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When Do I Need to See a Neurosurgeon Near Me?

Feb 01, 2021
When Do I Need to See a Neurosurgeon Near Me?
Neurosurgeons are specialists who treat brain, spine, spinal cord and nervous system injuries and diseases.

Neurosurgeons are specialists who treat brain, spine, spinal cord and nervous system injuries and diseases. While many people believe neurosurgeons are only called in to perform complex brain and spinal cord surgeries, the reality is that neurosurgeons spend more time treating common conditions like back pain, persistent headaches and sciatica.

If you’re living with pain, you may be wondering: when is it time to see a neurosurgeon near me? Keep reading to learn signs and symptoms that indicate a neurological problem, and common conditions that neurosurgeons treat.

COMMON SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

You can see a neurosurgeon even if you don’t need surgery or have a life-threatening spinal cord or brain injury. Neurosurgeons treat all kinds of diseases and injuries that affect the nervous system, including many conditions that don’t require surgery. Your doctor will begin by prescribing the least invasive treatment options available, then move on to surgery if necessary. 

You may benefit from a neurosurgical evaluation if you’re experiencing the following:

  • Abnormal pain, numbness and/or weakness in the arms or legs
  • Atypical or persistent headaches
  • Severe neck or back pain
  • Chronic neck or back pain
  • Loss of balance and coordination
  • Movement difficulties — tremors, uncontrollable body movements, clumsiness
  • Seizures

Some people choose to make an appointment with a neurosurgeon directly if they’re experiencing the symptoms listed above. In other cases, you may see your primary care physician or another specialist first, who will refer you to a neurosurgeon for further evaluation. If you’ve been in a car accident and you have a personal injury attorney, your lawyer may refer you to a neurosurgeon for evaluation and treatment, especially if you have a head injury or back pain.

COMMON CONDITIONS

As we’ve mentioned, neurosurgeons diagnose and treat a range of neurologic diseases. All too often, people believe that neurosurgeons spend their days performing complex brain and spinal cord surgeries, but in truth many neurosurgeons spend more time evaluating and treating spine conditions like low back pain, herniated discs, and pinched nerves.

Neurosurgeons are experts at diagnosing, treating and managing the following conditions:

  • Chronic pain
  • Sciatica
  • Neck and back pain
  • Spine disorders — herniated disc, spinal stenosis, degenerative disc disease
  • Spinal deformities
  • Pinched nerves
  • Migraines and chronic headaches
  • Neurovascular disorders — stroke, aneurysm, brain hemorrhage
  • Neuropathy
  • Head injuries — concussion, traumatic brain injury (TBI)
  • Spine and skull fractures
  • Tumors
  • Seizures
  • Movement disorders — Huntington’s disease, Parkinson’s disease
  • Multiple sclerosis

Surgery is typically the final treatment option. Your neurosurgeon will begin by creating a treatment plan with non-surgical methods like medications, therapy, injections, interventional pain procedures, and lifestyle changes. If non-surgical treatment isn’t effective at relieving your pain, your doctor will walk you through your surgical options. 

Neurosurgical procedures today are far more advanced and precise than procedures of the past. New minimally invasive techniques allow surgeons to use precise tools and cameras to perform less invasive surgeries that require smaller incisions, cause less soft tissue damage, and have a lower risk of infection. Minimally invasive procedures have a faster recovery and rehabilitation process, enabling patients to return to work and normal activities sooner.

MEET DR. DANIEL R. SPURRIER, NEUROSURGEON

Integrity Spine and Orthopedics is pleased to announce that Daniel R. Spurrier, M.D., is seeing patients in our Jacksonville, FL clinic. Dr. Spurrier is a board-certified and fellowship-trained neurosurgeon with nearly four decades of experience in the field. He specializes in general neurosurgery, cerebrovascular surgery and minimally invasive endoscopic spine surgery.

Dr. Spurrier is skilled in helping patients find relief from acute and chronic pain conditions. He takes a tailored treatment approach to each patient and aims to find results using the most conservative, least invasive means possible. He likes to help people get better using the simplest methods — whether that’s medications, injections, physical therapy, or surgery, if needed. 

We’re thrilled that Dr. Spurrier has brought his vast experience and love of helping people to Integrity Spine and Orthopedics. Like all our providers, Dr. Spurrier aims to deliver first-rate patient treatment using the highest standards of care.

WHERE CAN I FIND A NEUROSURGEON NEAR ME?

At Integrity Spine and Orthopedics, our team of board-certified surgeons specialize in identifying, diagnosing and treating a wide range of acute and chronic diseases, orthopedic injuries and neurologic diseases. We provide comprehensive, minimally invasive care to patients in Northeast Florida in our Jacksonville clinic. 

Don’t let pain slow you down for too long. Schedule an appointment with us by calling or filling out an online form