When Should I See a Neurosurgeon?

What does a neurosurgeon do?
Is there a difference between a neurologist and a neurosurgeon?
When should I see a neurosurgeon?

Typically, patients seek care from a neurosurgeon if they’re experiencing severe illness or pain. Some of the most common signs you should seek care from a neurosurgeon include:

Chronic back or neck pain
Dizziness or issues with balance
Numbness or pain that is atypical
Sudden vision loss
Trouble sleeping
Unusual headaches or migraines
Weakness

This article will help you understand the role of a neurosurgeon in treating these health conditions and how Orlando Neurosurgery can help.

What Does a Neurosurgeon Do?

when should i see a neurosurgeon

Neurosurgery is the medical specialty focused on the diagnosis and surgical or non-surgical treatment of disorders affecting the body’s nervous system. Neurosurgeons are an elite team of doctors. They put in up to seven or more additional years of extensive studies, clinical work, and credentialing after medical school to become qualified to treat these delicate mechanisms in the body.

Simply put, a neurosurgeon specializes in caring for the body’s nervous system. The nervous system is made up of the brain, spinal cord, cerebrovascular system, and peripheral nervous system. Neurosurgeons use complex technology tools such as an EEG, MRI, and CT scan to diagnose neurological conditions. They also use the most advanced surgical techniques and innovative medications and therapies to help treat these conditions.

While many people think of neurosurgeons as just caring for the brain, they do a lot more to care for your spine and the entire nervous system than you might realize. When you consider the nervous system starts with the brain and runs down the spine, then branches to all other parts of the body, you start to get a real sense of how complex the job of neurosurgery really is.

Is There a Difference Between a Neurologist and a Neurosurgeon?

The biggest difference between a neurologist and a neurosurgeon is that the neurologist does not perform surgery. To put it another way, a neurologist is a medical doctor that provides specialized treatment up to the point of surgery, where the neurosurgeon steps in.

A neurologist and a neurosurgeon will both treat patients with health issues located in the nervous system. The neurologist often works hand-in-hand with a neurosurgeon on a clinical case. However, a neurologist is focused on the evaluation, diagnosis, and non-surgical treatment of their patients.

The typical neurological conditions that a neurologist may treat include:

Alzheimer’s disease
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
Epilepsy
Headaches
Multiple sclerosis (MS)
Peripheral nerve disorders

A neurosurgeon can diagnose conditions and generally support their patients outside of a surgery setting. Neurosurgeons are often requested to consult with general practitioners, emergency room doctors, and internists, in addition to neurologists. Neurosurgeons are trained to treat the conditions that a neurologist would treat, plus a number of conditions that typically require surgery, including:

Aneurysms
Birth defects
Blocked arteries
Brain and spine trauma
Chronic low-back pain
Tumors

Most neurosurgeons specialize in one or two areas of their practice. For example, some neurosurgeons may focus on particular types of brain tumors or in repair of the spinal column. All of the neurosurgeons at Orlando Neurosurgery are intensively trained, board-certified, experienced professionals with their own particular areas of focus.

Seeing a neurosurgeon doesn’t have to involve your brain or spine, though. In fact, the majority of neurosurgery cases treat back, neck, and leg pain. A neurosurgeon can treat many debilitating conditions such as: