Start with Neurologist or Neursurgeon or both?

General
1

I knew my PCP would find a neurologist for me to see to start off with. But I also said I would do my own research (which apparently there are no specialist in Indiana) any way... I decided to look for a neurosurgeon. Mainly because with my son when he had his at 1, we were sent straight to a neurosurgeon. I don't know if that is because they already knew surgery was going to happen or what.

So I have decided I am keeping both appointments. Why not? I will get two opinions in one week. I see a neurologist Monday morning and a neurosurgeon Friday afternoon. They are not in the same office. Which I am kind of glad I am keeping both because at least I will hear what they both have to say. However I am sure they will order another MRI, as I only got one of the brain and cervical spine (without contrast)

I guess my question is who did you see? And if you started with a neurologist and ended up having surgery done, did you then have to go to a neurosurgeon?

With one of my son's surgeries (not chiari) I just remember we saw the specialist who was not a surgeon. And once they determined surgery, the surgery was scheduled and we literally met the surgeon the day of surgery. So I don't want that to happen and I also don't want to keep seeing a neurologist to only then need to see a neurosurgeon.

So how or what did you all do?

Thanks!

2

Thanks Razzle! I will still go to both appointments just to see what they both have to say. Chances are I will need to find another neurosurgeon any way that knows Chiari a little better then what I am finding here in Indiana.

And so far Mayfield and the Center in Wisconsin don't take my insurance either.

3

Thanks Beeba,
I agree not to rule anyone out just because it isn’t on their bio list. But the first neuro I saw years ago said I was stressed and depressed and said I just needed antidepressants. Hopefully I’ll get lucky and connect with these two in the beginning.



Beeba said:
I think you go to both as they are set up. 99.9% of ns will refer you back to a nl after surgery anyway. Good to establish a relationship before hand. Don't go in putting all your eggs in an nl's basket - but you may have found a good one with an open mind. They will do standard tests and will give you a baseline. And no seeing a ns does not mean you are having surgery but they are who make that evaluation. My vote is to keep both. We can throw all the baby nl's out with the bath water. If the nl and you don't mesh it will save you the trouble later you will already know that. I don't feel we can write off a whole field of specialized medicine based on our own experiences.
4

One of the neurosurgeons I saw wouldn't set up an appointment with me until I went to a neurologist first to rule out any other possibilities. Keep both appointments - there's a chance the NS you see won't be a "fit" for you, and the NL could point you in another direction!

Good luck!
Katrina W.