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A brain and spine specialist specializes in the medical or surgical treatment of diseases and conditions of the brain, spine, and nervous system, including nerves, the spinal cord, muscles, and related blood vessels. They also diagnose and treat many neurological diseases, such as stroke, back problems, seizure disorders, brain and spine tumors, injuries, and birth defects. Neurosurgeons also perform surgery on the neck, back, brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nerves to treat neurological issues.

Brain and spine specialists are also experts who specialize in the prevention of brain, spine, and nervous system conditions and in reducing neurological disability. A neurologist might help your primary care doctor take care of you. A brain and spine specialist typically:

• Evaluates a medical history and educate patients about the brain and nervous system health and disease prevention.
• Carry out physical exams that involve evaluating blood pressure, vital signs, and the overall health of the brain and nervous system.
• Recommends and interprets laboratory as well as imaging tests and prescribes medications.
• Diagnoses and treats acute and chronic conditions that affect the brain, spinal cord, and nervous system including spinal cord and brain injuries and tumors, movement disorders, and different types of back problems.
• Screens, treats, as well as monitors conditions that escalate the risk of complex brain and nervous system conditions like a head injury that can result in long-term memory loss and headaches.
• Performs diagnostic procedures or surgery to treat brain cancer, back pain, and birth defects of the brain and spinal cord.
• Provides direct care for spine, brain, and nervous system conditions in the clinic and hospital.
• Works closely with a primary care doctor and other specialists and your healthcare team to provide optimal care.

Candidates aspiring to become a neurologist must have a 5½ years MBBS degree followed by 2 to 3 years MD/DNB course. After gaining the Master's degree, candidates have to pursue D.M. (neurology) to specialize in the field of neurology.

The first step to becoming a brain and spine specialist is to get a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university. Students must choose a degree that weighs heavy in the sciences. After clearing a competitive examination, a student can gain entrance into a medical school.

A medical student needs to complete a five-and-a-half-year MBBS program that prepares a student to work as a medical doctor. A student’s final two years will include clinical rotations in his or her chosen medical specialty.

A neurosurgeon residency program prepares a doctor to work in the field and also offers the opportunity to complete rotations in many areas of surgery and sub-specialties. As a doctor has additional experience and responsibilities, they can start focusing on neurosurgery. A brain and spine specialist has the opportunity to extend their training after doing residency by completing a spine fellowship program.

A brain and spine specialist treats the below conditions:

• Epilepsy
• Alzheimer’s disease
• Stroke
• Migraine
• Multiple Sclerosis
• Parkinson’s disease
• Brain tumors
• Tourette’s Syndrome
• Dementia
• Arthritis
• Degenerative disc disease
• Herniated disc
• Spinal stenosis
• Spondylosis
• Scheuermann's kyphosis
• Scoliosis
• Spinal cord cancer
• Chronic spine and back pain
• Kyphosis
• Myelopathy
• Neck pain
• Osteoporosis and vertebral fractures
• Radiculopathy

Diagnostic tests and procedures are vital tools that help doctors confirm or rule out a neurological, spine disorder, or other medical condition. Doctors now use powerful and accurate tools to better diagnose disease. Many tests can be recommended by a brain and spine specialist to identity brain and spine disorders. Some common diagnostic tests recommended by a brain and spine specialist include:

• Computed tomography (CT scan)
• Magnetic resonance imaging
• Positron emission tomography (PET)
• Single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT)
• Angiography
• Cerebrospinal fluid analysis
• Electroencephalography
• Electromyography
• Electronystagmography
• Ultrasound imaging
• Lumbar Puncture
• Arteriogram
• Neurosonography
• Myelogram
• Arteriogram

If you or a loved one experiences unexplained symptoms that could be related to the brain, brain, or nervous system, your doctor may recommend a neurological exam with a brain and spine specialist.

If you experience any of the below symptoms, you should see a brain and spine specialist:

• Muscle weakness
• Coordination problems
• Confusion
• Chronic pain
• Constant headaches, migraine
• Dizziness
• Seizure disorders, epilepsy
• Neuromuscular disorders
• Changes in sensation such as touch, vision or via other sensory receptors
• Infections of the nervous system eg. Encephalitis, Meningitis
• Brain abscesses
• Numbness or tingling
• Movement problems
• Seizures
• A brain or spinal cord injury
• Multiple sclerosis
• Parkinson’s disease

A brain and spine specialistcan help find out the cause of symptoms and develop a treatment plan for both complex and common neurological conditions. During a neurological exam, various instruments may be used to evaluate the nervous system. Motor skills, balance, coordination, and mental status may also be tested.

A brain and spine specialist will ask about your complete health history. They will conduct a physical exam to test your coordination, sight, reflexes, strength, mental state, and sensation.

In addition to tests and physical exams, you could get a lot of information at your first appointment. You may need to bring a family member or friend along with you. The person you bring can help ask questions, listen, and take notes.

Neurosurgical procedures can be performed for both pediatric and adult patients. There are a number of surgical and non-surgical procedures which are performed based on the nature of the disorder, type of injury, or disease. Modern non-invasive and invasive surgical procedures have simplified various brain surgeries up to a great extent. Below are some procedures performed by a brain and spine specialist:

• Anterior Cervical Discectomy
• Craniotomy
• Chiari Decompression
• Laminectomy
• Lumbar Puncture
• Epilepsy Surgery
• Spinal Fusion
• Microdiscectomy
• Ventriculostomy
• Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt
• Vertebroplasty
• Kyphoplasty
• Artificial disk replacement