Neck and back pain
Pain that isn't getting better with time, rest, or basic treatment.
Neck and back pain care →
Spine care in Meridian, Mississippi
I'm Edward Smith, M.D., a fellowship-trained orthopaedic spine surgeon. I evaluate and treat acute and chronic degenerative problems of the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine, including:
- Neck and back pain
- Radiculopathy and sciatica
- Spinal stenosis and neurogenic claudication
- Myelopathy
- Spine fractures
- Disc herniations and spondylolisthesis (slipped discs)
Care starts with non-surgical treatment when that is enough, and surgery when it is not.
Who I am
I am an orthopaedic surgeon who focuses on the spine. After medical school and orthopaedic residency at Tulane University School of Medicine, I completed an orthopaedic spine surgery fellowship with University Orthopedics at Brown University.
At Meridian Orthopaedic Specialists, our team can diagnose and treat your spine problem in one place. We offer X-rays, physical therapy, and pain management, and we perform spine injections and outpatient surgery at our ambulatory surgery center.
My goal is straightforward: relieve pain, restore mobility, and help you get back to the life you want, with care that is clear, careful, and local.
How care usually starts
Most spine problems improve without surgery. Evaluation often includes a focused exam, review of imaging when needed, and a plan that may involve physical therapy, medications, activity guidance, or injections coordinated through our team.
Surgery is considered when symptoms do not improve with conservative care, or when nerves are under enough pressure that waiting is not safe. When surgery is appropriate, we talk through why, what to expect, and how recovery typically looks.
Minimally invasive & endoscopic options
When surgery is appropriate, I offer minimally invasive options, including endoscopic spine surgery using Arthrex systems, when they fit the problem. These techniques work through smaller openings when anatomy allows. They may not be right for every patient or every diagnosis.
Patient-friendly information from Arthrex: arthrexspinepatient.com
Common reasons patients come in
Radiculopathy and sciatica
Arm or leg pain, numbness, or weakness from a pinched nerve.
Learn about sciatica care →Spinal stenosis and neurogenic claudication
Narrowing around the nerves that can cause leg pain or heaviness when you walk or stand.
Spinal stenosis care →Myelopathy
Pressure on the spinal cord that can affect balance, hand coordination, or walking.
Myelopathy care →Spine fractures
Breaks in the vertebrae from injury or weakened bone.
Spine fracture care →Disc herniations and spondylolisthesis
Disc material pressing on a nerve, or a vertebra that has slipped out of line.
Herniated disc care →Local spine care in Meridian
You should not have to travel out of town for a fellowship-trained spine opinion. I see patients in Meridian at Meridian Orthopaedic Specialists and serve patients from across east Mississippi and west Alabama. Evaluation, therapy coordination, injections, and surgical care are all available here.