Finding the Proper Spine Specialist
September 2, 2010
by: Stephanie Burke
When you're dealing with chronic or ongoing episodes of back pain and/or neck pain, sometimes it seems that half the battle is just finding the right kind of specialist to diagnose and treat your pain.
Should you go to a chiropractor or a medical doctor? When is it time to see a specialist instead of your primary care doctor? What type of spine specialist should you consult? When should you get advice from a spine surgeon?
While you may have found the right type of spine specialist right away, most people end up seeing a variety of specialists over time. And because there is no real consensus on how to treat many back conditions, you may hear conflicting opinions from each specialist you consult with.
We want to help you navigate through the array of health care professionals who specialize in spine medicine and hopefully shorten the amount of time, effort and expense it takes for you to find a treatment program that works for you.
Start with your primary physician
While most primary care physicians/internists are not experts in treating spinal conditions, it is important to consult with your primary physician in order to rule out other problems that may be causing pain and/or may affect your spine. Additionally, many primary physicians can diagnose a herniated disc or other problem that may be causing your pain and refer you to an appropriate spine specialist in your area.
Your primary physician might be a primary care physician/internist who is an M.D. (Medical Doctor) or D.O. (Doctor of Osteopathy). Some people may prefer to visit a D.C. (Doctor of Chiropractic) at the initial onset of back pain.
- For information about visiting a spine surgeon, please see When to See a Surgeon for Lower Back Pain.
If the pain continues, go to a spine specialist
Spine medicine is a fast-growing medical specialty. A growing number of spine physicians are specializing in treating spinal disorders, and many have completed additional fellowship training in spine medicine. We recommend that you check whether your physician is board certified or board eligible, and that he or she focuses on spine medicine (e.g. at least one-third to one-half of the practice is devoted to spine medicine).
- To find a spine specialist in your area, please use Spine-health's Physician Directory.
It is important to note that no single type of physician treats all types of back pain or neck pain. Some types of pain may respond to manual treatments (e.g. chiropractic or osteopathic manipulation or physical therapy), whereas others might respond better to medical treatments (e.g. medications, injections, etc).
- For information about each type of specialist that treats the spine, read Specialists who Treat Back Pain.
Consider going to an integrated spine center
There is a growing trend in medicine toward diagnosing and treating back pain and/or neck pain using an integrated approach. The integrated (or multidisciplinary) approach means that health care professionals from different specialties work together to diagnose and treat your spinal condition as a team.
One main advantage of an integrated approach is that it should help reduce the long process of trying to find the right doctor to treat your pain.
Another advantage is that your care should be well coordinated, and ideally the communication and coordination between specialists should lead to higher quality medical care. This should be especially helpful if there are multiple potential causes of your pain, or if your case is complex and you need treatment from more than one type of specialist.
- For more information, see The Integrated Approach to Back Pain Treatment.
- To locate a Spine Center please visit out Spine Center Directory.
Be well prepared for your medical consultation
Thorough preparation for your consultation with a physician should also help ensure that your path to pain relief will be as direct as possible.
When you're in pain it can be difficult to describe your situation to the doctor in a complete, concise and accurate manner. Therefore, it's important to research the questions your doctor is likely to ask you and be well prepared to provide thorough, precise information. This preparation is the best way you can help your doctor arrive at an accurate diagnosis and treatment plan. The article Getting an Accurate Back Pain Diagnosis will be helpful before you visit the specialist.
As difficult as it may be to articulate the type of pain you feel, it's important to be as detailed as possible. When did the pain start? Is there anything you do that makes your pain feel better or worse? Describe your pain - sharp, dull, piercing, aching, etc. When the pain is at its worst, what can you still do and what can you not do? Does your pain move around, or is it always in the same location?
Some people feel that it's most important for a doctor to listen to them and treat them respectfully, and others don't care about the doctor's bedside manner - all they care about are his or her skills. This part of choosing a doctor is really up to you. However, it's always important to be well prepared to ask your doctor relevant questions, report your condition thoroughly and accurately and conduct research to help ensure that you see the right kind of specialist for your condition.