TIps to Find the Best Back Doctor Near You

Are you searching for a reputable and one of the best back doctors in the area? Wouldn’t it be nice to have expert tips to find the best back doctor? Fear not, before choosing a back specialist you will want to read our expert tips to help you find the best back doctor near you.

Tips for Finding the Best Doctor for Back Pain

So if you want to get rid of back pain and need to find a great back doctor, there are a few steps you should take to ensure success.

• Look for board certification

If your doctor is not board-certified, that’s a red flag. “Being certified through the American Board of Medical Specialties means a doctor has earned a medical degree from a qualified medical school, completed three to seven years of accredited residency training, is licensed by a state medical board, and has passed one or more exams administered by a member of the ABMS,” said Consumer Reports. “To maintain the certification, a doctor is expected to participate in continuing education. To see whether a doctor is certified, go to certificationmatters.org.”

• Check for fellowship training

When you’re looking for the best back doctor near you, especially if you’re thinking about minimally invasive back procedures, you also want to make the doctors you’re considering have specialized fellowship training and extensive experience. Fellowship-trained physicians have an additional year of intensive hands-on experience in a specific field of orthopedic surgery. Research shows that only about 10 percent of today’s spine surgeons have the experience and technical skills for minimally invasive procedures like kyphoplasty, microendoscopic discectomy, minimally invasive endoscopic lumbar fusions (TLIF), and direct lateral minimally invasive anterior fusions (XLIF).

• Ask coworkers, friends, and family

But, you shouldn’t discount referrals from other people. Mine your friends, family, and coworkers for referrals as well. You might have people in your life who know of a great back doctor. And don’t forget that no matter where the referral comes from, you want to make sure you do your research.

• Talk to your regular doctor

There’s nothing better than a referral from a trusted source, and when it comes to finding a leading back doctor, a great first step is asking your regular MD. Or, if you see another type of doctor, like an allergist, optometrist, or an OB/GYN, ask them, too. Medical professionals tend to be well-connected and know and should be a great resource for you.

“If you know a doctor, nurse, or health care professional, ask for the names of doctors or practices in your area whom they like and trust,” said Consumer Reports. “That can be more in­sightful than recommendations from friends or family.”

• Do a Google search

Of course, the Internet will play a role when you’re looking for a back doctor; it’s one of the main ways we search for just about anything today. The best way to incorporate an online search into your quest for the best back doctor near you is to Google individual doctor names and practice names, reading reviews, and looking for any negative comments and red flags like malpractice claims and disciplinary actions. Consumer Reports’ “state-by-state list of links to state medical boards and other resources or checking up on doctors” is a useful tool for culling this information.

• Scour their websites

You can learn a lot about doctors just by looking through their websites. What procedures do they do? What kind of training do they have? Are they continuing to progress with new techniques and teaching or lecturing about their specialties? Do they have any patient testimonials on their site? These can be a goldmine when it comes to getting some deeper insight into the type of care you can expect.

With the help of some of the best back doctors in Texas, you too can receive the most advanced minimally invasive spine procedures to treat and eliminate your back pain. If you’re suffering from chronic back pain, contact the DISC Spine Institute today. Subscribe to Back Stories to stay up to date on all the latest posts.