If you have issues with neck or back injury, and you have to undergo a surgery, it is vital to find a proper spine specialist that will help you along the way. 

Remember that only by finding a professional and specialist help; will you get the best chances of minimizing potential complications and achieving pain relief as well.

Spine surgery is a big deal, which is why you have to be selective and think ahead before you make up your mind. The question is how to find right Long Island spine specialists, and how to determine that someone is professional in this particular area.

Even though you can find numerous rating sites available on the market, they tend to rely on personal and peripheral information. At the same time, they tend to miss the critical point and that is the actual outcome that people have after surgery.

The factors such as waiting time are irrelevant when compared with the success of surgery, especially since the spine is an essential part of your wellbeing and wrong operation can lead to devastating consequences.

Another important consideration is to pay attention to getting a correct diagnosis, because spine surgery may address the anatomical issue, but if the leading cause of pain is not addressed, the problems will prevail and cause more significant issues as time goes by.

We decided to present you ways to find a perfect spine surgeon for your particular requirements.

Ask Proper Questions

How Many Times Have You Performed Similar Surgery?

The first question should be a general one because experience and practice are one of the most critical factors that will affect the success of the surgery. However, apart from public info, you should ask about specifics including whether they have experience with lumbar fusions.

On the other hand, if the doctor is recommending an ALIF, it means that he/she has done plenty of them by date, especially since this particular treatment is more problematic when compared with other types.

Click here to learn more about ALIF in general. 

Do You Have Board Certification?

When you enter an office, you can usually wee a certificate as well as diplomas that surgeons have for particular specialization. Degree and certification are indispensable for most surgeons that are operating legally.

At the same time, you should check whether they are a member of particular spine organization such as the American Board of Spine Surgeons or North American Spine Society. 

Do You Have Fellowship In Spine Surgery?

Another important consideration is to determine whether that particular someone has a fellowship when it comes to training, especially when it comes to artificial disc replacement and fusion, which are extensive procedures that require proper understanding.

Can I Talk With Other Patients That Had Similar Procedure With You?

The surgeon should have referrals similarly as other specialists, which is why you can ask previous patients to see their outcome and to determine whether they communicate properly afterward, during the care.

If your surgeon is defensive at this particular point, or while you are asking direct questions, it means that you should find someone else. 

A surgeon with excellent results will not have problems answering any question you are interested in, and he/she will provide you proper qualifications, certifications and everything that will give you peace of mind when it comes to choosing them.

Best way to prepare for spine surgery is by checking out this guide: https://www.wikihow.com/Prepare-for-Back-Surgery.

Get a Second Opinion

Even though we cannot go to a website such as Consumer Reports to determine whether some doctor is good or not, which creates difficulty in finding that particular someone you can trust for spine surgery.

The common belief is that no one should undergo spine surgery without getting a second opinion from a different surgeon. Even though on the surface, this is a good idea, it is also a trap that you can enter and create problems for your overall decision.

Surgery is not something we enjoy choosing, and deciding to undergo one is a process in which you should play an active role. 

The first step is to get an accurate diagnosis and determine the cause of the problem so that you can understand treatment options that are possible both nonsurgical and surgical.

Remember that whatever you decide, it is vital to be thorough when it comes to finding the proper surgeon because it can mean a difference between success and further problems.