Get to Know Neuroscience

The only constant about caring for diseases of the nervous system is that the field is always evolving. That’s exciting for both practitioners and patients.

In health care, neuroscience encompasses two main types of specialists: neurologists and neurosurgeons. Both treat conditions of the brain, spinal cord and nerves. The main difference between the specialists is that neurosurgeons perform surgery, whereas neurologists offer nonsurgical treatments.

Today, science is revealing new links between these specialties.

“There’s growing overlap between neurology and psychiatry,” said R. Christopher Spears, MD, neurosurgeon and medical director for stroke services at Saint Joseph Hospital. “That’s because we’re learning about new biological causes for psychiatric diseases.”

The study and treatment of nervous system conditions has a long history, but recent years have seen rapid advancement in neuroscience.

“Just during my seven-year training, which took place within the past decade, we started performing surgeries for conditions we hadn’t previously treated surgically,” Dr. Spears said. “New medications are developed every couple of years. It’s a rapidly changing field that requires us to keep up with new literature and research.”

The changing nature of neuroscience is on display every day at Saint Joseph Hospital, where specialists treat brain tumors, strokes, compression of the spinal cord and nerve roots, demyelinating diseases, such as multiple sclerosis, and more. The hospital was the first in Kentucky to use intraoperative CT for navigation during surgeries for brain and spinal tumors. This allows neurosurgeons to track procedures in real time.

Neurosurgeons at Saint Joseph Hospital perform many spine procedures using minimally invasive techniques, which allow patients to recover faster and with less pain. The most common minimally invasive procedure Dr. Spears performs is to treat a herniated disc — a damaged disc pressing against the spinal cord or nerve roots and causing pain.

“Disc herniation is a relatively common but extraordinarily painful problem,” Dr. Spears said. “Many patients can’t function because of the pain. Traditionally, we performed herniated disc surgery through open incisions in the back. More and more, however, we’re taking a minimally invasive approach to this surgery. We reach the disc by placing a slender tube through a small incision, and we use a microscope to perform the surgery.”

Has your primary care provider recommended seeing a neurologist or neurosurgeon? Find the specialist you need today.