Neurological or Orthopedic surgeon?

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floridaback

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I've written before. I am 54 yo and in need of surgery for spondylolisthesis. I recently injured my back and it has not healed so I had another MRI and consulted with a sports medicine doc as I wanted an objective opinion. He strongly recommended surgery. I have a "step" in my lower spine, L5, S1 and facet arthopathy with sciatic pain right leg and some nurabness in my toes at times, with chronic pain. He recommended an orthopedic surgeon, however I have also been told to use a neurological surgeon. Seeking a recommendation as to which one to consult? Or, should I consult with both prior to surgery? Thanks! Sign me, putting it off as long as possible. :dizzy:
 
I have seen both in the past, and my personal preference is to go with a fellowship-trained orthopedic spine surgeon. They only work on the spine, whereas neurosurgeons also do brain surgery, carpal tunnel surgery, etc. So an orthopedic spine surgeon I feel is more knowledgable. Other people have other opinions however.
 
I would go to a orthapetic spine surgeon specialist as well. but make sure you take all your old mri or ct scans xrays and reports they will do new xrays at the surgeons office I had my spine surgically fused l4 l5 when i fell off a young horse i was training:( it never healed right and pysical therapy did not help (in my case) and so i had l4 and l5 fused toghter with titanuiuam cages.i was in the hospital 5 days. they went in threw my front and i had to learn how to walk again on a walker. but now my lower back virtually never hurts and for that i will be forever grateful. If i end up having my cervical spine opwertated on i will go with my same surgeon.:)
 
I vote for a neurosurgeon, but not normal neurosurgeon.

My neurosurgeon is Lurabal and Neck neurosurgeon and nothing else, with constant education in that 2 fielRAB.

So, it does not have to mean if someone says neurosurgeon that he also operates head and brain injuries.

Modern neurosurgeons do not operate on all fielRAB. Some of them base on lurabal problems, some of them on neck problems, some of them on head, and so on.
 
I have spondylolisthesis and saw a spine surgeon, who fused L2, 3, 4, 5 and S1 nearly a year ago. I don't know if a neurosurgeon was involved in the procedure.

My outcome was pretty good; the pain level went from an 8 or 9 down to a 2 or 3.

My mother had the same surgery years ago; she had both a spine surgeon and a neurosurgeon doing the procedure.

Nancy
 
I've had both my cervical and lurabar fusions done by Orthopedic Spine Surgeons. The practice I go to has 3 surgeons and the ONLY do spine surgery.
 
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