Neurosurgeon versus Orthopaedic Surgeon

[PBJM]

I have a herniated disc at L5 - S1 and have alomost decided that surgery is inevitable.  I have rounds of steroids, other inflammatories, injections, PT, Chiropractor, pain pills, bed rest, etc.  I am 33 yrs old and obviously nervous about having a surgery that doesn't work or leaves me in a worst position then before.  I have met with to very good Orthopaedic surgeons so far and they semm confident they can help me (after telling me of all the bad stuff that can happen).  The second doctor told me that my herniation was not 100% normal as it is pushed in a funky direciton making it hard to get at with all of the nerve roots.  My questions is this, who is better qualified, all things equal such as talent, education to perform this type of surgery?  A Neurosurgeon or Orthapaedic surgeon?  Both perform diskectomies but given the complexion of nerver roots wouldn't a neurologist be the way to go?      

[Joanniememe]

Hi I have had a disctomy L3-L4 in 88 for drop foot and chronic pain in 94  I had a laminectomy L4-L5 saw a Neurosurgeon 2016 for increased pain and more numbness. Nothing could be done. Well things started getting worse.Pain increased 10 fold I felt a bone in my back stick out a d he said it was tissue from other surgeries. As the pain increased I had to hold that bony area and cough. Then I had hard time going to bathroom. I had pancreatiis and gall bladder removed just two months before my groin started hurting more. I already had low bad pain bad. Then had knee and thigh pain then all the way to my ankles. I kept thinking something was wrong with hip cause the pain in groin and wrapped around. Had another MRI and found a Acute compression fracture in the L1 areA exactly where I then had the Kotoplasty done 3 weeks ago. But my pain is worse in mylower back and my thigh is numb now. I feel as if my hip butt leg knee and thigh are bruised. Cannot touch cannot sit on toilet have not had but one bowel movement since my gall bladder was temove with flushing my colon or taking now Movantic and Linzess. I have gone 12 days 16 days and 21 days with out bowel movement. I want another Neurosurgeon to reD My MRI I will tell you the what report says on the L5-S1 says Broad based disc  protusion and facet arthropathy causes severe bilateral neural foraminal narrowing. I go to pain management for years but my medicine is not touching this barely. I know my body. I have Hemachromatoes, Diabetic, I only way 133 never been overweigh except when I was pregnant. I have ITP, fibermalyia,  degenagration disc disease at early age. I need to know who to see and what is really going on. I live an hour from Sav. Ga and  a couple hrs from Augusta Ga. I need help fast. I can't take much more. Thank you

[alinpain]

I should add that this is the wife of alinpain.

[alinpain]

I work at an orthopedics surgeons office. When my husband first had problems with his back and neck he went to a neuro surgeon. I found most of the info I needed regarding the doctor through one of the doctors in the practice I work for who is a orthopedic surgeon for backs. The secretary called the neuro surgeons office and asked questions for me and she was able to give me a book to understand what was happening to my husband. So in short, if you need to have back surgery and it involves any nerves, an orthopedic surgeon would call upon the opinion or even assistance of a neuro surgeon due to the nerves being involved. So I would suggest to you to ask your orthopedic doctor if he will be having a neurosurgeon assist him due to the nerve conditions. Because a orthopedic doctor specializes in bones and the neuro doctor specializes in nerves. I dont know if this is helpful to you at all, but I can only hope it sends you in the right direction.Good luck. And just remember never be afraid to ask as many questions as you can think of. That is what they get paid for.