medical Specialty
Spine Care
Hours Today
Appointments
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