Most people think of neurosurgeons as brain surgeons.

However, neurosurgeons are medical specialists who diagnose and treat disorders of the entire nervous system

– brain, spinal cord, skull and the spine (bony vertebral column). Of course, they operate on the brain, but they actually spend most of their time helping patients with spine and peripheral nerve problems, providing surgical and nonsurgical care.

Do I need surgery if I am being referred to a neurosurgeon?

Not necessarily. Your referring physician most likely believes that you have a disease or disorder which would benefit from diagnosis and treatment by a neurosurgeon. The decision whether or not to recommend surgery is a complex one best handled by your neurosurgeon and his team.

While neurosurgeons perform brain surgery, they also provide the highest level of expertise in spine disorder treatment. The majority of operations performed by neurosurgeons are spine surgeries. Neurosurgeons are trained to perform procedures on the entire spine, including the spinal cord itself.