It’s important to see our neurologist near Stony Brook to determine if there is a neurological cause to your back pain. In addition, and apart from therapies advised by your primary care provider, interventional pain management specialists are trained and licensed to treat back and leg pain. They may advise epidural steroid injections, piriformis tendon injections in the buttocks, plus exercise and rest. Pediatricians provide diagnosis and treatment for a range of childhood health problems including back pain and injuries.
When a spinal injury or condition causes you pain it is important to determine the cause of the pain. If the pain is primarily due to bones or muscles then an orthopedic doctor may be a good option. An orthopedic doctor may assess a fracture or muscle tear that is causing you pain and help develop a treatment plan that manages that pain and helps to avoid chronic pain going forward.
While an orthopedic doctor may work with injuries like broken bones, a neurologist is more likely to treat spinal injuries that may require surgery. In fact, only neurologists have the skill and ability to perform surgery in specific areas of the spine like the dura. Not every patient of neurology in San Antonio will require surgery, but neurologists have specific treatment techniques and options to try before resorting to a more serious surgical option. If low back pain worsens or does not improve after two to three weeks of home treatment, contact the primary care physician. The physician can evaluate and perform an in-office neurologic exam to determine which nerve root is being irritated and to rule out other serious medical conditions. If the physician notes clear signs that the nerve root is being compressed, he/she can prescribe medications to relieve the pain, swelling and irritation.
Even if you have seen a spinal surgeon, it can be beneficial to see a neurologist as well to make sure that you have exhausted more conservative treatment options before jumping into surgery. Neurosurgeons are trained to treat people with trauma to the brain and spine, aneurysms, blocked arteries, chronic low-back pain, birth defects, tumors in the brain and spinal cord, and peripheral nerve spinal injury neurology expert witness issues. Neurosurgeons also perform surgeries for carpal tunnel syndrome, brain and spinal tumor removal surgery, and spinal surgery. They also treat conditions not requiring surgery like Parkinson’s disease or low-back pain, according to the Oregon Health & Science University. A neurologist treats diseases and conditions of the brain and nervous system, but they do not perform surgery.
This can include a physiatrist, chiropractor, physical therapist, or orthopaedic physician assistant. They can evaluate your condition and offer appropriate treatment to help alleviate your pain. Depending on your circumstances, they might also refer you to another type of back specialist — for example, a pain management specialist or spine surgeon. However, according to the American Association of Neurological Surgeons , they typically spend a lot more time on spine conditions and procedures than brain conditions and procedures. Common conditions neurosurgeons treat are back pain, neck pain, sciatica, herniated disks, degenerative diseases of the spine, cerebrovascular disorders, brain and spinal tumors, and stroke. For example, carpal tunnel symptoms are sometimes related to a problem in your cervical spine .
If you are trying to get diagnosed for a medical condition, it’s important to understand what type of specialist to see and when. A neurosurgeon and a neurologist both specialize in the treatment of medical problems affecting the central nervous system. The central nervous system controls most of the functions of the body and mind, consisting of the brain and spinal cord. An orthopedic doctor is a medical doctor or doctor of osteopathy who specializes in injuries to the musculoskeletal system. Injuries to the musculoskeletal system include the bones, joints, and muscles in your neck, back, and your spine.
Every back pain and neck pain patient is unique, with different degrees of problems associated with a bone or disc abnormality. Some are trained in Neuroimaging, and can go over your imaging studies, like X-Rays and MRI’s with you. In addition, they look at your “electrical system” byusing EMG testing to assess the injury to nerves,and whether that injury is reversible in the short and long term. Nowadays, there are a variety of medical professionals available to diagnose and treat a range of medical conditions.
Stacked on top of one another are more than 30 bones, called vertebrae that form the spinal column. Each of these bones contains a round-shaped hole that when stacked on top of one another, creates a channel that surrounds the spinal cord. The cord descends from the base of the brain and extends to just below the rib cage. Small nerve roots enter and emerge from the spinal cord through spaces between the vertebrae.
Generally speaking, you should see a medical healthcare provider for back pain you know to be due to osteoarthritis or a herniated disc, or if you have a spinal abnormality. A chiropractor may be fine for lumbar pain, sciatica, and old sports injuries affecting the back. A neurologist does not perform spine surgery; instead, they will examine how well your nerves function, prescribe medication, and refer you to on to another specialist, as appropriate.
Since the spinal column and lower back are connected to highly sensitive nerves, neurological conditions can easily arise in the lower back. These conditions, such as pinched nerves, slipped discs, and spinal stenosis can all be caused by injury or excessive pressure being put on the nerves over time. Pain in the lower back can also be caused by underlying neurological disorders that require diagnostic testing in order to be determined.