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When should I see a neurosurgeon?

Generally, seeing a neurosurgeon is a step that comes after several failed medical treatments, therapy appointments, and potentially even visits to other medical specialists. While this may seem frustrating, neurosurgery can be risky, has long recovery times, and has the potential to lead to death or disability. For this reason, neurosurgeons need to know that their treatments are truly required and that all other options are exhausted. 

Some signs that a neurosurgeon is likely to be involved in your care are: 

  • Sudden loss of control over your bowels or bladder that continues after the initial event. 
  • Signs of stroke (sudden weakness, facial droop, arm droop, and speech changes)
  • Severe trauma to the head leading to loss of consciousness
  • Gradually increasing weakness of your upper or lower extremities
  • Cancer that has started in the brain or spread to the brain
  • Cancer that is affecting the spinal cord

* Savings estimate based on a study of more than 1 billion claims comparing self-pay (or cash pay) prices of a frequency-weighted market basket of procedures to insurer-negotiated rates for the same. Claims were collected between July 2017 and July 2019. R.Lawrence Van Horn, Arthur Laffer, Robert L.Metcalf. 2019. The Transformative Potential for Price Transparency in Healthcare: Benefits for Consumers and Providers. Health Management Policy and Innovation, Volume 4, Issue 3.

Sidecar Health offers and administers a variety of ACA compliant major medical plans. Coverage and plan options vary and may not be available in all states.

Your actual costs may be higher or lower than these cost estimates. Check with your provider and health plan details to confirm the costs that you may be charged for a service or procedure. You are responsible for costs that are not covered and for getting any pre-authorizations or referrals required by your health plan. Neither payments nor benefits are guaranteed.

The site is not a substitute for medical or healthcare advice and does not serve as a recommendation for a particular provider or type of medical or healthcare.