Do you have neck or back pain? Are you feeling weakness, numbness, or other symptoms you cannot explain? If your answer is yes, schedule a consultation with a spine surgeon in Aurora, CO. This specialist understands how spinal health affects your day-to-day life and can help improve your quality of life.
Here is more on what happens when you visit a spine surgeon.
What Does a Spine Surgeon Do?
A spine surgeon diagnoses and treats injuries and conditions affecting the spinal cord and the bony spinal column. This specialist has advanced training in orthopedic surgery, neurology or both. A spine surgeon understands how the spinal cord and nerves interact and why pain, weakness, numbness, or other symptoms may develop.
During an in-office visit, your surgeon will take a detailed medical history and perform a physical examination. This examination may include testing the range of motion, sensation, reflexes, and strength. Your spine surgeon may order imaging tests, such as X-rays, an MRI scan, a PET scan, a CT scan, or others, to get a better look at your spine.
Once all the necessary information has been gathered, your surgeon will discuss treatment choices with you. These could include conservative measures such as physical therapy or medication or more invasive procedures such as spine surgery.
Why Should You Schedule a Consultation with a Spine Surgeon?
If you are experiencing persistent neck or back pain or other unusual symptoms, you should see a spine surgeon as soon as possible. Also, if you have neck or back pain, which changes to the arm or leg, see a spine surgeon.
Furthermore, if you suffer a fall, car accident or other traumatic event, seeing a spine surgeon is the best way to know what your injuries are. A spine surgeon will give you the best possible help quickly.
Additionally, your spine surgeon understands how your injury or condition affects your overall health and day-to-day function. This highly skilled doctor will provide you with treatment options tailored for your unique situation. Whether your condition affects your job, family responsibilities, hobbies, or favorite sports, your spine surgeon can help.
Consulting with a spine surgeon can help you avoid unnecessary procedures or treatments which may not benefit your particular case. Instead, the spine doctor will work with you to create a truly effective care plan.
What Kinds of Treatments May be Offered to You?
Your treatment plan depends on a long list of factors, including your age, gender, medical history (including any previous spinal treatments or surgeries), habits, and more. With excellent diagnostic skills, the spine surgeon will offer treatments which make sense for you.
At Front Range Spine and Neurosurgery, our spine surgeons do not always say surgery is the first and best treatment choice. They may try medications, physical therapy, massage, injection therapy, and weight loss programs to control pain and other spine problems.
However, when simpler treatments are not enough or not the best choice to begin with, our spine doctors perform a number of technically advanced surgeries. Many of these procedures are minimally invasive, i.e., they feature small incisions, less pain, and short recovery times.
These spine surgeries include but are not limited to:
- Spinal fusion
- Artificial disc replacement (arthroplasty)
- Cervical discectomy
- Laminectomy
- Tumor biopsy removal and treatment
Surgical plans include careful preoperative preparation for the patient. You will learn how to recover at home, manage pain medications and improve on the surgical outcomes with therapy. You may be asked to change some habits such as smoking, being too sedentary, and having poor hydration.
Top-Notch Spine Surgeon in Aurora, CO
At Front Range Spine and Neurosurgery, we have a team of board-certified neurosurgeons dedicated to providing exceptional care. We prioritize patient education, personalized treatment plans, and innovative surgical techniques to ensure the best possible outcomes.
To take the first step towards better spinal health, contact our friendly staff today at (303) 790-1800 or fill out our appointment request form to schedule a consultation with one of our spine surgeons. We look forward to serving you!