35-37 Progress St., Suite B5, Edison, NJ 08820

Spine Doctor Highlands NJ — Dr. Alok Sharan, MD

Expert Spine Care Serving Highlands, NJ

If you are searching for a spine doctor in Highlands, NJ, look no further than The Spine and Performance Institute — located approximately 35 minutes away in Edison. Dr. Alok Sharan, MD, MHCDS, is a board-certified orthopedic spine surgeon and pioneer of the awake spinal fusion technique, offering advanced spine care near Highlands without general anesthesia. Patients from Highlands and across Monmouth County choose Dr. Sharan for his minimally invasive approach, same-day discharge, and faster recovery. Our office is located at 35-37 Progress St., Suite B5, Edison, NJ 08820 — easily accessible via the Garden State Parkway.

Spine doctor serving Highlands NJ patients

20+

Years Experience

Awake Spinal Fusion Edison NJ near Highlands

Why Highlands Patients Choose Dr. Sharan

Approximately 35 minutes from Highlands via the Garden State Parkway

No general anesthesia — awake surgery with regional anesthesia only

Same-day discharge in most cases

Recovery in 2–4 weeks vs. 6–12 weeks with traditional surgery

Castle Connolly Top Doctor & NY Magazine Best Doctor

201 five-star Google reviews — 5.0 rating

100+ peer-reviewed published studies

Fellowship-trained at NYU Hospital for Joint Diseases

Deputy Editor, Clinical Spine Surgery journal

Schedule a Consultation
(732) 898-3950

The Awake Surgery Advantage for Highlands Patients

Most spine doctors near Highlands, NJ perform surgery under general anesthesia — a method that carries real risks including cognitive side effects, prolonged nausea, extended hospital stays, and months of recovery. Dr. Sharan’s awake spinal fusion technique replaces general anesthesia with targeted regional anesthesia, so you remain comfortable throughout the procedure without those risks.

The results speak for themselves: Highlands patients treated by Dr. Sharan typically go home the same day, return to light activities within two weeks, and achieve full recovery in four to six weeks — a fraction of the three-to-six-month timeline associated with conventional spine surgery. As the surgeon who pioneered this approach and co-edited Awake Spine Surgery (Thieme, 2026), Dr. Sharan offers Highlands residents a level of expertise no local practice can match.

Spine Conditions Treated Near Highlands NJ

Dr. Sharan treats the full spectrum of spinal conditions for Highlands-area patients, starting with non-surgical options before ever recommending surgery:

Herniated Disc — nerve compression causing radiating arm or leg pain

Spinal Stenosis — canal narrowing causing pain, weakness, and difficulty walking

Sciatica — sharp, burning pain shooting from the lower back through the leg

Degenerative Disc Disease — age-related disc breakdown and chronic pain

Chronic Back Pain — persistent lumbar or thoracic pain unresponsive to therapy

Pinched Nerve — numbness, tingling, or weakness from nerve compression

Scoliosis — spinal curvature requiring monitoring or surgical correction

Spine Procedures Available to Highlands Patients

Every procedure Dr. Sharan performs is done with regional anesthesia — no general anesthesia required. Highlands patients have access to the full range of advanced spine surgery options:

Awake Lumbar Spinal Fusion — stabilizing lumbar vertebrae without general anesthesia

Laminectomy & Discectomy — removing bone or disc material pressing on spinal nerves

ACDF Surgery — cervical disc removal and fusion for neck pain and arm numbness

Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery — smaller incisions, less tissue damage, faster healing

Lumbar Spine Surgery NJ — comprehensive lower back surgical care

Non-Surgical Treatment Options First

Dr. Sharan always exhausts conservative treatment options before recommending surgery for Highlands patients. Not every spine condition requires an operation — many patients find lasting relief through a structured non-surgical plan. Options Dr. Sharan considers include physical therapy and targeted rehabilitation exercises, anti-inflammatory medications and muscle relaxants, epidural steroid injections for nerve-based pain, activity modification and ergonomic guidance, and chiropractic co-management when appropriate.

When surgery becomes necessary, Highlands patients can take comfort knowing that Dr. Sharan’s awake approach is inherently less invasive than what most spine doctors offer. Smaller incisions, regional anesthesia, and real-time patient feedback during surgery all contribute to better outcomes and fewer complications. Schedule a consultation to discuss whether surgery or a non-surgical plan is right for you.

About Dr. Alok Sharan — Serving Highlands, NJ

Dr. Alok Sharan, MD, MHCDS, is one of New Jersey’s most decorated spine surgeons and the pioneer of awake spinal fusion — a technique he developed, validated in peer-reviewed literature, and co-edited into the field’s first textbook Awake Spine Surgery (Thieme, 2026). Highlands patients benefit from his unmatched combination of clinical expertise and academic leadership:

Board-certified orthopedic spine surgeon

Fellowship-trained at NYU Hospital for Joint Diseases

Master of Health Care Delivery Science, Dartmouth College

Deputy Editor, Clinical Spine Surgery (peer-reviewed journal)

Castle Connolly Top Doctor & NY Magazine Best Doctor

100+ peer-reviewed published studies on spine surgery

20+ years of surgical experience

201 five-star Google reviews — 5.0 average rating

What to Expect: From First Visit to Recovery

For Highlands patients considering spine care, here is what a typical journey with Dr. Sharan looks like:

Consultation: Review your symptoms, imaging (MRI/X-ray), and history. Upload your MRI in advance at our secure portal to save time.

Diagnosis & Plan: Dr. Sharan explains your condition clearly and recommends the least invasive effective treatment first.

If Surgery: Procedure performed with regional anesthesia. You remain comfortable and go home the same day in most cases.

Recovery: Light activity in 2 weeks. Full recovery in 4–6 weeks — not 3–6 months like traditional surgery.

Follow-up: Close monitoring to ensure optimal healing and long-term relief.

Driving Directions from Highlands to Edison

Take Route 36 West to Garden State Parkway North, approximately 35 minutes to Edison to reach our Edison office at 35-37 Progress St., Suite B5, Edison, NJ 08820. Ample on-site parking is available. Call (732) 898-3950 to schedule your appointment.

We also serve patients from across New Jersey, including spine surgery patients from Highlands, and surrounding Monmouth County communities. No referral is required.

Frequently Asked Questions — Spine Doctor Near Highlands NJ

How far is Dr. Sharan’s office from Highlands, NJ?
Our Edison office is approximately 35 minutes from Highlands — one of the closest top-rated spine surgery centers in Monmouth County.

Does Dr. Sharan use general anesthesia for spine surgery?
No. Dr. Sharan performs all spine surgery using regional anesthesia only — no general anesthesia. This is the core of his awake spinal fusion approach and what sets him apart from nearly every other spine doctor in New Jersey.

How long is recovery from spine surgery with Dr. Sharan?
Most patients go home the same day and return to light activity within two weeks. Full recovery typically takes four to six weeks — significantly faster than the three to six months typically associated with traditional open spine surgery.

What spine conditions does Dr. Sharan treat for Highlands patients?
Dr. Sharan treats herniated discs, spinal stenosis, degenerative disc disease, sciatica, scoliosis, pinched nerves, chronic back pain, and neck conditions including cervical disc herniation and ACDF candidates.

How do I get started as a Highlands patient?
Call (732) 898-3950 or schedule a consultation online. You can also upload your MRI here to fast-track your appointment. No referral needed.

Schedule Your Consultation — Spine Doctor Serving Highlands, NJ

Highlands residents living with back pain, neck pain, or a spine condition deserve a real solution. Dr. Alok Sharan offers Highlands patients the most advanced spine care in Monmouth County — with 201 five-star Google reviews, a 5.0 rating, and a pioneering awake surgery approach that gets people back on their feet in weeks. Read what patients say or upload your MRI to fast-track your consultation.

Schedule a Consultation
(732) 898-3950

Dr. Sharan also serves patients from nearby Highlands, Atlantic Highlands, and Middletown — all within the Monmouth County spine care service area. See our New Jersey spine doctor page for a full list of communities served.