As the most critical part of your body, your spine protects your spinal cord, a long, thin tubular structure made up of nerves that carry signals from your brain to the rest of your body.
While you may think that spinal injuries and defects result in spine pain only, these injuries and defects are linked to much more than just neck or back pain, causing a wide range of symptoms that can wreak havoc in your life.
Thankfully, there is a professional who can diagnose and treat your spine-related conditions and injuries – called a spine surgeon. But when to see a spine surgeon?
Let’s talk about 7 reasons why you should see a spine surgeon and where you can find the best spine surgeon in Aurora, CO.
#1 Chronic Pain
Many spine-related conditions, including slipped discs, spinal osteoarthritis, trauma to the spine, etc., can cause pain in the spine. The source of spine pain can be beyond the bones of the spine, including strains in the ligaments and muscles.
Whether in the neck or back, if the pain lasts more than three months and is not getting better home remedies and over-the-counter medications is a signs that you need to see a spine surgeon.
#2 Weakness and Numbness in Your Extremities
Tingling, numbness, and weakness in the extremities, such as fingers, hands, arms, legs, feet, and toes, can result from a problem with the lumbar region of your spine. The symptoms result when the nerves that connect these extremities with your brain through the spine get compressed.
Weakness, numbness, and tingling in extremities warrant a spine surgeon visit.
#3 Problem with Mobility
Your spine plays an important role in your mobility. Aging and spine conditions, such as back arthritis, herniated disc disease, scoliosis, degenerative disc disease, and sciatica, can limit the mobility of your neck, back, and spine and keep you from moving properly and doing your tasks effortlessly.
So, if even your short walks have become painful and taxing on your body, you should see a spine surgeon.
#4 Misaligned Shoulders, Waist, or Hips
Scoliosis, a spine condition characterized by an S-shaped curve in the vertebrae, commonly leads to misalignment of your shoulder, waist, or hips.
While scoliosis mostly arises in the pre-teen and teenage years, it can also develop later in life due to arthritis of the spine or other spine problems. A spine surgeon can treat scoliosis with conservative therapy or surgery, depending on the severity of the problem.
#5 Bowel or Bladder Problem
Bowel or bladder problems, along with tingling and numbness in the groin area, can be a sign of cauda equina syndrome (a condition where there is compression on the nerves at the base of your spinal cord) or a spine tumor.
Spine surgeons can diagnose the condition and use nonsurgical and surgical treatment to help you feel like yourself again.
#6 Traumatic Injury to Spine
Traumatic injuries, such as car accidents, falling, or injuries from playing sports, can fracture, dislocate, compress, or crushes one or more of your vertebrae. Such injuries can heavily impact your physical, social, and vocational well-being.
A spine surgeon can do all the necessary interventions to manage the pain associated with traumatic spine injury and help you get back on track.
#7 Fever Along with Spine Symptoms
A temperature higher than 101 degrees and other spine symptoms, such as neck stiffness, back pain, etc., can be a sign of spine infection. Spine infection occurs when bacteria or viruses invade the spinal tissues.
A spine surgeon can treat spine infections with both surgical (removal of infected tissues) and nonsurgical (long-term IV antibiotic or antifungal therapy) techniques.
Top Spine Surgeons in Aurora, CO
At Front Range Spine and Neurosurgery, our team of highly trained and skilled spine surgeons routinely treat patients with nerve and spine disorders and conditions, including:
- Spinal stenosis
- Neck or back pain
- Herniated disc
- Spinal fracture
- Radiculopathy
- Sciatica
- Scoliosis and other spinal deformities
- Movement disorders
Our spine surgeons use both surgical and nonsurgical interventions to help you get the life you desire.
To know more about our comprehensive services, call us today at (303) 790-1800. If you want to schedule a consultation with one of our spine surgeons, use our convenient online appointment request form.
