EAST PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — A relatively new procedure at Southcoast Health could be life-changing for patients experiencing chronic back pain.

According to the National Institutes of Health, back pain is the leading cause of morbidity and disability in the United States. An estimated 30 million Americans receive medical treatment for back pain each year.

In the latest edition of 12 Health, anchor Shannon Hegy spoke with neurosurgeon Dr. Richard Dowd and orthopedic surgeon Dr. Arthur Manoli, who work together at Southcoast Health to diagnose what's causing a patient's pain and then fix it.

This minimally invasive endoscopic surgery has been offered at Southcoast Health for about a year. The patient is in and out in the same day, and often times, anesthesia isn't even necessary. The d

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