Spinal health is a crucial part of the overall health of the body. It gives the body structure, helping with movement in the body, and providing support to the head, shoulder, and frame. It is also responsible for the coordination of movements and helping with the control of muscles. If you are dealing with any spine issues, it is advised to get a reliable spine doctor to help with any of your queries.

Tips for finding a good spine doctor

Ask questions
When you are looking for a spine doctor, one of the things to prepare is a list of questions that you may have for them. Don’t be shy to prepare this list and have an honest conversation with them. These questions will help you clear several doubts and also help you get some confidence in your doctor by observing how well they are able to communicate solutions or answers to you. Some of the questions you can ask your spine doctor or surgeon include:

Am I the right candidate for surgery?

What are some other treatment plans that work for my case?

What will the procedure be like and how to prepare for it?

What are other management tips that will help get my spine health back?

Any side effects that I need to know about?

What is the recovery period if a surgery is suggested?

What kind of physio-therapy will be needed, if at all, to help with faster and right recovery?

Verify credentials
Another important detail to inquire about are the credentials of the doctor. The doctor you are planning to consult with should be board certified or board eligible. This ensures that the professional has completed the right training and put in the required amount of hours in their training period. Another point to look for is checking if they are a part of a major spine organization like the American Board of Spine Surgeons or North American Spine Society. This adds a level of credibility to your doctor’s image and work.

You can also check if they are affiliated with any big hospitals nearby. They may have a small practice themselves, but be affiliated with hospitals as guest doctors, which adds another layer of credibility. Verifying credentials also means that you have to check their work history and ensure there have been no malpractice cases in the past or any disciplinary action taken against them. These details can easily be available by checking with your local board. A clear work history is an indication of good and stable practice.

Ask about their specializations
There are two kinds of surgeons who can work on spine health: an orthopedic spine surgeon and a neurosurgeon for spine surgery. While they both diagnose and treat spine issues, their objectives and specializations are completely different and not interchangeable. When you speak to a spine doctor, especially for surgery, you will have to ask for their specialization to ensure they can help you with your illness. The difference is that the orthopedic spine surgeon will focus on musculoskeletal conditions and train especially in spine treatment. At the same time, the neurosurgeon will treat the brain, spinal cord, and nerves.

Get referrals
One other way to be sure of your doctor is to get referrals from any close family or friends who may know of a good spine doctor near you. You can even ask your primary care doctor and go with their recommendation as they probably know of various specialists and their clinics near you and have seen their work.

When consulting with the doctor, notice how they handle interaction with you and your family. Are they able to answer questions without getting agitated? Are they able to communicate effectively and explain jargon in a simple manner? These minute details matter apart from the credentials as it helps the patient feel more comfortable and safe.