Frequently Asked Questions about Denver Spine Surgeons

What kind of doctor should I see for back pain?

There are several different types of providers who diagnose and treat back pain. Most back pain can be managed by your primary care physician. If back pain persists or your primary care provider is unable to determine the source of your pain, you may be referred to a Denver spine surgeon, a physiatrist, or an interventional pain specialist. Physiatrists and interventional pain specialists use nonsurgical therapies to treat back pain. Neurosurgeons treat back pain using nonsurgical and surgical techniques.

What kind of doctor performs spine surgery?

There are two types of surgeons who perform spine surgery: orthopedic surgeons and neurosurgeons.

Orthopedic surgeons specialize in treating the entire musculoskeletal system, including the vertebrae, muscles and soft tissue that make up the spine. Neurosurgeons specialize in diagnosing and treating conditions that affect the spine as well as the central and peripheral nervous systems, which include the brain, spinal cord, and nerves that connect the brain and spinal cord with the rest of the body. These intricate systems are crucial to a person’s cognitive and mechanical function.

Neurosurgeons receive extensive training in the spinal cord and nervous system and are, therefore, best suited to navigate these vital and highly-sensitive body parts.

A study published in the January 2022 issue of Neurosurgery looked at the outcomes of neurosurgeons vs orthopedic surgeons performing anterior cervical discectomy and fusion procedures and found that ACDF surgery performed by neurosurgeons have better outcomes..

How do I select a Denver spine surgeon?

Choosing a neurosurgeon to treat your back pain is a great start, but you’ll want to narrow your search further. Finding the right neurosurgeon who will provide you the relief you need involves a bit of research. Consider the following when choosing a Denver spine surgeon:

• Experience. While the definition of “experienced” varies, generally speaking, an experienced surgeon is one who has performed a specific procedure for at least five years and completed the procedure at least 30 times. Of course, some highly specialized procedures are rare, which may limit the number of times a surgeon has performed them each year. In such cases, it’s important to consider the surgeon’s broader experience and outcomes.
• Outcomes. In general, a more experienced surgeon will have better outcomes in terms of complication, infection and revision rates as compared with a less experienced surgeon.
• Board certification. Surgeons who are board-certified have met nationally accepted standards for knowledge and practice, meaning they’re experts in their fields. All of our Denver spine surgeons are board-certified by the American Board of Neurological Surgery.
• Training. While all neurosurgeons train to perform spine surgery during residency, some also choose to complete a fellowship program. Fellowships provide more extensive, focused training and often involve participation in clinical research and authoring a scientific paper.
• Comfort. In addition to experience and training, it’s important that patients feel comfortable with both the surgeon and his or her office staff. The best spine surgeons in Denver will take the time to explain your diagnosis and go over all of your treatment options.

Why choose Neurosurgery One as your Denver spine surgeon?

Neurosurgery One is one of the few Denver spine centers to offer a complete range of treatment options for back and neck pain, including interventional pain management and spine surgery. This means that we can recommend what’s right for you based on your condition, lifestyle, and pain relief goals. Our team of neurosurgeons and physiatrists believes in starting with the most conservative treatments first to relieve your pain. If those don’t work, we will recommend surgery if medical research shows that it will bring you benefit.

All of our Denver spine surgeons are fellowship-trained neurosurgeons with the experience and expertise necessary to treat back pain without causing damage to the spine and other vital structures. Whenever possible, our neurosurgeons use minimally invasive techniques that reduce pain and recovery time. We also use a medically proven recovery program, called Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS), to get you back to your life quicker.