What to Expect- Neurosurgeon Appt?

[Audrey_M]

Hope everybody had a good weekend. It was especially quiet here on the forum, so I take it to mean people were busy, hopefully having fun.

I have an appointment this week with a neurosurgeon for evaluation as a possible candidate for back surgery. I don't know what to expect. I do have all my papers and imaging films in order.

When I contacted this doctor, I let him know that my hx was complicated, with both multiple brain lesions and signs of degenerative disc disease/spondylosis and a multitude of neurological sx.

Should I expect a neurosurgeon to do a neurological examination? My instinct says yes, but but you know what happens when one assumes. If he does do a neuro exam, I'll be curious to see how his exam compares to the ones I have had recently, which I felt were less than thorough.

Audrey

[michelleric]

I went to 2 neurosurgeons and 1 orthopedic surgeon when looking into cervical surgery for herniated discs.  All of them gave me a neuro exam, even the ortho.

Good luck with your appt,
Michelle

[ferret5]

I was treated by a Neurologist a couple of years ago who was great and helped me alot at the time. He did a very thorough neuro exam. Before him, I had gone to a Neurosurgeon who was the "big-wig" at the hospital here and I was Not impressed. He did not even do his Own neuro exam. He had the PA do it. The PA did a good job, but Neuro exams are very subjective and I think should be done by the neurologist or neurosurgeon themselves. Unfortunately, the good neurologist does not do surgery. I have appt on Wed with another Neurosurgeon because things have progressed--I hope he's better than the first surgeon.  A good neurosurgeon would do a thorough exam to see how your symptoms correlate with the test results and images. Good Luck