When To See A Spine Surgeon

Not all neck and arm symptoms warrant a spine surgeon's attention; however, it's important to be aware of those that do.

When most patients see a spine surgeon for the first time they have lots of questions: Will my pain last forever? What can I do to make it better? Will I need to have surgery?

In contrast, most spine surgeons are primarily concerned with the question of whether or not the cause of the neck pain can and should be corrected with surgery. In this way, spine surgeons play an important role in determining who should receive non-surgical treatment and who should consider surgery.

Since most patients with neck pain do not need surgery, a spine surgeon may not be the first doctor to start with if you are having neck or arm symptoms. However, there are a few symptoms of which you should be aware. These are your body's way of telling you to see a surgeon.

Some symptoms may indicate a problem called myelopathy, which means disease of or injury to the spinal cord. These symptoms may include the following:

• Weakness of the legs, difficulty walking and frequent falls.
• Loss of fine motor coordination (clumsiness) of the arms and hands, manifesting in the inability to hold and use an object — such as a pen or kitchen utensil — in your hand.
• Incontinence of the bladder or bowel.

Depending on your spinal condition and the type of surgery you need, you may require treatment by a neurosurgeon, orthopedic surgeon or both. A neurosurgeon is a medical doctor trained in the diagnosis and treatment of disorders of the brain, spine, spinal cord, nerves, and intracranial and intraspinal vasculature. An orthopedic surgeon is a medical doctor trained in bone, muscle, and joint surgery.

Both neurosurgeons and orthopedic surgeons specializing in spine surgery are skilled in treating such spinal conditions as disc herniation and disc degeneration, spinal stenosis, vertebral compression fractures, spondylosisthesis/spondylolisis, scoliosis, bone tumors and other spinal disorders. Neurosurgeons also are trained to perform procedures inside the dura, or lining of the spinal canal.

Neurosurgeons may be board certified through the American Board of Neurological Surgery and orthopedic surgeons may be certified through the Board of Orthopaedic Surgery, both of which are recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties.

To find a spine surgeon near you, use our Physician Locator.