When Do You Need to Go to Orthopedic Doctor and Spine Specialist?

A spine surgeon is a subspecialist of orthopedic doctors who have chosen to further specialize and focus their training on the spine.

Orthopedics is the broader discipline of medicine that specializes in the musculoskeletal system, which encompasses the muscles, bones, joints, nerves, tendons, and ligaments throughout the body.

The spine is vital to the overall movement of the body as it controls so much of the body’s physical ability to move and be active.

The smallest pain or injury to the spine can cause widespread radiating pain through the limbs as well as headaches and other issues.

Spine surgeons or orthopedic doctors have the necessary education and tools to diagnose and treat a wide range of conditions and diseases that affect the health of the spine.

While they are surgeons and can perform surgery on their patients’ spines, they typically use surgery as a last resort, preferring other, less invasive treatment methods that require less downtime and post-operative recovery time and rehabilitation.

Conditions affecting the spine can affect other parts of the body and cause pain and discomfort throughout the simplest of normal, daily activities.

The spine is the central corridor of our body’s movements, and the smallest ache, pain, or misalignment can have repercussions for the way we stand, sit and walk, creating pain in other parts of our body.

Spine surgeons have chosen to focus their medical practice on these types of spine conditions and diseases, and they are able to diagnose and treat a wide range of common, and not so common, spine issues.

Some of the conditions that spine surgeons can treat include:

• Scoliosis
• Degenerative disc disease
• Herniated discs
• Spine fractures and spinal trauma
• Spinal tumors
• Sciatica
• Metastatic cancer
• Vertebral compression fractures
• Spinal infections

Spine surgeons stay up-to-date and informed on new, cutting-edge procedures to ensure that they have the most current information and treatment options at their fingertips for their patients.

If you are experiencing ongoing pain in your spine or throughout other parts of your body that you can’t explain and can’t find relief from, it is a good idea to get checked out by a doctor.

Despite having the word surgeon in their name, spine surgeons don’t only treat patients who need surgery on their spine.

They are able to treat any patient that is having issues with pain throughout their back, using a wide variety of treatment options such as physical therapy, medication, acupuncture, steroids, and anti-inflammatories.

Symptoms of back pain don’t need to radiate or focus on just the spine, they can show up in the form of pain radiating through an arm or leg, weakness in a limb, immobility of an arm or leg, difficulty controlling the feet and bowel or bladder problems.

If your back pain is the result of a fall or an accident, you should see a spine surgeon as soon as possible.

Back pain can be treated through a primary care physician, but if the treatment isn’t providing relief or you feel like the treatment isn’t right for you, don’t be afraid to consult with a spine surgeon separately to get a second opinion.

Spine surgeons are specialists in the field of back pain and can help you find the relief you need.

When it comes to your back, you want to ensure it is in the best hands possible.

To find a spine surgeon, you can work through your family doctor for a referral, or you can look for a spine surgeon on your own.

At The Orthopedic Group, we have a team of highly trained and experienced orthopedic and spin surgeons who can work with you to determine the cause of your pain and find the right treatment plan for you. We serve patients from Leesburg VA, Lansdowne VA, Stone Springs VA, Dulles, VA, Ashburn VA, Sterling VA, Aldie VA, South Riding VA, Herndon VA, Winchester VA, Reston VA, and Chantilly VA.