Neurosurgery

If you’re struggling with back or neck pain, numbness, tingling, or weakness, turn to North Jersey Neurosurgical Associates in Ridgewood, New Jersey. Expert neurosurgeons Amanda Carpenter, MD, and Duncan Carpenter, MD, use an array of neurosurgery technologies and procedures to restore musculoskeletal function, eliminate discomfort, and enhance your quality of life with minimal recovery time. Schedule an evaluation today by calling the office or booking an appointment online. 

What is neurosurgery?

Neurosurgery is performed by a medical doctor who diagnoses and treats conditions affecting the brain, nerves, and spinal cord (nervous system). The neurosurgeons at North Jersey Neurosurgical Associates can prescribe medications, administer injections, and complete minimally invasive surgeries. They often treat conditions affecting the:

• Blood vessels
• Spinal discs
• Skull
• Vertebrae
• Soft tissues
• Spinal cord
• Nerves
• Protective membranes

Neurosurgeons use innovative procedures and the latest technological advances in brain and spine surgeries.

Which conditions can neurosurgery help treat?

Examples of conditions the experts at North Jersey Neurosurgical Associates can treat using neurosurgery include:

• Back pain 
• Neck pain
• Scoliosis
• Arthritis
• Spondylolisthesis
• Degenerative disc disease
• Meningiomas
• Pinched nerves
• Sciatica
• Herniated discs
• Spinal fractures
• Spinal stenosis
• Motor vehicle accident injuries
• Spinal radiculopathy
• Thoracic disc disease
• Spine tumors
• Spinal instability
• Spinal infections 
• Cysts
• Spinal cord injuries
• Brain tumors

Symptoms of a spine or nerve injury include pain, weakness, numbness, tingling, swelling, stiffness, or bruising. You might also experience headaches, a reduced range of motion, and limited mobility. 

Am I a candidate for neurosurgery?

The North Jersey Neurosurgical Associates specialists discuss your symptoms and medical history to determine if you’re a candidate for neurosurgery. They also check your vital signs, complete a physical exam, and order diagnostic tests. You may need lab testing, X-rays, an MRI, a CT scan, other imaging procedures, nerve function testing, or additional diagnostic tests.

Your surgeon may recommend you try medications, ice or heat, rest, bracing, injections, or physical therapy before considering neurosurgery — unless you have a severe or debilitating medical concern. 

What type of surgery does a neurosurgeon perform?

The North Jersey Neurosurgical Associates experts offer the following minimally invasive surgeries and more:

• Cervical fusion
• Discectomy and fusion
• Laminectomy
• Lumbar fusion
• Microdiscectomy
• Brain surgery
• Tumor removal 
• Vertebroplasty
• Kyphoplasty

North Jersey Neurosurgical Associates uses advanced minimally invasive approaches, such as robotic surgery and laparoscopy. 

What should I expect during and after neurosurgery?

To prepare for neurosurgery, follow your specialist’s instructions. They may ask you to avoid foods and drinks the morning of your scheduled procedure, stop taking certain medications, and arrange for a family member or friend to drive you home afterward.

During neurosurgery, you receive local or regional anesthesia with a sedative to help you relax or general anesthesia that makes you fall asleep. Your surgeon makes tiny incisions, repairs, replaces, or removes tissues, and closes the incision. You spend several hours in a recovery area and may head home the same day as the procedure.

Follow your post-surgery instructions to ensure effective healing after surgery. Get plenty of rest, take any medications as directed, and avoid strenuous activity and heavy lifting until given the okay. Follow up with the North Jersey Neurosurgical Associates specialists to ensure effective healing and long-lasting results.

Schedule a neurosurgery evaluation at North Jersey Neurosurgical Associates by calling the office or requesting an appointment online today.