Miami Neurosurgeons

Signs That You Need to See a Neurosurgeon

Both your brain and spine (central nervous system) and your nerves (peripheral nervous system) fall under the quality care of a head and spine surgeon. Following an accident or injury, and when considering surgery, it is important to be aware of a few common signs and symptoms that might warrant a visit to a Miami hospital or a neurosurgeon at our center for a diagnosis, treatment procedure or other services:

• Persistent or intense headaches
• Ongoing severe pain in your back or neck
• Feeling of weakness or numbness, especially in limbs
• Difficulty with coordination or maintaining balance
• Regular issues with memory or experiences of confusion
• Frequent falling due to muscle control issues
• Vision issues, such as double vision
• Sudden trouble speaking or swallowing
• Experiencing seizures, especially if new
• Problems controlling bowel or bladder

If you or someone you care about is experiencing any of these symptoms, don’t delay in scheduling a consultation with our brain and spine surgery specialists at our accident clinic in Miami. We diagnose new patients who are suffering from a wide range of serious or life threatening neurological conditions, including but not limited to:

• Brain injuries
• Spinal cord injuries (including those requiring complex spinal reconstructions)
• Herniated discs
• Stroke
• Brain tumors
• Subdural hematoma (bleeding between the brain and skull)
• Hydrocephalus (a build-up of fluid in the brain)
• Epilepsy (a neurological disorder causing frequent seizures)
• Parkinson’s disease
• Brain aneurysms
• Sciatica
• Trigeminal neuralgia (chronic pain affecting the trigeminal nerve in the face)
• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Peripheral neuropathy (damage to the peripheral nerves, often causing weakness, numbness, and pain)

What Should I Expect During My First Appointment with a Neurosurgeon?

If you are going to see a neurosurgeon at Icon Medical Centers for the first time, our caring team will assist you at every step and make you feel comfortable. Here are the steps a patient can generally expect during the first neurosurgery appointment: 

• Paperwork and health history: Just like any first-time visit to a doctor, you will fill out some paperwork about your health history, information about your current condition, and any symptoms you are experiencing.
• Meeting the neurosurgeon: Next, you will meet your doctor or neurosurgeon who will take the time to get to know your life and health concerns. This is a chance for them to understand your situation in depth.
• Discussing your symptoms: You will talk in detail about your symptoms like headaches, numbness, or difficulty moving. Be as honest and precise as you can – the more your surgery specialist knows, the better they can help.
• Neurological examination: Then they will perform a physical exam focused on your nervous system. This might involve pre-neurosurgery testing of your reflexes, strength, balance, and other related functions.
• Review of previous tests: If you have had any previous tests like MRIs or CT scans, your neurosurgeon will review these. They will look at the results to get a better idea of your tumors or other conditions.
• Discussion of next steps: Once your neurosurgery specialist has all the necessary information, they will talk you through what comes next; this might be more tests, a treatment plan, or sometimes, they may suggest surgery. They will make sure you understand your options, so you can make the best decision for your health.

How Can I Make the Most of My Neurosurgery Visit at Your Clinics? 

For maximizing the benefits from your doctor appointment at our Miami center, you should try to follow these useful tips:

• Bring all relevant medical documents regarding your health history; this includes previous lab results, MRI or CT scans, and records of any past neurosurgery procedure.
• Make a note of all the symptoms you are experiencing (such as pain or lesions), even if they seem minor or unrelated. This can help us make a more accurate diagnosis to treat you correctly.
• List any prescription meds, vitamins, or supplements you are currently taking, including their dosages, so we can identify potential drug interactions.
• Before your visit, make a list of any questions or concerns you have about your symptoms, treatment options, or recovery expectations.
• Be ready to discuss your lifestyle because your neurosurgeon might ask questions about your diet, exercise, alcohol consumption, smoking habits, and current medicine. These factors will influence your treatment plan.
• If possible, bring along a family member or close friend for emotional support and help remember important information. They might even ask questions you might not think of.
• We can’t stress this enough – do not downplay your symptoms or leave out information because you are embarrassed. It is prudent to be completely honest with your healthcare provider. In case of pediatric neurosurgery, parents should share the maximum relevant information about the child’s injury and symptoms.
• During the visit (or even virtual consultations), write down the key points your neurosurgeon makes. This could be about diagnosis, treatment options, or next steps after a treatment (such as complex spinal reconstructions). It will be a handy reference when the patient is back home.

Conservative Treatments Under the Guidance of a Miami Neurosurgeon

Neurosurgical specialists and physicians at our Florida accident clinic in Miami are trained and experienced to offer the right professional guidance and support, depending on your specific condition, health, and many other factors. When at our center, discuss with our neurology surgeons about the best treatment plan for you. 

Neurological surgery at a Miami hospital may not be necessary for most types of head, neck and spinal pain conditions. In many cases, including some brain tumor conditions, neurosurgery should be the last option. At Icon Medical Centers, our experienced Miami doctor or neurosurgeons can guide suitable candidates for non-surgical treatment options to mitigate neck and back pain, numbness in the arm or leg, spine issues, or nerve weakness. 

Some of the conservative spine treatments include physical therapy, massage therapy, chiropractic treatment, injections and medications. In cases where a painful condition persists and limits physical movement or activities even after minimally invasive, non-invasive and conservative treatment options have been provided, our neurosurgeon may prescribe a more aggressive treatment plan (such as complex spinal reconstructions).

One of the conservative options a patient may have is long-term pain management for the spine. In this case, our neurosurgeon along with a pain management specialist can develop a medication and therapy based treatment plan based on your specific medical concern, pain intensity and patterns, spine health history and your ongoing medications. 

Depending on your condition and the neurosurgery evaluation, a conservative therapy in Miami may also encompass other non-invasive or minimally invasive treatment modalities, such as injections, pain reliever medicine, stress management techniques, weight management, or even a daily fitness regimen including light exercises and walks. 

Board-Certified Neurosurgeons in Miami Florida

At our Chiropractic Clinics in South Florida, we have the assistance you need. Our board-certified neurosurgeon is a specialist in issues that affect the brain and/or spine.

Dr. Anthony Hall is a board certified Neurological Surgeon who has been practicing for 22 years in Southeast and Central Florida. He enjoys treating patients with spinal disorders, cranial disorders, and pain disorders. He specializes in minimally invasive approaches to the spine and brain.

Dr. Hall has a special interest in Geriatrics and surgical interventions for elderly patients. He also has an interest in Intradiscal regenerative therapy.

Dr. Hall spent one year of his residency studying Electrophysiology in spinal cord injured patients.