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:
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:
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.
You should see a neurosurgeon if you experience impaired body movement like:
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.
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.
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.
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:
Neurosurgeons can identify, diagnose and help manage nervous system, spine and brain conditions through surgical and nonsurgical solutions and rehabilitation programs.
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.
Here are some surgical procedures a neurosurgeon can perform to treat various conditions:
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-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:
Here are some answers to frequently asked questions about visiting a neurosurgeon:
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.