1. Choosing the Right Doctor
In order to find the right doctor, it is important to do your homework. The United States has the best health care in the world, but not all doctors have the same level of training and expertise. Consider the following when you are looking for a specialist:

Medical Specialties
Changes in medicine happen every day. Therefore, it is important to seek a physician that is up-to-date with the latest approaches to your problem.

Orthopaedic surgery subspecialized considerably over the past decade. Many orthopaedic surgeons receive additional training in one of these major areas: Hand, Joint Replacement, Pediatrics, Sports, Shoulder and Elbow, Spine, Trauma, or Tumor. Fellowship training is the highest level training possible for a surgeon. Fellowships provide intense training in one specific area of the body. In total, spine surgeons require 10 years of additional training after graduating from college!

Which doctor is best?
In general, it is best to see a physician that has a special interest in your problem. However, there is often overlap between subspecialties. For instance, hand and shoulder surgeons may both treat elbow problems.

Other Sources of Information
Health care plans typically provide very little input when it comes to picking a specialist. Their goals are to contain costs, even though high quality specialists may get you back on your feet quicker with the latest minimally invasive techniques.

It is also important to be careful when using the internet as a guide. The internet is a rich source of information, and misinformation.

Click here for reputable websites dedicated to spinal surgery!

Best treatment for spine problems
The best treatment for spine problems is a fellowship-trained physician that focuses only on the spine. Ideally, multiple forms of imaging will be readily available to help provide a diagnosis as quickly as possible, and avoid taking additional time off from work or school for added appointments. Spine surgeons work closely with neurologists, rehabilitation and pain specialists, physical therapists, and alternative medicine experts to provide a multidisciplinary approach to your problem. In reality, only a small percentage of patients that see a spine specialist ever need surgery.

2. Orthopaedic Spine vs. Neurosurgeons
Orthopaedic surgeons and neurosurgeons usually have similar approaches, as long as their practice is dedicated to spine surgery. Although training is very different between the two disciplines, what is most important is the amount of time the physician focuses on the spine, and whether they keep up with latest techniques.

With scoliosis and kyphosis, both spine and pediatric orthopaedic surgeons treat children 18 years old and under. The major difference is that spine surgeons treat people of all ages so there is no rush to make decisions. Also, because they focus only on the spine, they have added experience. The most difficult scoliosis cases typically occur in adults, so pediatric procedures tend to be more straightforward.