Find the Best Neurosurgeons in Philadelphia, PA!

Neurosurgeons are physicians who specialize in diagnosing and surgically treating disorders that have to do with your peripheral and central nervous systems. They often work closely with neurologists who don’t perform surgery.

Your central nervous system includes Your brain and spinal cord, while the peripheral nervous system includes the nerves that spread throughout your body, including your arms, legs, hands, feet and sensory organs, like your skin and sense of smell. The entire nervous system is made up of a complex network of cells that carry messages by way of thread-like nerves. These messages travel to and from the spinal cord and the brain, then out to the different parts of your body.

Common conditions that neurosurgeons treat include:

• Congenital anomalies
• Tumors
• Vascular disorders
• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Trauma
• Stroke
• Brain or spine infections
• Spinal degenerative diseases
• Multiple sclerosis
• Lou Gehrig’s disease
• Parkinson’s disease
• Migraine or recurring headaches
• Epilepsy
• Chronic back pain
• Pinched nerves
• Aneurysms
• Hemorrhages

Neurosurgeons manage both your operative and non-operative procedures. Their primary roles include:

• Prevention of further neurological damage
• Diagnosing difficult conditions
• Evaluation of patients when surgery is required
• Treatment of neurological disorders
• Critical care
• Rehabilitation following surgery

Since neurosurgeons have undergone extensive, specific training to effectively diagnosis neurological diseases, they often are consulted by:

• Emergency room physicians
• Neurologists
• Osteopaths
• Internists
• Family and general practitioners

Yes. Some neurosurgeons choose to undergo additional training to become experts in treating specific nervous system diseases and conditions. Common specialties among neurosurgeons include:

• Lower back
• The cervical spine, which refers to your neck
• Spinal cord injuries
• Adult disorders
• Pediatric nervous system disorders

Neurosurgeons perform more than surgeries on the brain. In fact, more neurosurgeons today do back surgery than brain surgery. Most often, pain that travels through your body, such as from your lower back down your leg, is due to a neurological disorder. A disease or injury to your nerves causes the pain.

The types of conditions that neurosurgeons often treat are those that cause pain in one area of your body, but originate in another part. You may need to see a neurosurgeon if you have symptoms that include:

• Sudden, severe headaches
• Headaches that are different from any you had before
• Impaired thinking
• Loss of coordination
• Double vision or sudden blindness
• Tingling in your limbs or complete loss of feeling
• Muscle weakness
• Loss of muscle strength
• Memory loss
• Seizures
• Radiating back pain
• Slurred speech
• Muscle wasting
• Difficulty writing or reading

The body has 43 pairs of peripheral nerves that extend out from your spinal cord. These electrical cord-like threads enable motor coordination and movement as well as other sensations throughout your body. Pain is a major indicator of a peripheral nervous system disorder that may require surgery.

The most common condition that neurosurgeons treat is carpal tunnel syndrome, in which the nerves in your hands are impinged by surrounding tendons. Other conditions that neurosurgeons most commonly treat include:

• Tarsal tunnel syndrome, which involves pain from the compressed nerves that pass from your ankles to your feet
• Ulnar nerve compression or arm pain in which the nerves become entrapped
• Peroneal nerve compression that can lead to foot drop due to compressed nerves in your knee
• Meralgia paresthetica, which involves the peripheral nerves in your thighs

Tumors or nerve trauma also are treated effectively by neurosurgeons. More complicated to operate on, common conditions neurosurgeons treat include:

• Car and motorcycle accidents, during which the nerves have been torn, cut or stretched
• Spinal cord injuries in the neck from sports injuries and accidents
• Genetic disorders
• Tumors that can form anywhere along the spine

When non-invasive treatments, including physical therapy, rest, anti-inflammatories and ice or heat, don’t alleviate your symptoms, you may need surgery. Common surgeries performed by neurosurgeons include:

• Anterior cervical discectomy for a bulging disc in the neck
• Chiari decompression, which is brain surgery if you have difficulty with coordination and balance
• Craniotomy following a brain injury or stroke
• Carpal tunnel release, which frees the nerves in your hand; a similar procedure is used to treat tarsal tunnel syndrome
• Laminectomy that’s done to relieve lower back pain
• Spinal fusion if you have degenerative disc disease or a traumatic spine injury
• Microdiscectomy to treat herniated discs in the lower back

Yes. Using Kaly, you can search for a neurosurgeon nearby, book an appointment and see the physician within less than 24 hours. Many doctors listed on Kaly even offer same-day appointments. Once you find the doctor of your choice, make the appointment online and fill out most of the necessary paperwork. Then you’ll be ready to go when you get there.

For many consultations with your neurosurgeon, a video call may be appropriate. All nerve specialists in Philadelphia on Kaly who see patients through online video visits have a video icon posted on their profiles.

Kaly lets you search specifically for a surgeon who takes your insurance. All you have to do is view the drop-down menu on the page to choose your carrier and insurance plan. If you aren’t positive about which plan you have, you can make use of the Kaly Insurance-Checker to figure it out. Most insurance companies allow video visits as well and charge the same as they do for in-person visits. Check with your insurance carrier to verify online visit coverage and co-payments.

When searching for a neurosurgeon on Kaly, you can filter your search by gender, in addition to other criteria. This way, your results only show a neurosurgeon in Philadelphia who matches your preferences for a female doctor.

On Kaly, you’re able to search specifically for a neurosurgeon in Philadelphia with availability in the evenings and on weekends.

Kaly makes it possible for you to find nearby neurosurgeons who are highly rated by other patients. All ratings are verified reviews submitted by actual patients. And all reviews are verified to comply with Kaly guidelines.

In addition to reading patient reviews, other important factors to consider include:

• Location. Make sure the neurosurgeon’s office is easily accessible for you.
• Insurance. When you choose an in-network doctor through Kaly, you reduce your out-of-pocket expenses.
• Office hours. Look for a neurosurgeon who accommodates your schedule.
• Specialty. Depending on the nature of your condition, you can pick a specific type of neurosurgeon to suit your needs.