Spinal care for New Jersey Athletes
When back or neck pain takes you out of training or competition, you need a spine specialist who understands the difference between getting out of pain and getting back to performance, and who can build a treatment plan around your sport and your season.
Why sport is hard on your spine
Sport asks things of the spine that everyday life never does, and that is where the trouble starts.
Heavy lifting and explosive movements drive load straight through the lower back. Rotational sports like golf, tennis, and baseball twist it under speed, over and over.
Extension-heavy sports, from gymnastics to throwing, repeatedly arch the lower back and stress the small bones and joints.
Collision sports add direct impact on top of all of it.
Built around your sport
Treatment planned around your season
Treating an athlete is a different problem than treating someone who just wants the pain to stop. The target is performance, the specific loads and movements your sport demands, not simply walking without discomfort.
We build the plan around your sport, your position, and your point in the season. When symptoms can be managed conservatively, we protect as much training time as possible while the spine settles.
When surgery is the right call, timing matters as much as the procedure, and we weigh it against your season and the movements you have to get back to.
Why Athletes in NJ choose the Jey Institute
Returning to sport is a higher and more specific goal than returning to daily life, and the plan has to be built for it.
We start from the movements and loads your sport requires and work backward into the treatment that gets you there.
That usually means conservative care first to preserve training time, techniques that protect long-term mobility when surgery is needed, and close coordination with the trainers, therapists, and coaches already in your corner.
Here’s how we help athletes plan spine treatment:
- Deep experience with sport-specific spine injuries
- Treatment planning that accounts for your sport, position, and season
- Conservative-first approach to preserve training time when possible
- Minimally invasive techniques that protect long-term mobility
- Coordination with athletic trainers, physical therapists, and performance coaches
- Clear, sport-specific return-to-play timelines
You might not need surgery
An injury that sidelines you does not automatically call for surgery, even when it is keeping you out of your sport. Most athletes improve with care that never involves an operation, especially when the problem is caught early.
The first step is identifying what is driving the symptoms, whether it is a muscle, a joint, a disc, a stress reaction in the bone, or a nerve under pressure.
Once that is clear, treatment can target it directly. Sport-specific physical therapy, activity changes, injections, and pain management resolve most cases.
Surgery becomes a real option when symptoms persist despite good conservative care, when they are getting worse, or when imaging shows a problem a procedure can address.
When that point comes, we favor motion-sparing options that protect the range you need to perform.
Most common conditions experienced by Athletes
Cervical Radiculopathy
Learn about cervical radiculopathy treatment in New Jersey for neck pain, arm pain, numbness, and other nerve-related symptoms.
Spinal Fracture
The Jey Institute provides personalized spinal fracture treatment in New Jersey, from bracing and minimally invasive kyphoplasty to surgical stabilization for unstable injuries.
Disc Herniation
Learn about disc herniation symptoms, causes, diagnosis, and minimally invasive treatment options in New Jersey at The Jey Institute.
Comprehensive spinal health management
Spinal Surgery
Physical Therapy
Pain Management
Non-invasive procedures
Get back in the game faster than you'd think
Most athletes overestimate how long a spine injury will keep them out, and underestimate how fully they can come back. The picture has changed.
Minimally invasive techniques paired with structured, sport-specific rehab have shortened the path back to real performance, not just pain relief.
The majority of athletes who need treatment return to their sport, and many reach the level they competed at before.
Timelines depend on the injury, the procedure, and the sport, but for many the return is measured in a few months of focused work.
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92%
Of athletes return to their pre-injury sport
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12 weeks
Avg. return to full training after surgery
After years of debilitating sciatica, I finally feel like myself again. Dr. Jey’s approach was conservative first, and when surgery was needed – the result was transformative.
Frequently asked questions from Athletes
Will I lose strength, mobility, or rotational range?
Because of the unique movements athletes depend on, we give preference to motion-sparing surgeries, including disc replacement, to help minimize any loss of mobility after surgery.
Can I recover with conservative care, and how do you decide?
We always try conservative care first when it is safe. If that does not work, we consider minimally invasive surgical options. The majority of athletes improve with conservative care.
How long until I can compete again?
It depends on your sport and how you play it. Professional athletes in seasonal sports typically return the following season. If you play casually, you might need around six months off, then return to your sport while slowly increasing intensity over the following months.
Should I have surgery now or wait until the offseason?
It depends on the underlying condition and the severity of your symptoms.
Will I be able to return to my sport at the same level?
Many athletes do return to play, often at levels similar to before their injury.
Real reviews from our past patients
“Dr. J was attentive, listened to me and showed that he truly cared about my problems. He explained in details and offered me expert opinions. I love that he treats patients as individual and truly listens.”
Bernice
“After being unhappy with my spine surgeon, I found Dr. J. He explained exactly what was wrong with me, made a game plan, and had his team help out in scheduling. Once he found where the problem was, he got me scheduled, did excellent work, and I was home in a couple days. The scar is WAY SMALLER than my original surgery, which wasn’t even as big! He really is a minimally invasive expert and my recovery was way faster!”
Eddie
“I’ve had 5 different operations on my back in the last decade. Dr. J did number 6. His scar was the smallest, least amount of pain, and for the first time after any surgery I went home the same day. Maybe I’m just getting used to surgery lol!”
Steve W.
“No doubt in my mind Dr. Jeyamohan saved my life.”
Steven C.
“Thank You from the bottom of my heart for getting my active lifestyle back- I’m so happy with the outcome- thank u for being honest about the pain I would experience in the first month of recovery- your bedside manner in the hospital was excellent – your PA Andrea was amazing as well- I would recommend Evergreen Health to everyone and my team of docs was super- Thank U Dr J, Dr Nora, and Dr Ting!! Feels amazing to be standing tall with great posture everyday I’m getting stronger”
Michelle G.
“Kind and thorough. Top quality and felt safe throughout.”
Verified Patient
“Took the time to explain my pictures and what was wrong with me, and gave me many different options. Answered every single one of my questions and even a few over the phone. Went home the same day and on my way to a full recovery! Office is clean, bright, and everyone was super friendly and helpful! Andrea his assistant has been a treasure!”
Verified Patient
“Incredibly thorough, took his time to explain and answer all my questions. Gave me plenty of options. I probably visited with him three or four times before committing to surgery, never once did he rush me. Saw me every day in the hospital, walked with me. I’m so thankful I had the surgery with him. I saw two other spine surgeons who didn’t even want to take on such a complicated operation but Dr. J did incredible work and I’m back to walking on my own! I don’t even need a cane anymore”
Verified Patient
“First, the office was not good. Getting an appointment, scheduling, paperwork, was a nightmare. But once I got in to see Dr. J, it was smooth sailing! He got me the tests I needed, talked to me about treatment options, and helped me set up an injection. We talked about different surgeries, got me scheduled, did great work, and made sure I had follow-up appointments. I’m back to the farm ahead of schedule and back to work. If only I could have got in to see him sooner.”
Verified Patient
“I have to be honest here and own up. I saw three different spine surgeons and was worried “Dr. Jey” as everyone calls him was too young. I went with someone else who fused three levels in my back. I did horribly with lots of complications. After getting over all my issues, I swallowed my pride and went back to Dr. Jey. He never made me feel bad and graciously took a look at everything, ordered more tests, and showed me what was going on. Bad news, he says he couldn’t undo the fusion. Worse news, it’s now an even bigger operation to fix, and he was honest and said the best we can do is try to get me…”
Verified Patient
“My experience was excellent. Dr J is very knowledgeable explained everything in a simplified way that made me very comfortable. His staff went above and beyond answer any question I had No matter what the question was. I can’t thank Dr J and his staff enough For helping me get through this spine Injury.”
Jim D.
“I am a 45 year old male who led an active lifestyle when a back injury changed my life. I went from working and being active with my 4 children to suddenly I couldn’t make any movement without excruciating pain. The type of pain I can’t even explain in words. I went to see Dr. Jeyamohan on the referral of my sister who is a physician as well. When I walked into the office the team had already looked at my MRI and explained to me in honest terms that we had an emergency situation on our hands and that delaying surgery was simply not an option. Dr. Jeyamohan Made calls and got me scheduled for emergency back surgery right…”
Eric F.