Updated Question: Best Neurosurgeon for Neck Surgery? Thanks. (Miami, Tampa: transplants, insurance)

[ghtix]

I posted this question over a year ago, and now find it necessary to ask again in case anyone has any updated info. or recommendations:

Who is the best neurosurgeon on this region for neck surgery?

Also - who to avoid?

Thanks!

[ghtix]

PS: If you don't want to post names, feel free to message me.

[graceC]

I hope you get names, and when you do, research the heck out of them before you go with any of them. I would personally ask for a referral from my PCP first and go from there.

Also, Sarasota has a serious lack of available health providers - you may have to wait for months just to get an appointment or might be better off going to bigger city for your surgery (Tampa, Orlando, Miami). Just my 2 cents.

[Travelassie]

Originally Posted by graceC

I hope you get names, and when you do, research the heck out of them before you go with any of them. I would personally ask for a referral from my PCP first and go from there.

Also, Sarasota has a serious lack of available health providers - you may have to wait for months just to get an appointment or might be better off going to bigger city for your surgery (Tampa, Orlando, Miami). Just my 2 cents.

That would most likely be due to the insane number of transplants that have moved to the area in the last few years. They're overwhelming the medical system in the area along with the infrastructure.



I don't know if health care is easier to get in the bigger cities in FL.

[ghtix]

Thanks. My PCP didn’t have any referrals. My ortho surgeon (who did a rotator cuff operation on me 4 years ago) referred me to a neurosurgeon, who did a procedure on me last year. Due to current pain, I went back to him, and he proposed another surgery - but my gut told me to get a second opinion, so I got 2 others.

The 2nd opinion did not agree with another surgery, and the 3rd opinion didn’t either, but instead tried to get me interested in regenerative stem cell treatment, which insurance doesn’t cover, and out-of-pocket cost amounts to thousands of $$$.

I do have the name of a highly respected neurosurgeon who is about 2 hours away - traveling there is more difficult, but if “push came to shove” I’d try to see him.

Still looking for any recommendations in this area - thanks - again, you can message me any names - appreciated.

PS: Yes - The overwhelming transplant infusion is a mess on a number of fronts - the medical availability situation being among thwe worst.

[kyle19125]

I too have the need for neurosurgery in my neck (Cervical Disc Degeneration and painful neuropathy) and have had much trouble getting it fixed. There are precious few neurosurgeons in FL and the better talent graduating from our med schools flee to cities like Atlanta, NYC, Chicago, Cleveland, Houston, SF Bay area and others for better pay and avoidance of the corporate owned aspects here with a few massive healthcare companies dictating everything. If you look around, you'll also be hard pressed to find any specialist in FL under the age of 50, and few that are American-born. Do you have the means to have the surgery performed in another state where you might have family/friends? The recoup time is relatively short and might be a week or less before you could fly back.


Also have you looked at orthopedic surgeons as well? There is an overlap with some specializing in neck issues just like neurosurgeons.