Diagnosing neck and back pain involves medical history, physical exams, and imaging tests.
Spine Specialists
Please see the index below for a list of all our articles on Spine Specialists.
If you are new to the subject, we recommend starting with: Specialists Who Treat Back Pain
How to Select a Spine Surgeon
Learn the three general considerations that can help guide your selection from different spine surgeons.
When selecting a spine surgeon, consider their expertise, experience, and patient outcomes for the best results.
Orthopedic vs. neurosurgeon for spine surgery: Orthopedics deals with bones and joints; neurosurgery addresses nervous system issues.
The distinguishing characteristics of osteopathic medicine include its focus on treating the whole body and its focus on the musculoskeletal system...
Pain Management Specialists
Pain management and pain medicine specialists who treat chronic back pain and neck pain, including anesthesiologists, physiatrists, and more.
Physiatrists use a holistic approach to enhance function and alleviate pain in patients with physical disabilities or injuries.
Prepare for your back and neck pain doctor's visit: note symptoms, history, and questions for treatment discussion.
Primary Care Providers
A medical doctor, doctor of chiropractic, or doctor of osteopathic medicine is a practitioner of the healing arts who examines, diagnoses, and treats the patient's medical condition.
If a spine surgeon does not allow questions or acts disdainful of being questioned, you should be cautious about having the procedure.