Back or Neck Pain? Call Your Neurosurgeon Today.
Are you suffering from back or neck pain? In some instances, people attempt to temporarily ignore the discomfort, however, chronic pain typically won’t simply improve or go away on its own. A neurosurgeon can help. If that statement sounds a little surprising, it may be because many think neurosurgeons solely address brain related issues. The truth is, neurosurgeons are experts in the brain and spine.
Neurosurgeons and Orthopedic Surgeons: What’s the Difference?
So, what’s the difference between a neurosurgeon and an orthopedist? A neurosurgeon’s residency training typically lasts 7 years. In that time, neurosurgeons study and train extensively in both the brain and spine, with about 60-70% of their time devoted to spine surgeries. Orthopedic residencies typically last 5 years, and most often have a more limited emphasis on spine surgery. Studies show that the average number of spine surgery procedures performed over a 10-year period amounted to 433.8 for neurosurgery residents and 119.5 for orthopedic surgery residents (Journal Bone Joint Surgery Am. 2019).
Back or Neck Pain?
Back pain is one of the most common medical problems reported in the United States. In fact, 80% of us suffer from back pain at some point in our lives. Chronic neck pain is also surprisingly common, with between 30% and 70% of Americans struggling with this problem as well. Even though chronic back or neck pain can reduce mobility and decrease quality of life, most people still do not seek treatment.
Causes and Consequences
The cause of back and neck pain varies from person to person. External trauma may often be a factor, but commonly, age–related degeneration can also play a role. As your tendons, muscles, and ligaments grow weaker with time, the result can be back or neck pain. If you’ve been suffering from chronic and untreated low back or neck pain, you risk developing additional conditions such as radiculopathy (pain, numbness, or tingling down the arms or legs), cervical myelopathy (compression of the spinal cord), spinal stenosis (narrowing of the spinal canal), herniated disc, pinched nerve, or degenerative disc disease. Your neurosurgeon can help prevent these problems from developing or treat them once they have already developed. Either way, it’s always best to seek the advice of a specialized physician.