Back Pain Doctor Howell NJ — Dr. Alok Sharan, MD

Dr. Alok Sharan — Back Pain Specialist Serving Howell and Monmouth County

Howell residents who need a spine evaluation have historically faced a choice between a long drive to Manhattan or Philadelphia and settling for a generalist closer to home. Dr. Sharan brings that same level of subspecialty training — board certification through the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery and fellowship training at NYU Hospital for Joint Diseases — to a practice just north of Monmouth County. He has authored more than 100 peer-reviewed studies, serves as Deputy Editor of the journal Clinical Spine Surgery, and has been recognized as a Castle Connolly Top Doctor, credentials that reflect two decades spent focused specifically on the spine rather than general orthopedics.

What distinguishes his approach for patients traveling in from Howell and the rest of Monmouth County is a conservative-first philosophy paired, when surgery genuinely is needed, with awake spinal fusion — a technique Dr. Sharan helped pioneer in the U.S. Because it uses regional anesthesia with sedation instead of general anesthesia, many patients go home the same day and return to normal activity in roughly two to four weeks rather than six to twelve, which matters for anyone weighing recovery time against a commute back and forth to Howell for follow-up visits.

Common Causes of Back Pain Treated for Howell Patients

Patients coming from Howell to our Edison office present with back pain for a wide range of reasons, but a few patterns show up often. Sciatica with pain radiating down one leg is common, frequently traced back to a herniated disc pressing on a nerve root. Spinal stenosis, a narrowing of the space around the spinal cord, tends to show up in older patients as leg fatigue or pain that eases when leaning forward. Degenerative disc disease, where the discs between vertebrae wear down over years, is another frequent culprit, along with pinched nerves, scoliosis, and chronic lower back pain that has not responded to rest or over-the-counter treatment. Each of these has a distinct cause and a distinct treatment path, which is why an accurate diagnosis comes before any discussion of what to do next.

Back Pain Treatment Options for Howell Residents

Most patients from Howell start with the least invasive option that fits their diagnosis, and treatment only escalates when it needs to. Options Dr. Sharan discusses with patients include:

Targeted physical therapy and structured exercise programs

Image-guided epidural steroid or nerve block injections

Minimally invasive spine surgery when conservative care has plateaued

Laminectomy and discectomy to relieve nerve compression

Lumbar fusion for instability or advanced degeneration

Lumbar spine surgery options tailored to the specific diagnosis

ACDF for cervical disc problems causing arm or neck symptoms

When Is Back Surgery Necessary?

Surgery is never the first recommendation for Howell patients — it is considered only after conservative treatment has been given a real chance to work, and only when specific signs point to it. Dr. Sharan typically discusses surgical options when:

Pain has persisted for several months despite physical therapy, injections, or medication

Imaging shows a clear structural cause, such as a herniated disc or significant stenosis

Leg or arm weakness is progressing, not just pain

Numbness or loss of coordination is beginning to interfere with daily function

Bladder or bowel control is affected, which warrants urgent evaluation

If surgery does become the right path, Dr. Sharan walks Howell patients through exactly what the procedure involves, what recovery looks like, and why an awake, minimally invasive approach may shorten that recovery. More detail on his surgical approach is available on our Howell spine surgery page.

Awake vs Traditional Spine Surgery

Getting to Our Edison Office from Howell NJ

From most parts of Howell, the simplest route to our office is Route 9 North, continuing onto Route 18 North and then Route 1 North into Edison — a drive of about 35 to 40 minutes outside of peak traffic. Patients coming from the eastern side of Howell near Route 33 or I-195 sometimes prefer taking I-195 West and connecting to Route 9 North before following the same path up Route 18 and Route 1. Once in Edison, our office is at 35-37 Progress St., Suite B5, Edison, NJ 08820. If you already have MRI or X-ray imaging, you can upload it ahead of your visit at app.mymedicalimages.com/fupi/awake-spinal-fusion so Dr. Sharan can review it before you arrive. To schedule, call (732) 898-3950.

Frequently Asked Questions — Back Pain Doctor Howell NJ

How far is The Spine and Performance Institute from Howell, NJ?

Our office in Edison is roughly 35 to 40 minutes from Howell via Route 9 North to Route 18 North and Route 1 North, though travel time varies with traffic around Freehold and East Brunswick.

Will I need surgery for my back pain?

Most Howell patients do not. Dr. Sharan starts with a thorough evaluation and typically recommends physical therapy, injections, or other conservative measures first, reserving surgery for cases where imaging and symptoms clearly point to a structural problem that hasn’t responded to non-surgical care.

What makes awake spinal fusion different from a traditional fusion?

Awake spinal fusion uses regional anesthesia with sedation instead of general anesthesia, which typically allows for same-day discharge, less blood loss, and a recovery window of about two to four weeks instead of the six to twelve weeks common with traditional fusion surgery.

Do I need a referral to see Dr. Sharan?

You can contact our office directly to schedule a consultation. If you already have recent imaging, uploading it beforehand through our secure portal can help make your first visit more productive.

My leg pain is worse than my back pain — is that still something Dr. Sharan treats?

Yes. Radiating leg pain, often from sciatica or spinal stenosis, is one of the most common reasons Howell patients schedule a consultation, and it is frequently more responsive to treatment than back pain alone once the underlying nerve issue is identified.