Karen, you sometimes have a long wait. I personally don't like a neurosurgeon as well as ortho. But that again is just me. I have had two with my back problems and it seems they hesitate more about surgery. My first, was one, and he didn't operate for 8 years, yet kept me on a string with pain. He kept saying he wouldn't give me pain pills, but he did. As I look back now I wouldn't put up with a Dr that acts like that at all.

Yet again I got sent to one, two years ago and I let him put in a stimulator that drove me nuts. He wouldn't do nothing else. That is why I let him. Now its been taken out and I am much better. I also had the surgery he wouldn't do.

So there you go on my opinion. I have had the same orthosurgeon since 98 and I am going to keep him. I got an appointment the 21 st of this month. he has fused L5- S1 twice. My fusion just crumbled in time. (not his fault). I now have bone morphagenic protein put in. This Dr did not give up on me. others did.

How do you know if a Dr. is good? Well I don't know if I can answer that one for you. Mine, if you look his name up on the internet (google it in) he has studied all around the world and specialized in certain area's. For instanct, he won't even talk to you about a knee problem. He is all spinal.

Good luck,
Billie