While there are different causes of neck and back pain, many cases can be attributed to nerve problems.
When Can a Neurologist Help with Neck & Back Pain Symptoms?
Since neurologists are nerve experts, they can effectively determine if your pain is caused by nerve damage or compression. You may be referred to a neurologist for evaluation of:
- Neck (cervical)
- Back (thoracic) or
- Low back (lumbar) pain
Some Neck and Back Pain Symptoms that a neurologist can help with include:
- Inflammation and muscle spasms,
- Walking-related stiffness,
- Difficulty standing up from a sitting position,
- Pinched Nerves,
- Pain and numbness in the legs after walking a distance,
- Localised or radiating pain, and
- Numbness – reduced sensation or tingling, pins and needles sensations.
Neurologists vs Spine Surgeons
When most people experience back or neck pain, they think of visiting a spinal surgeon. Spinal surgeons focus more on surgical treatments since that is their specialty.
Not all patients can be helped by neurologists' injuries such as Disc Herniation, or an unstable Spine may only benefit from spinal surgery. Neurologists can also recommend spinal surgeons appropriate for treating your back and neck pain.
Depending on your diagnosis, neurologists may also offer a variety of alternatives to spinal surgery.
As injury begets weakness which begets more injury, surgery often leaves behind weak tissues that lead to more problems for patients. One spine surgery frequently leads to more spine surgery.
Where spine surgery is the best option, it is rarely the “final answer” for back and neck pain. A Neurologist is important after recovering from spinal surgery since most surgeons specialise in short-term care that revolves around the surgical procedure, and Neurologists provide long-term care for neck and back pain.
Benefits of a Neurologist Neck & Back Pain Examination
Your Neurologist can be involved in most aspects of Neck and Back Pain diagnosis, treatment and management, below are how these can benefit patients:
- Accurate Diagnosis - Neurologists can use certain diagnostic tests to pinpoint the affected nerve's specific location, allowing for more direct treatment.
- More Conservative Treatments - Neurologists ensure that you have exhausted more conservative treatment options before jumping into surgery.
- Precise Treatment Plan - Neurologists can offer an accurate diagnosis as a starting point for your spinal surgeon and coordinate with your spinal surgeon allowing for a precise treatment plan.
- Alternate Approaches - Neurologists can assess risks and treatment options
- Trustworthy Referrals - Neurologists can offer advice on certain types of surgical techniques and spinal surgeons that can help with surgery if required
- Long-Term Care - Neurologists are like primary care doctors for your nervous system as they provide the long-term needs whether you require surgery or non-surgical treatment.
A good Neurologist will coordinate all aspects of your treatment, from diagnosis to recovery and prevention of re-injury.
How can a Neurologist Help With Neck & Back Pain Diagnosis
A neurologist is trained to discover the causes of symptoms of Neck and Back Pain. They look at your “electrical system” by using testing to assess nerve injury and whether that injury is reversible in the short and long term.
While some Neck and Back pain can be diagnosed with CT or MRI scans, Neurologists specialise in diagnosing and treating nerves in the brain and spine and use special tools to assess back pain. These tools include:
What Can a Neurologist Diagnose for Neck & Back Pain?
Diagnostic Neurology testing for Neck & Back Pain can:
- Evaluate peripheral nerves and muscle disease and distinguish between a nerve issue in the limb or a pinched nerve coming from the spine
- Determine which the level of the spine involved and the severity of involvement,
- Ascertain the need for cervical or lumbar surgeries, and
- Determine whether the neck and back pain is related to spinal stenosis and compression of the cervical, thoracic or lumbar spine.
How Can a Neurologist Treat Neck & Back Pain
A neurologist can coordinate Surgery, as well as conservative and effective therapies for some Neck & Back Pain conditions. Services can include:
- Medication
- Physical therapy
- Spinal injections
- Surgical correction
