Spinecare Introduction
Common Ground: The Doctor Of Chiropractic and The Neurosurgeon
Chiropractic physicians and neurosurgeons both have extensive
training in spinal anatomy, spinal biomechanics, diseases of the spine
and neurology as it relates to the spine. Both disciplines can perform
or order the necessary procedures to diagnose spine and related
conditions.
Due to the complexity of the spine, an individual may have numerous problems or varying degrees of the same problem (pathology) occurring at different levels of the spine thus requiring a multidisciplinary approach. Common examples of conditions, which may coexist, include degenerative disc disease, pain syndromes, disc herniation, arthritis disease, abnormal spinal joint movement and spinal nerve compromise (radiculopathy). The chiropractic physician and the neurosurgeon care for many of the same degenerative spinal disorders at different ends of the disease spectrum.
Early stage spine disease often gets addressed by the chiropractic physician, whereas, late-stage spine disease involving potential or actual neurological compromise may require the attention of the neurosurgeon. Intermediate stages of spinal disease frequently respond to conservative care and may require a cooperative effort between the chiropractic physician and neurosurgeon.
The chiropractic physician and neurosurgeon both strive to protect and restore biomechanical and neurological integrity of the spine through early diagnosis, early intervention, patient education and through the prevention of unnecessary surgery.