Neurologists are medical doctors who provide diagnosis, treatment, and care for neurological disorders and conditions. This means that they treat and care for medical conditions that concern the nervous system. 

These medical doctors have a variety of ways to provide treatment and care for neurological conditions. But that will of course depend on what medical conditions they treat. 

However, do neurologists perform surgery to treat neurological conditions?

Today, we will discuss iif neurologists perform surgeries as treatment to neurological conditions. 

Do Neurologists Do Surgery?

Let’s get to the point. No, neurologists do not perform surgery to treat a patient’s neurological condition. Like what we have previously mentioned, neurologists are medical doctors who provide treatment for many medical conditions that affect the nervous system. 

However, out of the many types of neurologists, not one of them uses surgery as a method of treatment for neurological conditions. 

For diagnosing a medical condition, neurologists use a variety of tests. These tests include ECG, CT scans, MRI scans, EMG/NCS, PET scans and more. 

Neurosurgeons Do Surgery

However, the medical doctors who provide surgery for neurological disorders are known as neurosurgeons. 

A neurosurgeon is a type of medical doctor, much like neurologists, who specializes in diagnosing and treating neurological disorders. However, unlike neurologists, they will use surgery as a way to treat patients.  

The conditions neurosurgeons treat are basically the same ones that neurologists do. This includes things like trauma, tumors, infections in the brain and spine, stroke, congenital anomalies, and more. 

They also provide treatment for back and neck pain, sciatica, herniated disks, and more. 

Neurosurgeons Use Other Treatments Too

However, when it comes to neurosurgeons, they are not only focused on surgery as a method of treatment. 

They also use other ways to treat neurological conditions, or any conditions that affect the nervous system. In fact, they use non-surgical operations more often compared to surgery. 

And if surgery is necessary, they would rather try a minimally invasive surgery to treat certain neurological conditions. 

Training For Neurologists and Neurosurgeons

The training and education of neurologists and neurosurgeons are not that different from one another. Neurologists undergo four years of pre-medical education at a college or university. 

After that they will head on to do four years of medical school. After obtaining an MD or DO degree, they go through a year of internship as well as three more years of specialized training in a neurology residency program. 

Some pursue additional education in a subspecialty. Much like neurologists, neurosurgeons undergo four years of pre-medical education at a college or university. 

And it is also followed by another four years of medical school for an MD or DO degree. Then a year of internship. 

After that, they will complete a five to seven years in a neurosurgery residency program. After which they need to complete a fellowship. 

Although they are different, neurologists and neurosurgeons can, and often do, work with one another.

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