Expert Back Pain Care Serving Freehold, NJ
Freehold sits where Route 9 and Route 33 meet in the heart of Monmouth County — a busy corridor of commuters, retail and warehouse workers, and longtime residents, many of whom eventually need a back pain doctor in Freehold, NJ when pain starts interfering with work or daily routines. Dr. Alok Sharan, MD, MHCDS, treats these patients at The Spine and Performance Institute in Edison, roughly a 30-minute drive from Freehold. Dr. Sharan is a board-certified, fellowship-trained spine surgeon who examines each patient carefully before ever discussing surgery. For the large majority of patients coming from Freehold, the first step is non-surgical care — surgery is only brought up once conservative treatment has been tried and imaging clearly supports it.
Years Experience
Why Freehold Patients Choose Dr. Sharan for Back Pain
One of the pioneers of awake spinal fusion surgery in the United States
Board-certified by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery
Fellowship-trained at NYU Hospital for Joint Diseases
Rated 5.0 stars across 201 Google reviews from patients
Named a Castle Connolly Top Doctor and NY Magazine Best Doctor
Author of more than 100 peer-reviewed published studies
Deputy Editor of the peer-reviewed journal Clinical Spine Surgery
More than 20 years of experience treating spine conditions
Dr. Alok Sharan — Back Pain Specialist Serving Freehold and Monmouth County
Patients from Freehold, Manalapan, Marlboro, and Howell no longer have to drive into New York City or Philadelphia to see a fellowship-trained spine surgeon. Dr. Sharan trained at NYU Hospital for Joint Diseases and is board-certified by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery. He has been named a Castle Connolly Top Doctor and NY Magazine Best Doctor, and has published more than 100 peer-reviewed studies as Deputy Editor of Clinical Spine Surgery. That combination of academic rigor and surgical volume is why Freehold patients travel to Edison rather than settling for a generalist closer to home.
Dr. Sharan’s approach starts conservative: physical therapy, activity changes, and targeted injections come first, and most Freehold patients never need an operation. When surgery is genuinely the right answer, Dr. Sharan is among the pioneers of awake spinal fusion in the United States — a technique using regional anesthesia instead of general anesthesia, which matters for Monmouth County patients who want to get back to work or their own bed quickly, without the grogginess and extended hospital stay traditional fusion often requires.
Common Causes of Back Pain Treated for Freehold Patients
Much of the back pain Dr. Sharan sees from Freehold traces to two patterns: long stretches of sitting — a commute on Route 9 or Route 33, or a desk job — and years of physical strain from retail, warehouse, or manual labor common around the Freehold Raceway Mall corridor. Degenerative disc disease and sciatica tend to show up in patients who’ve spent decades on their feet or behind a wheel, while herniated discs and pinched nerves are frequently behind sudden, sharp pain that radiates into the leg or arm. Older Freehold residents more often present with spinal stenosis, where narrowing around the spinal cord or nerve roots causes numbness, weakness, or pain that worsens with standing or walking. Dr. Sharan evaluates the specific source of each patient’s pain with a hands-on exam and imaging review before recommending treatment.
Back Pain Conditions We Treat
Back Pain Treatment Options for Freehold Residents
Most Freehold patients start with treatment that doesn’t involve an operating room at all, and Dr. Sharan builds a plan around what’s actually driving the pain rather than a one-size-fits-all protocol. Depending on the diagnosis, that plan may include:
Physical therapy focused on core stability and posture
Targeted epidural steroid injections for nerve-related pain
Minimally invasive spine surgery when conservative care isn’t enough
Laminectomy and discectomy to relieve nerve compression
Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) for neck-related nerve pain
Lumbar spine surgery for lower back conditions
Lumbar fusion, including awake spinal fusion, for select cases
When Is Back Surgery Necessary?
Surgery is never Dr. Sharan’s default recommendation. It becomes a reasonable option only when a Freehold patient’s situation meets certain criteria, generally including:
Pain that hasn’t improved after several months of physical therapy and injections
Progressive leg or arm weakness that’s getting worse over time
Numbness or loss of coordination affecting daily activities
Imaging (MRI or CT) that clearly matches the patient’s reported symptoms
Loss of bladder or bowel control, which requires urgent evaluation
When surgery is the right call, Freehold patients can learn more about what to expect on our back surgery in Freehold, NJ page, including how awake spinal fusion compares to a traditional procedure.
Awake vs Traditional Spine Surgery
| Traditional Spine Surgery | Awake Spinal Fusion — Dr. Sharan |
|---|---|
| General anesthesia | Regional anesthesia with sedation |
| 1–3 day hospital stay | Same-day discharge in most cases |
| 6–12 week recovery | 2–4 week recovery |
| Higher complication risk | Fewer complications, less blood loss |
| Higher post-operative pain medication needs | Reduced opioid requirements after surgery |
Getting to Our Edison Office from Freehold NJ
From Freehold, the most direct route to our Edison office is Route 33 West to Route 9 North, then Route 9 North to Route 1 North toward Edison — a drive of about 30 minutes without heavy traffic. Some patients prefer taking Route 18 North to Route 1 North instead, which avoids the Route 9 traffic signals but adds a few minutes. Our office is located at 35-37 Progress St., Suite B5, Edison, NJ 08820. If you have a recent MRI or CT scan, you can upload your images ahead of your visit at app.mymedicalimages.com/fupi/awake-spinal-fusion so Dr. Sharan can review them before you arrive. To schedule, call (732) 898-3950.
Frequently Asked Questions — Back Pain Doctor Freehold NJ
How long does it take to get from Freehold to Dr. Sharan’s Edison office?
The drive is typically about 30 minutes via Route 33 West to Route 9 North to Route 1 North. Route 18 North to Route 1 North is a common alternate route that some patients prefer.
I sit for long periods at work or during my commute — could that be causing my back pain?
Prolonged sitting can contribute to back pain, particularly disc-related issues and muscle stiffness. It’s a common pattern in patients who commute along Route 9 or Route 33, or who work desk jobs. An exam can determine whether your pain is coming from a disc, a nerve, or muscular strain.
What is awake spinal fusion, and why does Dr. Sharan use it instead of traditional surgery?
Awake spinal fusion uses regional anesthesia with sedation instead of general anesthesia, typically resulting in same-day discharge, a shorter recovery, and fewer complications compared to a traditional fusion. Dr. Sharan is recognized as one of the pioneers of this technique in the United States.
My MRI shows a herniated disc — does that automatically mean I need surgery?
Not necessarily. Many herniated discs improve with physical therapy, activity modification, and injections, and many patients never need surgery. Dr. Sharan reviews imaging alongside symptoms and exam findings before discussing surgery as an option.
How do I get my MRI or medical records to Dr. Sharan before my appointment?
You can upload MRI or CT images directly at app.mymedicalimages.com/fupi/awake-spinal-fusion ahead of your visit, allowing Dr. Sharan to review your imaging before you arrive at the Edison office.
Dial 732-898-3950 now to schedule a consultation and learn more about how we can help change your life.
Dr. Sharan also treats back pain patients from nearby Manalapan, Marlboro, and Howell. If you’re dealing with pain that hasn’t responded to rest or over-the-counter treatment, or if you’ve already been told surgery may be an option, visit our spine surgery in Freehold, NJ page or call (732) 898-3950 to schedule a consultation with Dr. Sharan at The Spine and Performance Institute in Edison.
