6 Reasons It May Be Time to See a Neurosurgeon

If you’ve been living with chronic pain, muscle weakness, numbness, seizures and persistent headaches, it might be time to see a neurosurgeon. While these symptoms seem ordinary, they can be underlying symptoms of more severe issues. Here are six signs you might need to see a neurosurgeon:

1. Nerve Issues

Numbness and pain in your extremities or limbs can be signs of sensory nerve damage. These nerves under your skin and muscles carry messages to your brain to help you touch, smell, see and taste. They can become damaged due to injuries, like falls or impact. Damaged nerves can lead to sensation issues like numbness, tingling and pain in the affected area. 

Weakness, loss of sensation and pain in your hands, legs, arms and other body parts can be symptoms of injury and illness. Two common conditions that cause nerve issues include:

• Carpal tunnel: You may have a weak grip and lose the ability to grasp objects. Carpal tunnel can result from repetitive movements, wrist and hand injuries or illness, leading to swelling. Swollen wrists can constrict or strain the median nerve, causing pain, tingling, burning, loss of sensation and weakness. 
• Spinal stenosis: Spinal stenosis is the narrowing of spaces within the spinal canal, which can lead to nerve conditions and back pain. It can develop as a result of certain conditions or injuries. You can also be born with it, called congenital spinal stenosis.

2. Head Injury

Head injury from traumatic accidents can lead to various side effects like hematomas or ruptured blood vessels, brain bruising and skull fractures. These conditions can have cognitive and physical symptoms like loss of consciousness, slurred speech, persistent headaches, prolonged dizziness, memory problems and chronic pain. Neurosurgeons can examine and treat head injury symptoms by removing hematomas and providing rehabilitation.

3. Impaired Movement 

You should see a neurosurgeon if you experience impaired body movement like:

• Clumsiness
• Tremors
• Imbalances
• Lack of coordination
• Jerking, shaking, spasms, twitching and other uncontrollable movements
• Difficulty walking, writing, talking and swallowing

These symptoms can be caused by conditions like spinal and head injuries, strokes, nerve disorders, brain tumors and neurological disorders like Parkinson’s disease. A neurosurgeon can diagnose and treat various types of impaired body movements with surgical procedures and nonoperative long-term treatments.  

4. Seizures

If you experience mild, subtle or severe seizures, getting a diagnosis and treatment is essential. Neurosurgeons can diagnose seizures and provide suitable treatments and recovery plans. Changes in the cell DNA near or in your brain can result in tumors or growths in your brain. This growth can lead to brain tumor-related epilepsy (BTRE), causing seizures. These seizures can vary depending on the type and location of the tumor.

5. Persistent Headaches

While some chronic headaches or migraines can be managed with prescription and over-the-counter solutions, they can also signify more severe conditions. If you experience headaches or migraines daily accompanied by light sensitivity and nausea, it’s time to see a neurosurgeon. Vestibular migraines, brain tumors or aneurysms can cause these symptoms. A neurosurgeon can help pinpoint the cause of your symptoms and provide appropriate treatments. 

6. Neck and Back pain

Back and neck pain can be overwhelming, impacting your physical abilities and comfort. While you might rely on painkillers, this pain might be a sign of more significant conditions requiring professional treatment. If you experience persistent or severe pain in your neck and back, visiting neurons can be the best solution for identifying and treating the underlying issues like: 

• Sciatica: This condition is often caused by a herniated disc or bone spur pressing against the spine, leading to severe pain along the sciatic nerve.
• Cervical spine disorder: This is a group of conditions caused by degeneration or wear of neck vertebrae and discs and can lead to neck, head, jaw and other bodily pain without treatment. It can also cause loss of sensation, weakness and movement issues. 

What Can a Neurosurgeon Do to Help?

Neurosurgeons can identify, diagnose and help manage nervous system, spine and brain conditions through surgical and nonsurgical solutions and rehabilitation programs.

Examination 

Before diagnosing your condition, your neurosurgeon will ask about your symptoms, medical history, general health and previous treatments. They might ask to review previous medical scans and tests, so ensure you have access to them.

If you still need to do tests, your neurosurgeon can perform various evaluations, including CT (computed tomography) scans, Magnetoencephalography (MEG) and PET (positron emission tomography) scans to evaluate and diagnose your condition accurately. 

Your surgeon may also conduct a physical examination that assesses your motor functions, balance and coordination, reflexes, mental awareness and nerve function. They may use lights, reflex hammers and other medical instruments in this assessment. The extent of the exam can depend on your condition, age and symptoms. 

After your physical examination, your neurosurgeon will provide appropriate nonoperative and surgical treatment solutions depending on your condition. 

Surgical Procedures 

Here are some surgical procedures a neurosurgeon can perform to treat various conditions: 

• Open surgery: A neurosurgeon makes incisions through skin and tissue during a procedure to access and repair affected blood vessels and nervous system areas. 
• Minimally invasive surgery: Unlike traditional surgery, neurosurgeons make small incisions at the treatment sites and insert small specialized tools to see what they’re doing when performing surgery. Minimally invasive procedures can include small incisions and, depending on your health, shorter recovery time post-surgery. 
• Endoscopic surgery: Endoscopic surgery is a minimally invasive procedure where doctors make small openings at the treatment site and use cameras to visualize and remove tumors. 
•  Lumbar puncture: This procedure includes inserting a needle into the spinal canal to extract cerebrospinal fluid and testing for central nervous system conditions and infections.
• Cervical discectomy: A cervical discectomy is a neurosurgical procedure for correcting or removing a herniated disc in the neck. 

Nonoperative Treatment 

Neurosurgeons can provide various nonoperative treatment solutions, including chronic pain interventional procedures. These treatments include pain medications, physical therapy and steroid injections for chronic pain and other conditions. Depending on your condition, your neurosurgeon might suggest nonoperative treatment before surgical options. 

Neuro-Rehabilitation Therapy

Neuro-rehab can include therapy to help regain physical and cognitive abilities after brain and spine trauma, operations and life-threatening conditions. Rehab teams, including neurosurgeons, provide therapy and relief for post-stroke symptoms like speech and movement impairments, spinal cord injuries and neurological and functional disorders. Neurosurgeons work with specialized therapists to offer the following rehab:

• Occupational and speech therapy to help patients with speaking, swallowing, writing and regaining other functional abilities
• Movement activities and exercises to improve mobility
• Pain management to regulate chronic pain
• Mental care to manage conditions like stress, anxiety and depression

FAQs About Visiting a Neurosurgeon

Here are some answers to frequently asked questions about visiting a neurosurgeon: 

1. What does a neurosurgeon treat? A neurosurgeon can treat various conditions like back pain, migraines, brain tumors, head, brain, neck and spine injuries, spinal fractures, sciatica, congenital spinal column conditions, pinched nerves and epilepsy. 
2. When should you see a neurosurgeon? Various signs, including unusual dizziness, persistent headaches, chronic pain, seizures, muscle weakness and numbness in your limbs, can indicate you need to see a neurosurgeon. 
3. What happens when you visit a neurosurgeon? During your first neurosurgeon appointment, your surgeon will conduct a thorough examination to assess your condition, including asking about your medical history and symptoms, performing tests, analyzing scans and carrying out various physical assessments.

Schedule an Appointment at the New York Spine Institute

Various conditions, including head injuries, bone fractures, spinal degeneration, nerve damage and tumors, can cause spinal issues. When these conditions go untreated, you can experience debilitating and persistent symptoms like chronic pain, seizures, headaches and cognitive and mobility issues. With expert and specialized neurosurgical treatments and rehabilitation, you can relieve and manage these side effects and improve your quality of life. 

At New York Spine Institute, we know the impact of spinal issues on your livelihood. That’s why we provide high-quality spinal care and treatment. Our world-class neurosurgeons, orthopedic spine specialists and neuro-rehab teams offer comprehensive spinal care.

Schedule your consultation online with us today for a trusted spinal condition diagnosis and care.