As we all know, the spine is one of the most important parts of the body, as they are the column nerves that connect the brain to the rest of the body, allowing to control movements. One cannot live without a spinal cord. According to the Health Day website, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) spends more than $11 billion each year on back surgeries. Thankfully for treating such a critical part of the body we have Spine Surgeons.
Today, millions of people suffer from spine problems due to lack of physical activity, lifestyle, food habits, and excessive stress. Though many medical professionals can provide non-surgical care for the spine, but when it comes to surgery, always trust the experts. This article will help you to give a quick view of spine surgeons.
Who are Spine Surgeons? And their distinction from others
Many times people get confused between Orthopedic Spine Surgeons and Neurosurgeons when it comes to spine surgery. So what exactly is the difference between the two? Don’t take stress, remember it is one of the causes of back problems, and let this article answer your question.
Spine Surgeons, or let’s say orthopedic surgeons are the medical experts who have completed a five-year surgical residency focusing mainly on the musculoskeletal system and providing in-depth knowledge of the body’s joints, bones, muscles, tendons, and ligaments. They mainly deal in the diagnosis and treatment of various disorders such as:
- Trauma
- Arthritis
- Spinal Disorders
- Bone Tumors
- Spinal Deformities
- Spinal Cord Compression and so on.
Whereas the neurosurgeon is also a medical expert whose residency mainly focuses on the treatment of nervous systems including, the brain, spinal cord, spinal column, etc. They mainly deal in the treatment of various disorders such as:
- Brain Aneurysm
- Brain Tumor
- Epilepsy
- Parkinson’s disease and so on.
Although both are highly skilled specialists, still, where Lady Lake’s spine surgeons mainly focus on spine problems, a neurosurgeon’s training is mainly split between brain and spine surgery as they do not treat musculoskeletal or joint issues
Many years ago, only neurosurgeons were qualified enough to conduct spine surgeries, but from around 20-25 years spine surgery has evolved to a greater extent, and now spine surgeons or orthopedic surgeons also conduct such surgeries. Both are equally qualified and capable, and one must choose according to their preferences.
How to be a Spine Surgeon?
After getting an answer who, spine surgeons are? If this career has piqued your interest and you would like to learn more about it, here is a quick overview. To be a spine surgeon, one must have a bachelor’s degree in subjects heavy in sciences and then complete a four-year medical school, and as mentioned above five years of residency. Some surgeons, after their residency start working thereafter, while some go with their fellowship training which further improvises them in their chosen field.
According to the Chron website, orthopedic surgeons with one to seven years of experience earn around $ 330,000 annually. Youngsters caution! Do not get tempted by this, as this profession demands patience, determination, and lots of hard work.
Conclusion
The spine surgeon’s career is regarded as one of the most prestigious and well-respected in the medical sector. These surgeons treat a variety of ailments, including spinal difficulties, bone tumors, shoulder pain, scoliosis, and so on, after undergoing extensive training and practice. Spine surgeons, also known as orthopedic spine surgeons or neurosurgeons, are medical professionals that specialize in very intricate and significant components of the human body, such as the spine therefore, people must understand who to see for which injuries.
