When considering a neurosurgeon, many automatically associate the title with a surgeon that operates on the brain. While this is true, neurosurgeons attend to the entirety of the nervous system, which starts in the brain, travels town the spine, and branches outward toward the rest of the body. This means that these neurosurgeons treat leg pain, neck pain, back pain, degenerative disc disease, sciatica, herniated discs, and more.
Oftentimes, when you feel pain, it travels from the nervous system. This also means that the area where you feel pain may not be the source. For example, pain in the hands that resembles a condition such as carpal tunnel may actually be from a cervical spinal issue. Therefore, if your hand hurts, you may need to see a neurosurgeon, even though it may seem like the pain is not from their area of expertise. If you have not been referred to neurosurgeon and have pain that is not responding to treatment, a neurosurgeon may be the key to finding you relief.
A neurosurgeon is an ideal doctor to see for back and neck pain. Not only are they highly skilled and knowledgeable about treating conservatively, their surgical procedures and technologies are more advanced than ever. This allows them to consistently perform all types of spine procedures, including minimally invasive surgery to reconstruction of the back.
While a neurosurgeon is capable and excels at performing extremely complex surgeries, they can also help you when more conservative options are needed for your neck or back pain. A neurosurgeon will have a progressive plan to diagnose and treat your condition without surgery. Certain conditions, for example, can be effectively treated by utilizing physical therapy and anti-inflammatory drugs. Whether it is chronic pain, trauma, or a degenerative issue, a neurosurgeon can identify and treat all conditions of the complex nervous system. They work with their patients to determine the ideal treatment options for the diagnosed condition and strive to achieve the best possible outcome.