Spine surgery is generally an elective procedure patients choose to have when non-surgical treatments no longer provide a tolerable level of discomfort, or when the pain becomes too difficult to bear. To ensure that the surgery goes as smoothly as possible, it’s important to carefully consider your selection of board-certified Los Angeles spine surgeons before scheduling surgery. The following are a few recommendations for where to start your search.
Talk to Friends and Family Members
If you know friends or family members who have had a surgical procedure for back or neck pain, get some input from them This will at least give you a starting point when putting together your list of possible surgeons. They may also be able to provide advice for how they went about looking for surgeons, what characteristics they were looking for, and what was the most important to them during the selection process.
Recommendations from Your Primary Care Physician
For spine surgery, you’ll be looking for either a neurosurgeon or orthopedic surgeon. Both types of doctors are qualified to perform most common back-related procedures, often working together in the operating room. Before starting an online search, talk to your primary care physician. Since he or she is likely to have a basic understanding of your particular type of back pain, they should be able to come up with some suggestions for board-certified surgeons in the Los Angeles area who could perform your back surgery.
Get Your General Background Information Online
Once you establish a list of surgeons in the Los Angeles area, do a little background checking by looking at their stats, paying particular attention to how often they’ve performed you’re specific type of surgery. Some reputable online resources for finding and reviewing the backgrounds of spine surgeons include:
Once you’ve narrowed down your selections, check with the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery to determine if the prospective surgeons have a valid certification. You’ll need to enter the last name of surgeon or the state to start your search on the ABOS website.
Along with skills, it’s important to consider your personal comfort level with your selected surgeon. You should request a consultation, meet with them in person, and make sure that you get along with them and feel at ease. The more comfortable you are, the higher chance there is for a positive outcome and enhanced recovery.
To find the board-certified spine surgeon that’s right for you, reach out to The Spine Institute Center for Spinal Restoration. Along with Medical Director and board-certified orthopedic spine surgeon Dr. Hyun Bae, MD, we have a talented team of spine specialists and surgeons with degrees from some of the most prestigious universities in the nation. Learn more about our surgeons today or schedule a complimentary consultation by calling (310) 828-7757.