Neurosurgery

Neurosurgeons at Ascension St. Vincent’s offer spine surgery to treat neck and back injuries and conditions.

Spine surgery in Northeast Florida

Neurosurgeons at Ascension St. Vincent’s offer spine surgery to treat neck and back injuries and conditions.

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Why choose Ascension St. Vincent’s

At Ascension St. Vincent’s, your care starts with a doctor who listens. Our neurosurgeons and specialists take the time to understand you, your health history and your symptoms. Your neurosurgeon works with a team of specialists and is part of an integrated national network of doctors, sharing best practices, knowledge and research while delivering advanced care close to home.

Your care team has the expertise to help find the cause of your symptoms and deliver a treatment plan that helps relieve pain, increase movement and improve your quality of life. And, we connect you with advanced rehabilitation and support after surgery.

Brain, spine and nerve conditions we treat

We diagnose and care for a wide range of brain, spine and nerve conditions. Many conditions can be treated with non-surgical options such as therapy, medication or other treatments. Some spinal conditions that may require surgery include:

  • Back pain
  • Broken vertebra
  • Cervical disk disease
  • Herniated disk
  • Infection
  • Neck pain
  • Sciatica (nerve pain in your lower back and down your leg)
  • Scoliosis (curved spine) and other spinal deformities
  • Spine infection
  • Spinal instability (spondylolisthesis)
  • Spinal stenosis or narrowing of the spinal canal
  • Spinal tumor
  • Spondylosis (age related degeneration of the spine)

Minimally-invasive spine surgery

Your care plan may include therapy, medication or surgery. When surgery is recommended, our experienced neurosurgeons use advanced techniques designed to support healing and recovery. Types of spine surgery include:

  • Cervical spine surgery
  • Disk replacement
  • Lumbar spine surgery
  • Minimally invasive spine surgery
  • Peripheral nerve surgery
  • Removal of spinal tumors
  • Scoliosis surgery
  • Spinal cord stimulation
  • Spinal deformity correction surgery
  • Spinal radiosurgery
  • TOPS System for treating back pain

From preparation for surgery through recovery, you are connected with specialists in physical rehabilitation. We focus on rehabilitation therapies to help safely increase your muscular strength and flexibility.

Helping you prepare for spine surgery

Your neurosurgeon will talk with you before your surgery to help you prepare for your procedure. You may need to stop taking some medications before the procedure, such as blood thinners and aspirin. If you smoke, you will need to stop smoking before surgery. Talk with your doctor about the right diet and exercise before your surgery to best support your recovery. Your care team will also tell you about any restrictions for eating and drinking before surgery.

Depending on the type of surgery you are having, your surgeon may recommend that you have a pre-surgery evaluation. This appointment may include a physical exam and other tests. Our goal is to help make sure you are prepared to have anesthesia and that you have a pre-surgery plan customized for your health needs.

There are also things you can do at home to prepare for surgery, such as adjusting your bed height, clearing walkways, making sure you have essential items and more. Your care team will help you prepare your home to help make your recovery smoother.

What to expect after spine surgery

After surgery, your physical therapist will evaluate your needs, create a care plan for rehabilitation and make sure you are prepared to go home. Your therapist will also help you with walking devices such as a cane or walker, if needed. Working with you and your care team, your physical therapist can help determine the level of physical therapy you may need to recover.

Frequently asked questions

Back and neck pain can range from a mild, dull ache to persistent, severe and disabling pain that may radiate down your arms or legs. Neurosurgeons at Ascension St. Vincent’s specialize in the diagnosis and surgical treatment of back and neck pain. Our goal is to help find the cause of your pain and provide the right care for you. For many patients, the causes of back and neck pain include overuse, trauma or injury, infection, abnormal growth, obesity, muscle strain, muscle or ligament tears, joint problems, smoking, slipped disk, osteoporosis and more.

Talk to your doctor about back and neck pain if you have:

  • Pain lasting more than two weeks
  • Pain after an injury or fall
  • Severe pain that does not go away with rest and medication
  • Weakness, numbness or tingling in your arms or legs
  • Unintentional and unexplained weight loss
  • A fever over 100.4°F
  • Loss of bladder or bowel control

Your care plan to address your back and neck pain may include therapy or surgical options. Your care team at Ascension St. Vincent’s focuses on rehabilitation therapies to safely increase your muscular strength and flexibility. Certain exercises, anti-inflammatory medicines, braces or injections may help relieve pain. When surgery is needed, your doctor will discuss your surgical treatment options. There are many different types of surgery to treat back pain. Your doctor will recommend a surgical care plan that’s right for you.

Insurance coverage for brain, spine and nerve procedures

Talk with a doctor about insurance coverage options for having an outpatient surgery, such as spine surgery. Brain and spine surgery may be covered by various insurance plans as well as Medicare. First, you need to be evaluated by a neurosurgeon.

Get a second opinion

If you have questions about your diagnosis or treatment plan, a second opinion can help you better understand your options. Our specialists can review your medical records and history to provide an additional perspective. Before your appointment, check with your insurance provider to find out if a second opinion is covered. We can request your medical records from your doctor on your behalf so they can be shared before your visit.

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Financial assistance and support is available

We can connect you with resources and programs that may be able to help you and your family with options for financial assistance. Our financial counseling team is here to listen to your concerns and work with you to help find options that meet your needs.

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