| Orthopedics is likely the first medical specialty to | | | | surgery. It's not just a doctor problem, it's a patient |
| come to mind when we think of lower back pain | | | | perception. People need to understand that if they |
| relief. The back, after all, brings to mind the spine, | | | | hurt it doesn't always mean that they need an |
| which brings to mind the bones, the muscles, joints, | | | | operation when it comes to the spine. |
| ligaments, tendons, and other components of the | | | | Neurosurgeons have extensive training in the |
| musculoskeletal system, which is the area of specialty | | | | diagnosis and treatment of patients with injury to, or |
| of the orthopedic surgeon. | | | | diseases of, the brain, spine, or peripheral nerves |
| Meanwhile, it turns out that two of the most | | | | (nerves dealing with the face, arms, legs, hands, and |
| frequently referred specialists - neurosurgeons and | | | | feet), but many specialize in or confine their practice |
| physiatrists - play a vital role. | | | | to the back. |
| Neurosurgeons | | | | Like an orthopedic surgeon, the neurosurgeon might |
| Patients with lower back pain symptoms that include | | | | be the only doctor you see after referral - or he or |
| weakness in the foot or other signs of a neurologic | | | | she might be consulted by or be part of a team |
| deficit will most often be referred to a neurosurgeon | | | | including primary care practitioners, physiatrists, and |
| or neurological surgeon, who is, in the simplest terms, | | | | others. |
| a medical specialist whose focus is on your nerves. | | | | A neurologist is yet another professional who is skilled |
| It may come as a surprise to learn that the health | | | | in the diagnosis and treatment of problems related to |
| care professionals so often thought of as brain | | | | the nervous system, but does not perform surgery. |
| surgeons more often deal with the back. Sixty | | | | The Spinal Cord and Nervous System |
| percent of the members of the American Association | | | | One of the crucial functions of the spinal column is to |
| of Neurological Surgeons (AANS), the largest | | | | protect the spinal cord, which can be thought of as |
| neurosurgical organization in North America, in fact, | | | | an extension of the brain. All the information going |
| say they are exclusively spine surgeons. And lumbar | | | | from the brain to the limbs, allowing our bodies to |
| thoracic spine problems are the most common | | | | move, goes through the spinal cord. It's been called |
| condition these medical specialists see. | | | | "the first relay station" for sensory information on its |
| The neurosurgeon is not just there to operate, but | | | | way to the different parts of the brain. Bladder |
| provides either surgical or non-surgical care, depending | | | | functions, sensory functions, and movement all |
| on the nature of the injury or illness. | | | | depend on information traveling up and down the |
| Education is the biggest thing a neurosurgeon does. | | | | spinal cord. |
| They spend a lot of our day keeping people from | | | | |