If you have a specific issue with your spine, brain, or nervous system and have been referred to a neurosurgeon in Middle Georgia, you may be wondering what that could mean and what that entails. From the name alone, it can sound like surgery is in your near future. It could also sound like you’re about to receive brain surgery, even if your issue is not necessarily brain-related.
While surgery could be the next step in your journey to correcting or addressing your issue, there are several reasons you may have been referred to a neurosurgeon. Let’s dive into why your doctor may have referred you to a neurosurgical center and what receiving care from a neurosurgeon could mean for you.
Who Can Refer Patients to a Neurosurgeon?
There are several doctors, clinicians, and medical professionals who may refer their patients to a neurosurgeon. These healthcare specialists can include:
- Chiropractors
- ER doctors
- Internists
- Neurologists*
- Nurse Practitioners
- Orthopedic surgeons**
- Primary care physicians
*While neurosurgeons and neurologists both offer medical care and treatment to patients dealing with an issue related to the nervous system, neurologists are not able to perform surgery, while neurosurgeons can. For more about the difference between a neurologist and a neurosurgeon, check out this article.
**Some of the conditions treated by an orthopedic surgeon overlap with the conditions treated by a neurosurgeon. However, orthopedic surgeons treat musculoskeletal conditions, while neurosurgeons treat conditions that are more closely related to or caused by issues affecting the brain, spinal cord, or nervous system.
Why Would My Medical Care Provider Refer Me to a Neurosurgeon?
There are many reasons you may be referred to a neurosurgeon. Whatever your condition is, though, it relates to your nervous system.
What Is the Nervous System?
The nervous system is an extremely intricate, complex system that consists of the brain, spinal cord, and nerves. All of the nerves in your body have roots in the spinal cord, and your spinal cord is rooted in the brain, which controls everything. Every voluntary or involuntary function, move, or motion in the body can only happen if the brain gives the command and the appropriate neurons respond. The nervous system is what allows us to perform every single action and think every single thought.
When there is an issue with the nervous system, it can disrupt your ability to function in a number of ways. Nervous system issues can lead to a decline in or loss of:
- Mobility control
- Control over bodily functions
- Mental capacity
- Memory
- Emotional control
What Can Affect My Nervous System?
Your nervous system can be affected in one of three primary areas:
- The brain
- The spine
- The nerves
Neurosurgical Issues Related to the Brain
- Brain tumors
- Chiari malformations
- Hematomas (brain bleeds)
- Normal pressure hydrocephalus (buildup of brain or spinal fluid)
- Pituitary tumors
- Trigeminal neuralgia (facial and cranial nerve pain)
Neurosurgical Issues Related to the Spine
- Disc herniations
- Osteoarthritis
- Scoliosis
- Spinal cord tumors
- Spinal stenosis
- Spondylolisthesis
- Syringomyelia (spinal cysts)
Neurosurgical Issues Related to the Nerves
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Ulnar nerve entrapment
- Neurofibromatosis
Depending on your issue and symptoms, your healthcare provider may recommend that you see and be treated by a neurosurgeon.
What Are Symptoms Neurosurgeons Can Treat?
It depends on the affected area of the nervous system and the symptom-causing problem, but common signs and symptoms of a neurosurgical issue can include:
Brain:
- Loss of coordination
- Neurological issues like behavioral changes, memory loss, etc.
- Numbness in the body
- Numbness in the face
- Seizures
- Speech issues
- Strokes
- Visual issues
Spine:
- Loss of bladder or bowel control
- Loss of muscle strength or muscle mass in the arms or legs
- Mobility limitations
- Muscle spasms
- Muscle weakness
- Nerve pain in the back of the leg(s)
- Numbness in the limbs
- Pain in the arms, legs, feet, or buttocks
- Pain that radiates from the affected area of the spine
Nerves:
- Pain, weakness, or tingling in the hand, fingers, arm, or elbow (carpel tunnel syndrome or ulnar nerve entrapment)
- Bone deformities like scoliosis, learning disabilities, stunted growth, oversized head development, abnormal freckling (neurofibromatosis 1)
- Tinnitus, hearing loss, dizziness, facial paralysis, muscle weakness in the face, balancing issues, vision loss, seizures, headaches, mobility limitations (neurofibromatosis 2)
- General or localized pain that develops anywhere in the body, numbness or weakness throughout the body, bladder and bowel complications, muscle atrophy, facial weakness, vision issues, lump growth all over the body (schwannomatosis)
What Are the Types of Treatments Neurosurgeons Offer?
Because of their medical title, it can sound like neurosurgeons only provide surgical solutions to your issue or complication. While they certainly can perform surgeries when necessary, they are also available for nonsurgical treatments and solutions.
Surgical:
- Tumor removal
- Craniotomy
- Cranioplasty
- Nerve release
- Nerve stimulation
- Discectomy
- Laminectomy
- Spinal fusions
And more.
Nonsurgical:
- Medication regimens
- Injections
- Physical therapy
- Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS)
And more.
Have you been referred to a neurosurgeon at Georgia Neurosurgical Institute recently? Then know that you are in the most-skilled hands.
Our neurosurgeons are experts in brain, spine, and nerve care and can provide the most effective treatment and medical solutions for your condition. Whether you require nonsurgical intervention or complex or intricate surgery, the skilled neurosurgeons are the most advanced doctors in the area and can help you on your path to healing.
Speak with the team at Georgia Neurosurgical Institute today by calling 478-743-7092.
Georgia Neurosurgical Institute offers exceptional treatments for the brain and spine to patients throughout Middle Georgia. With offices in Macon and satellite locations in Dublin, Locust Grove, and Warner Robins, we’re able to treat patients in and around:
- Dublin
- Forsyth
- Locust Grove
- Macon
- McDonough
- Milledgeville
- Perry
- Warner Robins
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