Having and staying in good health becomes a focus in our lifestyles as we age. Our backs are not what they used to be, and we must take care of them despite the wear and tear. Over the years, there’s plenty of what can go wrong, and when things go south, you need to reach out to specialised doctors for help. Each doctor specialises in different areas, and Australia does not lack specialists. The only question remaining is to whom you should reach out. We are here to help you make an informative decision.
1. Scope of training
Spine surgeons, as the name implies, focus on our backs. Mainly, the spine is the key part for us to have a healthy lifestyle. Those spine surgeons with more training and expertise under their belt also work on our necks. Necks represent a vital connection and highway of information for our bodies. The main focus of a spine surgeon is prevention. It may seem counterintuitive, but a great spinal surgeon focuses on medical counselling their patients to avoid back and neck problems.
Once any patient suffers from spinal deformities, wrist injuries, arthritis, or sports injury, a spinal professional usually has to resort to the operation or any other form of medical intervention. A spinal surgeon can work in public or private practice, where you need to do a bit of research before you opt for any private practice. On the other hand, you have neurosurgeons, which can cover everything a spinal surgeon does and more. Nerves are a vital part of our bodies and go hand in hand with bones. Our entire nervous system composes of the brain, spine and peripheral nerves. All of which are interwoven or embedded in our spine and neck.
While a spine surgeon can focus on prevention, once any medical issue arises with the nervous system, and neurosurgeon can only do treatment and operation. Due to the nature of the field, nerves are a delicate and sensitive area of medicine, which requires expertise to treat. Neurosurgeon operations typically don’t cover rehabilitation, whereas spine surgeons do regular follow-ups. Rehabilitating from any nerve, brain or spine operation is extensive and requires different professionals.
2. Field of operation
Let’s say that you have a back problem in layman’s terms. Should you go to a spine surgeon or a neurosurgeon for a consultation? The answer is: “It depends on the diagnosis.” Diagnosing the problem with your back is half the battle, where both doctors need extensive research, analysis and testing. You may even need both, depending on the problem.
A spine surgeon may be versed in treating all the parts of your spine, but if there’s a deeper problem underneath your nerves a neurosurgeon must get involved. Ultimately, it’s always best to go to a licenced and professional neurosurgeon from Brisbane, as they can pinpoint the problem and call-in backup if needed. The more experts get involved regarding such a delicate issue, the better your health will get. Think of your back and neck situation in this way.
Whatever problem you may experience, it will involve nerves in some form. There is a possibility that your bones will need treatment, but your nerves are very likely the root of the discomfort. So, in short, a neurosurgeon is a sure bet, and a spine surgeon is a welcome addition.
3. Focus of actions
Attention to detail is what separates spinal surgeons from neurosurgeons. Because of the nature of their field, spinal surgeons look at broad and wide problems with your bones, spine and neck. While said bones can be smaller in some parts, they fade in comparison to nerves. Bigger or more invasive surgeries to your spine and neck may not even result in an immediate change. Neurosurgeons focus on the minute detail of your entire nervous system.
Nerves represent the main highways of information that run underneath our bones. Because of their specific training, a neurosurgeon may discover the real root of the problem, which can be lying underneath the bones. Any kind of pain, big or small, can stem from a single nerve that can be projected to a bone, so a spinal surgeon can have a hard time pinpointing the source. Starting your treatment with a neurosurgeon is a good start and you can always include a spinal surgeon along the way.
When you experience the pain of any sort, it’s your body’s way of telling you something is wrong. Acting immediately is necessary to prevent further deterioration and to lower the overall costs of treatment. Here we are not talking only about money, but also time, steps, and treatments. An early diagnosis that discovers smaller symptoms can prevent larger complications. A regular checkup with your neurosurgeon once your back, neck or nerves are at stake can be a lifesaver. The sooner you start taking care of your body, the sooner it will be able to respond in kind.