back disc surgery, orthopedic vs neuro surgeon

[TKRSM]

The MRI showed a moderate paramedian disk herniation at L4-5 with an extruded disk fragment, surgery is needed but who do you go with a orthopedic or neuro surgeon?

[nvarga]

I am having a lumbar decompression with internal fusion on my L4 & L5 March 8th by a nuerosurgeon. Any thing you would recommend??? I go talk to him in 3 days. Thank you

[idesofmarch]

If you have allot of nerve pain, pins & needles and numbness of the area and extending down into your leg even as far as your foot-I would suggest a neurosurgeon.  If it is mostly bone material out of wack then an orthopedic surgeon.  I had a neuro & my husband had a ortho.  My nerves were pinched for over a year and my husbands was not as long or as bad as my nerve damage. Mine was evasive surgery in 1985 and his was laser in 2004.  We are both in good shape after surgery but my husbands of course was a faster healing process.