After an accident, you deserve the highest level of medical treatment available, and that means seeing the right specialist for your injuries. For some accident victims, a neurosurgeon is a doctor who will give you the best chance at a complete recovery.
Although there are many neurosurgeons in Florida, it’s crucial for you to find the right one for your needs. 1-800-Injured, an attorney and medical service referral network, is ready to connect you with an experienced professional.
What is a Neurosurgeon?
A neurologist is a doctor who treats injuries or illnesses that impact the central nervous system. Typically, this includes the brain, secondary nerves, and spinal cords. But a neurosurgeon has even more knowledge than a neurologist.
After medical school, they must complete a surgical internship and finished a lengthy residency in neurosurgery. The grueling process makes them qualified to diagnose and treat many different central nervous system issues. If surgery is required, they have the skills and experience to perform the surgery themselves.
What Do Neurosurgeons Do?
A neurosurgeon treats conditions like haemorrhages, spinal cord trauma, herniated discs, and head injuries. For this reason, many people turn to neurosurgeons after accidents. Depending on the severity and type of injury, they may use a minimally-invasive surgery to treat the problem.
While every injury could benefit from immediate medical care, neurological issues are even more urgent. A regular doctor may not be able to diagnose the problem and your injury could remain untreated for months or years. If untreated, a neurological condition could result in ongoing pain and degeneration of your condition. Unlike some other injuries, neurological conditions do not heal on their own with time.
There are three common injuries treated by neurosurgeons. First, there are fractures in the back or neck. This is often caused by whiplash and comes with many complications. Another issue often associated with accidents and requiring a neurosurgeon is a concussion or cerebral contusion. If you’re in a car accident or slip and fall, you could hit your head on an object or the ground. As a result, you may develop a head injury.
You might also need neurosurgery after a car accident because of a soft tissue injury to your spine or neck. In most cases, a general doctor is not experienced enough to handle your diagnosis or treatment. They will either misdiagnose your issue or end up referring you to a specialist.
Signs That You Need a Neurosurgeon
It can be difficult to tell when it’s time to see a neurosurgeon. If you experienced any of the following symptoms, it’s time to schedule your appointment:
- Forgetfulness
- Inability to retain information
- Being irritated or anxious
- Frequent headaches
- Ringing or humming in your ears
- Sensitivity to light
- Dizzy spells or a feeling of faintness
- Nausea and vomiting
- Sore neck or back
- Numbness or tingling in the fingers, toes, arms, or legs
- Slurred speech
At times, the symptoms appear immediately. However, this isn’t always the case. The shock of the accident or a high tolerance to pain could prevent you from being aware of a neurological injury. Under certain circumstances, the symptoms aren’t apparent until days or even weeks after the incident. Some people don’t realize the symptoms are related to the accident.
Regardless of the extent of your injuries, you should seek medical attention after your accident. If you see a general doctor, they may refer you to a neurosurgeon. It’s important to follow through with their suggestions and get full medical treatment.
Why Should You Make Your Appointment Soon
The sooner you make your appointment, the easier your recovery will be. But there are other benefits to obtaining early care. For instance, they will ensure you don’t have a fatal or permanent injury that will quickly escalate. They will identify the problem early on and treat it before it has a life-altering effect on you.
Another benefit of early treatment is your personal injury claim. If you want compensation for your accident, you need evidence that you were injured during the incident. Without any doctor records, you don’t have the proof you need. Your word isn’t good enough for the court, but medical records are. To avoid being the sole party responsible for your medical expenses, you should see a doctor as soon as possible.
It’s not too late to seek treatment. If you didn’t consent to treatment at the scene of your accident, there’s still time to build a case and get medical help. Don’t hesitate to schedule your appointment.
Finding the Right Neurosurgeon
Your future is at risk. By working with an experienced neurosurgeon, you help yourself in many ways. First and foremost, you give yourself the best chance at recovery. Too many accident victims never recover from their injuries. Instead, they spend the rest of their lives thinking about how things once were. Some victims need live-in caregivers and are on permanent disability. Others suffer from chronic pain and a decreased quality of life. You and your family may never be the same again.
If you find the right medical care, you have a fighting chance at recovery. You also improve your odds of receiving compensation for your accident. Personal injury claims are complex matters that require strong evidence in your favor. When you work with a neurosurgeon who has dealt with accident victims, you push the odds more in your favor.
Where to Look
In 2017, accidents were one of the leading causes of death in Florida. There were 12,812 accident-related deaths that year. In 2015, 243,316 people were injured in Florida car accidents. Accident survivors deserve proper care for their injuries, and 1-800-Injured can connect them with the help that they need.
Finding a neurosurgeon on your own is challenging and requires time. You need to look into local doctors and research their reputation. Additionally, you need to ask referrals from friends, family members, and acquaintances. While dealing with your injury, you might not have the time or energy needed to search for a neurologist. 1-800-Injured wants to help you. We are an attorney and medical referral service and there are many neurosurgeons in the 1-800-Injured network.
If you’re looking for neurosurgeons near you, contact 1-800-Injured and connect with a physician in your area.