5 Questions (and Answers) About Neurosurgery

Neurosurgery at Healthpointe in La Mirada


Going to the doctor, especially for issues regarding the brain or central nervous system, can already be a drag. When confronted with the reality that neurosurgery may be the best treatment option, patients can sometimes feel overwhelmed and fearful about the procedure. To be fair, brain surgery is no joke, but Healthpointe is here to guide your way.

In the spirit of alleviating some anxiety associated with a neurosurgical recommendation, here are responses to some of the most common questions we hear about neurosurgery as a whole.


  1. What is neurosurgery? Neurosurgery, otherwise known as brain surgery, is a general term for surgical procedures of the brain or around the brain. It is generally performed to correct issues such as tumors or aneurysms. These highly precise procedures are performed by neurosurgeons, who receive special training in order to safely complete these procedures. Brain surgery technology has advanced much in recent years, allowing neurosurgeons to perform minimally invasive brain surgery procedures with precision instruments. This, in turn, has reduced the number of brain surgery risks associated with the procedure.

  2. How does neurosurgery work? Well, it depends on the type of brain surgery — yes, there are multiple types! During a biopsy, a small piece of tissue is removed from the area with the use of a long, thin needle in order to help detect tumors or other abnormalities. A craniotomy involves cutting out a piece of the skull in order to expose the brain, generally used to drain fluids or resolve aneurisms. If the issue is in the area of the brain that controls motor function, speech, or vision, your doctor may recommend awake brain surgery, which is exactly what it sounds like. During this procedure, the patient is awake and numbed down with local anesthetic. The patient is kept awake so the doctors performing the procedure can monitor things like eye movement and memory in order to make sure those actions aren’t impacted during the surgery. This generally only happens in the most critical circumstances.

    This is by no means an exhaustive list, so if your doctor recommends a neurosurgical procedure, don’t be afraid to ask for more detail about what exactly is going to happen to you.

  3. Brain Surgeon


  4. What are some of the risks associated with neurosurgery? Brain surgery is not without its dangers, which is why it’s generally only recommended for serious issues. Bleeding in the brain can occur, and while this can usually be resolved quickly when under medical observation, it can lead to complications. Temporary to long-term amnesia can occur if some nerve damage happens during the surgery. As with any surgery, there’s a risk of infection, which in this case can cause swelling in the brain. Seizures are also somewhat common following a brain surgery.

    Your provider should communicate any risks associated with neurosurgery clearly with you. If you have questions about what may or may not happen as a result of your surgery, be sure to ask your provider for more information.


  5. What does brain surgery recovery look like? Recovery from neurosurgery can be a prolonged process taking several months or more. That said, the goal is to improve the patient’s quality of life, so some perseverance can make the wait worth it. Recovery time is also impacted by the patient’s all-around health prior to the procedure. At Healthpointe, our providers will create a recovery plan specific to your individual needs.

    Generally, patients will be monitored in the hospital for several days following the procedure. During this say, the patient’s responses and blood flow are frequently tested. Lifestyle changes are also often recommended, and can involve things like less stress or a more active lifestyle. Sometimes, doctors will recommend physical therapy after brain surgery to help improve motor function. If there are behavioral changes after surgery, psychological therapy may come into play.

  6. Brain X-Ray


  7. After brain surgery, what is the likelihood that I will need to have another brain surgery? This ultimately depends on so many factors that it’s impossible to give one straight answer. First and foremost, communicate with your provider regarding your individual needs. The doctors working specifically on your case will be the best people to guide you through your long-term treatment. Neurosurgeons consider things like the patient’s need, age, overall health, willingness, and recovery from the first surgery when determining whether another surgery is necessary. That said, for things like brain tumors, where they sometimes reoccur, there is a chance
    that another brain surgery will be recommended.

Do you have more questions about neurosurgery? Are you interested in speaking with one of our doctors about your treatment options? Don’t hesitate — call (888) 824-5540 to request an appointment.


How the Central Nervous System Works

neurosurgery-blog


Have you ever picked up a heavy box incorrectly, and immediately felt pain in your back? While the pain is instant, the length and severity of this injury can vary. But why did you feel this pain so quickly? You can thank your Central Nervous system for that, and while at first this may seem like a hassle, feeling pain is actually a very good thing. If we didn’t feel pain, we might push our bodies to limits they can’t recover from.

According to The University of Queensland, there are two main parts of the nervous system: the Central Nervous System (CNS) and the Peripheral Nervous System (PNS). Today, we will be discussing the CNS, but it is important to note that the PNS relates to the nerves that branch out from the spinal column to the different parts of your body. These nerves send messages back to the CNS, where the entire body is able to communicate.


Neurosurgery-Blog-Spine


The Central Nervous System is comprised of two large areas, which include the spinal cord and the brain. These two areas are critical to how the body communicates with itself, and are guarded by the skull and the bones around the spinal cord. The brain is in control of our thoughts, and is the center of where we process our body’s information.

Based on information from Johns Hopkins Medicine, the brain is comprised of three main parts: the cerebrum, cerebellum, and the brain stem. The cerebrum is the large, pink, wavy area of the brain that is most commonly seen in media, and is pictured above. The cerebrum is in control of our senses (sight, smell, etc.) and our abilities to think, learn, and speak. The second part of the brain is the cerebellum, and is located towards the back of the brain. This area is in control of coordination, muscle movements, and balance. The third part of the brain is the brain stem, and this area connects the brain to your spinal cord. The brain stem is what allows messages that have traveled from the spinal cord to be processed within the brain.

Similarly, the spinal cord has different functions that allows your body and brain to communicate about your pain. According to Medical News Today, the three functions of the spinal cord are carrying messages to the brain, carrying messages from the brain to the body, and reflex responses. Reflex responses refer to an action involving our motor reflexes, and they do not require a message to be sent to the brain. An example of this is the knee jerk response that you might be tested for at a doctor’s office.

The spinal cord is comprised of nerve cells, and these cells are in charge of creating movement and sensation throughout the body. As a result, any injury to the spinal cord can result in serious effects to the body, and any break or injury in the spinal cord can damage how the body communicates with itself.


Neurosurgery Brain


So how does the message of constant back pain get to your brain? The answer is actually neurons. According to the Reeve Foundation, neurons send and receive messages to each other along the spinal cord, and eventually, these messages get sent to and within the brain. These messages are constantly being sent, despite if you are making a conscious or unconscious decision to do so. This is possible because there are around 100 billion neurons in the spinal cord and brain, and they are constantly working to make sure your body stays alive and in proper function.

The brain and spinal cord are incredibly sensitive, and thus are prone to extreme injuries. Motor vehicle accidents, falls, and other incidents can cause significant damage to these areas that can have life altering impacts, and have extreme effects on your quality of life if not treated correctly. Pain management is essential to recovery from brain and spinal cord injuries, and Healthpointe is equipped to help you. We have several doctors who specialize in neurosurgery, spinal surgery, spinal disorders, and much more. Our skilled doctors commonly perform surgeries such as discectomy, foraminotomy, laminectomy, lumbar spine fusion, and kyphoplasty, so that your condition can be improved.

Careful thought and testing is put into consideration for each procedure, so that the different needs of each patient are met. Click here to find a full list of our doctors, and to see what they have to offer; if you have been recently injured and are still feeling symptoms, you can book an appointment through the Healthpointe website, or call (888) 824-5580 to schedule today.


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