Neurosurgery FAQs in San Antonio

Neurosurgeons are surgeons with specialized training in the entire nervous system: the brain, the spine, and the peripheral nerves that branch out from the spinal cord to the rest of the body.

In practice, much of what we evaluate is pain. Neck and back pain, sciatica, pinched nerves, and pain that radiates into an arm or a leg all fall within a neurosurgeon's training, because they all come back to how nerves are being affected.

No, and this is the most common misconception we hear. Our approach is conservative by design. Nonsurgical options come first whenever we believe they can help, and for many patients they are where care begins and ends.

Surgery enters the conversation only when we believe there is no other way to address the condition or manage the symptoms. Booking a consultation is not a step toward the operating room. It is a step toward finding out what is going on.

It is still surgery. What changes is how we get there. Minimally invasive techniques avoid large open incisions and work through very small openings, often around an inch.

A small camera is passed through that opening and the procedure is viewed on a large display while small, precise instruments are used. Because less tissue is disturbed, recovery is often shorter and scarring smaller than with traditional open surgery. Your surgeon will explain what to expect for your specific procedure.

These two tests answer a question imaging often cannot: whether your nerves and muscles are working the way they should. Our clinical electrophysiology department is staffed by board-certified electrophysiologic clinical specialists trained to perform both studies.

A nerve conduction study (NCS, also called NCV) measures how fast an electrical impulse travels along a nerve, using small adhesive electrodes on the skin. Electromyography (EMG) records the electrical activity of a muscle through a very fine needle, which helps show whether a problem sits in the nerve, the muscle, or the connection between them.

No. You do not need to arrive with a scan in hand, and you should not delay being seen to get one. We are glad to schedule an evaluation without prior imaging.

X-ray and nerve testing are available on site, and if your evaluation calls for anything further we will arrange it. If you already have imaging from elsewhere, bring the images themselves along with the written report.

We know you may be in a lot of pain right now, so we do everything we can to see you quickly. New appointments are typically available within 10 days, and sooner when cancellations open up.

If your symptoms are worsening quickly, say so when you call. That changes how your appointment is prioritized.

Yes. Call 210-255-8935 and our team will go over your coverage and the payment options available to you before your visit.