Neurosurgery deals with the entire nervous system – not just the brain. So, if your doctor mentions that you might need to see a neurosurgeon, don't just assume that something is wrong with your brain. Your doctor may be worried about your spinal cord or column, or any nerves that are located throughout your body for that matter. Here are a few things you should know about seeing a neurosurgeon:

Getting a Recommendation

If your doctor believes that you need to see a neurosurgeon, they may perform some tests of their own to learn more about your health problem and whether neurosurgery can solve it. Once it's determined that neurosurgery could help, you can expect your doctor to refer you to a neurosurgeon they think would best serve your needs.

You don't have to go to the neurosurgeon that your doctor refers you to, but if you choose another provider of your own your insurance may not cover all your medical expenses. Therefore, it's important to contact your insurance company and find out which neurosurgeons are authorized to see so you can make sure that whoever you choose to see doesn't cost you an arm and a leg out-of-pocket.

Understanding Your Options

Once you choose a neurosurgeon to see, you'll attend a consultation appointment and get to know each other a little. Your neurosurgeon will complete a checkup, inspect your medical records, ask you lots of questions, and maybe even perform some tests during this visit. The purpose of the visit is to ensure that your neurosurgeon understands your circumstances and knows how to proceed.

You may have to schedule another appointment for additional tests if your neurosurgeon still needs more information about your condition after your initial visit. Then you can sit down and talk about your treatment options. Many times, these options include surgery, but your neurosurgeon may have some suggestions that can be tried before surgery has to be put on the table. So, keep an open mind!

Preparing for Treatment

No matter what kind of treatment you and your neurosurgeon decide to move forward with, you'll likely need to prepare for the treatment in some manner. If you'll be having surgery, you might be off your feet for days or even weeks afterward – in which case you will need to make arrangements for care at home until you recover.

Even physical therapy treatments will probably require some preparation on your part.  You'll need a ride to and from your physical therapy sessions, and you may need to reschedule your calendar to fit all your sessions in for the month.