Who Should You See for Spine Surgery?
When you're living with persistent neck pain, lower back pain, or signs of a trapped nerve in the back, choosing the right specialist can be daunting. For many, the immediate question becomes: do I need an orthopaedic surgeon, neurosurgeon or complex spine surgeon?
The right expert depends on what is your issue, and what is your spinal problem — and that distinction matters. This guide explores how these specialists differ, when each is appropriate, and why a complex spine surgeon with neurosurgical expertise may be best positioned to treat complex spinal conditions.
Expert Insight: A Pattern in Patient Referrals
“Patients often arrive in my clinic after months of being bounced between referrals. Many assume back pain means bones — but in reality, it’s often nerves. By the time they get to a neurosurgical opinion, their symptoms have worsened. That delay could have been avoided.”
Understanding the Roles: Neurosurgeon vs Orthopaedic Surgeon
What is a Complex Spine Surgeon with Neurosurgical Expertise?
A neurosurgeon treats disorders of the spinal cord, nerves, and brain. Conditions such as spinal stenosis, nerve compression, cord compression, and tumours fall within their domain. Procedures like discectomy, laminectomy, cervical fusion, cervical disc replacement, spinal fusion and minimally invasive decompressions are part of their day-to-day work, that they perform in large volume compared to neurosurgeons with other subspeciality.
These specialists may both offer surgical treatments, but the focus differs — one can offer a wider range of surgical procedures including minimal invasive spinal procedures, and you can rest assured that he performs surgical procedures regularly in large volume.
People also ask, what is a neurosurgeon or what is neurosurgery? It’s the specialty dedicated to surgical care of the nervous system — spine included.
Real Case Example: The Cost of Delay
A 48-year-old patient developed back of neck pain and arm tingling. After months of physiotherapy and a local orthopaedic spine surgeon referral, his symptoms progressed to weakness. An MRI revealed severe cervical spine compression. He required urgent decompression by a complex spine neurosurgeon to prevent irreversible damage.
When to Choose a Complex Spine Surgeon with Neurosurgical Background over an Other Surgeons
If you have neck and arm pain, trapped nerve in the neck
Longstanding chronic pain with nerve signs
Tumours affecting the spinal cord
Instability, or failed prior back surgery
Thoracic cord compression
Previous spinal fusion
Looking for minimal invasive spinal spinal procedure
Questions to Ask Before Choosing a Surgeon
Is my condition common or rare?
How experienced is my surgeon, and what is his expertise?
Have I experienced neurological symptoms?
Has imaging shown pressure on my spinal cord or nerves?
Am I a candidate for minimally invasive surgery?
Should I get a second opinion from a complex spinal surgeon with neurological training?
How Surgical Approaches Differ — and Why That Matters
Think of your spine like a motorway. A pinched nerve is a traffic jam — signals slow or stop. A laminectomy clears debris from the road. A discectomy removes a damaged disc blocking the lane. In some cases, bone grafts or implants are needed to rebuild and stabilise the spine.
In more invasive procedures, particularly for severe compression, surgeons may remove sections of bone to access or decompress the spinal cord.
Complex spine surgeons with neurosurgical background often focus on delicate decompressions and minimally invasive solutions. Recovery from these procedures depends on the type of surgery, extent of intervention, and patient health — but most are done under general anaesthetic and tailored to reduce pain and relieve pressure on nerves.
What Conditions Do They Treat?
Complex spine surgeon
with Neurosurgical background
Minimal invasive spine decompression? Yes
Discectomy? Yes
Laminectomy / Spinal canal stenosis? Yes
Cervical disc replacement? Yes
Pinched nerve? Yes
Backbone surgery for tumours? Yes
Ankylosing spondylitis? Yes
Lumbar fusion? Yes
Other
surgeons
Minimal invasive spine decompression? Some
Discectomy? Yes
Laminectomy / Spinal canal stenosis? Yes
Cervical disc replacement? No
Pinched nerve? Yes
Backbone surgery for tumours? No
Ankylosing spondylitis? No
Lumbar fusion? No
Who Performs Your Surgery — and Why It Matters
Searching for a back pain specialist near me can feel like a maze. And in many cases, the most appropriate complex spine surgeon may not be local. It’s important to recognise that for certain conditions, especially those involving the spinal cord or nerve compression, travelling to access the right specialist can significantly impact your outcome.
Here’s how to break it down:
For backbone surgery due to instability: often a complex spine surgeon
For nerve-related issues or tumours: best managed by a complex spine surgeon with a neurosurgical background
For mixed or unclear symptoms: consider a referral to a complex spine specialist with dual training
Post-Surgical Recovery and Pain Management
Recovery isn’t one-size-fits-all. Some patients are up and moving in a day; others need days or weeks of structured support. Many benefit from minimally invasive options, which shorten recovery time and reduce scarring. A complex spine surgeon can offer you a minimal invasive approach tailored to your needs.
Aftercare often includes:
Targeted pain management
Physiotherapy
Lifestyle guidance to help prevent back pain recurring
The ultimate goal? Durable relief from long term pain and restored quality of life.
Final Thoughts: The Right Surgeon for the Right Spine Condition
Choosing between an orthopaedic surgeon/neurosurgeon and a complex spine neurosurgeon isn't about hierarchy — it's about fit. If your condition involves the spine of neck, spinal cord, or nerve pathways, a neurosurgeon with complex spinal expertise is often the most appropriate choice.
Mr Gordan Grahovac, a highly regarded complex spine specialist, has built his practice on precision, outcome-focused care, and honesty. Whether it's decompression, revision back surgery, or complex stabilisation, he provides tailored solutions for patients who haven’t found relief elsewhere. He utilises the latest enabling technology to make complex spine surgery safe and reproducible, and regularly performs all varieties of spinal procedures and on yearly basis performs more than 300 spinal operations.
Book a consultation today with Mr Gordan Grahovac — a leading UK-based spine surgeon in Kent and London — and take the first step toward long-term relief.
