Top 5 Neurosurgeons in London

At Surrey Physio, we regularly receive neurological cases and referrals. The most common being sciatica (this is where the sciatic nerve is impinged, often by a disc herniation). However, we also sometimes help people rehabilitate following stroke and other neurological brain injuries. For example, right now we’re seeing a lady who has repeated fits following brain surgery.

There are a lot of neurological issues, and neurological problems tend to be on the more severe spectrum of issues. Sometimes patients require surgery, and in these instances, we’ll refer them onto neurosurgeons.

Most people require rehabilitation following neurological injury. In some cases, we do take these patients on, and in some cases, we refer to other colleagues. As we are mostly MSK physios, with some expertise in neuro, we decide on a case per case basis who we feel we can help. There are neuro physios around, but few and far between, so we tend to get a lot of requests from people who need rehab and can’t find a neuro physio.

Let’s go straight to our Top 5 recommendations for neurosurgeons in London

1. Dr Henry Marsh

Although Henry may be retired after suffering with prostate cancer, he is a formidable and expert force in the world of neurosurgery. He has published a number of best-selling books, and also operated on several of our patients (thank you Henry). At the time of writing he would be about 73, so we suspect that he has now retired, and we’ll probably need to replace him from the no.1 spot soon.

2. Dr Robert Weeks

Before moving to London in 1991, Dr. Weeks completed his medical degree at the University of Wales in Cardiff. After completing his general medical training in London, he began his neurology career at Hammersmith Hospital, National Hospital for Neurology, Royal Free Hospital, and King's College Hospital. Additionally, he conducted imaging research at the Hammersmith Hospital and received a PhD in Clinical Neurosciences from Imperial College, London. This was followed by a two-year postdoctoral fellowship investigating brain recovery at the National Institutes of Health in the United States. In 1992, Dr. Weeks became a member of the Royal College of Physicians, and in 2005, he was elevated to Fellow status.

Dr Weeks works at Shirley Oaks Hospital and the Sloane Hospital (Beckenham). His expertise includes stroke and general neurology.

3. Dr Paul Hart

Dr Paul Hart is a Croydon-based neurosurgeon who trained in neurology at the Atkinson Morley Hospital, Royal Free Hospital, and Mount Sinai Hospital (New York). He is a member of the Royal College of Physicians, Association of British Neurologists, and British Association of Stroke Physicians. Paul specialises in general neurological conditions, as well as stroke, headaches, dementia, Parkinson’s, and brain tumours.

We’ve referred patients to Dr Hart and can vouch for his thorough approach.

4. Unfilled – please contact tim at surreyphysio.co.uk if you want to occupy this space. We’ll need some testimonials and a chat.

5. Unfilled – please contact tim at surreyphysio.co.uk if you want to occupy this space. We’ll need some testimonials and a chat.

What is the Difference between a Neurosurgeon and an Orthopaedic Surgeon?

A neurosurgeon specialises in the surgical diagnosis and treatment of disorders affecting the nervous system, which consists of the brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nerves. This may include the treatment of brain tumours, aneurysms, spine disorders, chronic pain, and nerve injuries. Some neurosurgeons may also focus on paediatric neurosurgery, functional neurosurgery (which frequently involves deep brain stimulation for movement disorders), or neuro-oncology (cancer).

In contrast, orthopaedic surgeons focus on the musculoskeletal system, which consists of bones, joints, muscles, ligaments, tendons, and nerves. They can diagnose, treat, and rehabilitate musculoskeletal conditions and injuries. This can include joint replacements (such as hip or knee replacements), the treatment of sports injuries, the management of trauma to the musculoskeletal system, and the treatment of conditions such as arthritis or osteoporosis. Some orthopaedic surgeons may specialise further in areas such as sports medicine, paediatric orthopaedics, or particular body parts (such as hand or spine).

Neurosurgeons and orthopaedic surgeons can both specialise in spine surgery and treat conditions such as herniated discs, spinal stenosis, and spinal deformities such as scoliosis. The choice between an orthopaedic surgeon and a neurosurgeon for a spine condition may depend on the specific condition, the patient's optimal surgical approach, and the surgeon's expertise and experience.

We treat thousands of patients for hip pain every year. They range from hip bursitis (we tend to inject those), to groin pain, to arthritic hips, to buttock pain, and many more presentations of hip pain. Hip pain, of course, is incredibly common. The problem with a painful hip is that it affects your ability to move, which stops you or affects your ability to play sport, and reduces your mobility. This contributes to weight gain, and then the hip worsens, and the vicious cycle begins.

In some cases, the hip is just too far down the road to be treated. We know within a few minutes of performing an examination how bad the hip is. Some of my team are so experienced, we know from a very quick examination and palpation to the hip how bad the hip is, and if you might need surgery.

Seeing a hip surgeon may become necessary under several circumstances. Firstly, if we suspect you have advanced osteoarthritis (degenerative change). Second, if you are really struggling with activities of daily living, like putting your socks on, or getting up and down stairs, or getting out of a chair. We might also refer you for more investigation. Hip consultants are experts, hips are all they see in many cases. They often work in conjunction with MRI scans and X-rays. Sometimes we treat the hip but whatever we try, the hip pain just does not improve. These cases are often known as persistent pain, and we might refer you for further evaluation to a hip surgeon.

A hip surgeon is a medical professional, typically an orthopedic surgeon, who specializes in diagnosing and treating conditions related to the hip joint. This can include a range of issues such as hip fractures, hip dysplasia, arthritis, and other degenerative conditions. They are skilled in various treatment methods, from non-surgical interventions like physical therapy and medication management, to surgical procedures such as hip arthroscopy, hip resurfacing, and total hip replacement. Their goal is to alleviate pain, improve mobility, and enhance the quality of life for their patients. They work closely with other healthcare professionals, including physical therapists and rheumatologists, to provide comprehensive care.

(Therapists, osteopaths, sports therapists, chiropractors reading this page… if you love the exercises here, then please check out the amazing exercise prescription toolwww.rehabmypatient.com. You can sign up for a free 14-day trial, and it’s affordable to buy, with pricing starting from £11.23 per month.

If you are a patient, in pain, or suffering with neurological issues please call us to discuss your case further. Surrey Physio have an amazing team of therapists to help you recover from pain, and get you back to living a normal life. If we are unable to help you, we might suggest you to seek help from a neuro physio. Call us on 0208 685 6930 or click the link at the top to book online. If you see one of the surgeons on this page, please mention Surrey Physio to them – thank you).