Why do Neurosurgeons treat “back” problems?
Ask most people what neurosurgeons do and they’ll tell you they operate on the brain. People are often surprised when we tell them that neurosurgeons are back specialists, too! Today more than 80% of the nation’s 3800 active neurosurgeons specialize in treating back problems. Neurosurgeons perform many of the surgeries used to provide relief from the degenerative spinal condition known as lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS). LSS is characterized by intermittent pain in the lower back which radiates to the buttocks, thighs, and legs of older patients. LSS is often associated with numbness, tingling, and weakness when walking. In its most advanced stages, LSS can occasionally cause severe neurological problems, including significant leg weakness and difficulty with bowel and bladder function. For advanced cases, surgery is often the only treatment of choice. The most common procedure, known as decompressive laminectomy, is performed about 60,000 times annually on patients over 60, with improvem
