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Message: <blockquote data-quote="tRidiot" data-source="post: 2017608" data-attributes="member: 9374">Eh... I realize you are trying to help here, but please explain to me what a Neurologist is actually going to do? My guess is not much if anything at all...Management of "disc problems" can be handled almost exclusively without the assistance of a Neurologist. Your regular primary care physician can order almost all of the tests that need to be done. Simple x-rays are unlikely to be helpful, CT is better but still limited. MRI would be the best choice most of the time, as well as NCV testing (nerve conduction velocity). All these are simple and can be done without seeing a neurologist. IF (and I stress IF) something returns abnormal, then there are many options, like physical therapy, medical management (medicines) and potentially surgery. I am a big proponent of physical therapy and microsurgery when appropriate. Referral to a Physiatrist is much more likely to be helpful than a Neurologist, IMNSHO. The last resort is steroid injections and maybe a myelogram, where they inject dye into your spinal canal and take xrays to see how much intrusion there is. These are not usually done by a Neurologist (although they CAN), in my experience, but by Physiatry and possibly Neuro/OrthoSurg or Radiology.Neurologists are highly trained and qualified in many things. They are not unqualified to deal with neuromuscular back issues, but it is kind of like having Richard Petty drive your Corolla to diagnose a knocking rod... again, IMNSHO. Of course, if your primary care doctor doesn't want to deal with it, then referring you out for everything is certainly the easy way out.Just my $0.02.</blockquote>

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