Spine Surgeon in Stockbridge, GA

Patients looking for a spine surgeon in Stockbridge, Georgia, can receive care from Larry R. Shannon II, MD, FAANS, a board-certified neurosurgeon at De Novo Brain & Spine. Dr. Shannon evaluates problems in the neck, mid-back, lower back, spinal cord, and nerve roots. He treats both common and complex spine conditions. These include herniated discs, spinal stenosis, spinal instability, spinal tumors, and symptoms after a prior spine operation.

A visit with a spine surgeon does not mean you will need surgery.
The first step is to find the most likely cause of the symptoms. Dr. Shannon compares the history, examination, and imaging to decide whether surgery could help. The next step may be care without surgery, more testing, another referral, a second opinion, or a discussion about an operation.

De Novo Brain & Spine is in Stockbridge and serves adults from Henry County and nearby South Metro Atlanta communities.

A Spine Surgeon With Neurosurgical Training

Spine surgeons may train in neurosurgery or orthopedic surgery. Dr. Shannon is a board-certified neurosurgeon. His training includes conditions of the spine, spinal cord, nerve roots, brain, and peripheral nerves.

During a spine visit, he does not rely on one scan alone. He looks at pain, strength, feeling, reflexes, balance, walking, hand use, and daily function. This is especially useful when symptoms may involve a nerve or the spinal cord, the cause is not clear, or symptoms remain after a prior operation.

When to See a Spine Surgeon

A spine surgeon may be the right specialist when:

  • Neck or back symptoms continue after initial treatment.
  • Pain travels into an arm, hand, leg, or foot.
  • Numbness, tingling, weakness, or foot drop is new or getting worse.
  • Balance, walking, coordination, or hand function has changed.
  • Imaging shows a herniated disc, spinal stenosis, instability, deformity, fracture, tumor, or another spine problem.
  • A clinician has recommended spine surgery.
  • Symptoms continue or return after a previous spine operation.
  • You want a second opinion before deciding about surgery.

Seeing a spine surgeon does not make an operation the only option. The visit helps decide whether surgery may help, whether more information is needed, or whether care without surgery is a better next step.

Spine Conditions We Evaluate and Treat

Dr. Shannon evaluates conditions in the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine. These are the neck, mid-back, and lower back. The plan depends on the symptoms, exam, imaging, prior care, and overall health.
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Disc and Degenerative Spine Conditions

These problems can cause neck or back pain, stiffness, or pressure on a nerve or the spinal cord. A finding on a scan does not prove that it is causing the symptoms. The scan should match the history and exam.

Radiculopathy means that a spinal nerve root is irritated or compressed. It may cause pain, numbness, tingling, or weakness in an arm or leg. Many nerve problems improve without surgery. New or worsening weakness, balance trouble, or signs of spinal cord pressure may need faster review.

Instability, Deformity, and Complex Spine Conditions

Complex spine care may involve a deformity, abnormal motion, a tumor, a prior fusion, or pressure that has returned. It may also involve pain or nerve symptoms after earlier surgery. These cases often require a close review of old records, new imaging, spinal alignment, and nerve function.

For more diagnoses, visit the Spine Conditions page.

Image of brain and spinal chord in blue monochromatic color

How Dr. Shannon Decides Whether Spine Surgery May Help

A spine operation should have a clear goal. The goal may be to take pressure off a nerve or the spinal cord. It may be to make an unstable spine more stable, correct a major deformity, or remove or biopsy a tumor.

Dr. Shannon reviews:

  • Where the symptoms are and how long they have been present.
  • Changes in strength, feeling, balance, walking, coordination, or hand use.
  • Findings from the physical and neurologic exams.
  • Whether the imaging matches the side, level, and pattern of the symptoms.
  • Treatments already tried and how well they worked.
  • Prior spine surgery and older imaging.
  • Overall health, bone strength, medicines, and surgical risk.
  • The patient’s goals, likely benefit, other options, and possible risks.

For many planned spine operations, surgery is considered after care without surgery has not helped enough and a clear problem matches the symptoms. Some problems need faster review. These include worsening nerve loss, spinal cord pressure, major instability, an unstable fracture, infection, or a tumor.

The next step may be more care without surgery, another test, a referral, close follow-up, or a talk about surgery. Not every abnormal scan needs an operation. Surgery also cannot fix every cause of neck or back pain.

Dr. Larry Shannon performing a brain and spine surgical procedure in the operating room.

Spine Surgery Procedures and Treatment Options

Spine surgery is not one operation. The right approach depends on the diagnosis, spinal level, nerve or spinal cord pressure, stability, alignment, prior surgery, bone strength, and overall health.

Minimally Invasive and Motion-Preserving Spine Surgery

Minimally invasive spine surgery uses smaller paths to reach the spine in selected cases. The goal is to limit harm to nearby muscles and tissues. Robotic assistance is a tool for planning and guidance during selected operations. It does not decide who needs surgery. Disc replacement aims to keep motion at the treated level and is used only in carefully selected patients.

Fusion and Stabilization Procedures

Fusion joins two or more bones to limit harmful motion and improve stability. It may be used for selected cases of instability, deformity, spinal slippage, fracture, or repeat nerve pressure. The type of fusion depends on the problem and the part of the spine involved.

Decompression and Complex Spine Procedures

Decompression surgery creates more room for the spinal cord or nerve roots. Complex surgery may also remove part of a vertebra, treat a tumor, rebuild the spine, or add support. The plan depends on the exact cause and location of the problem.

Visit the Treatments page to learn more about surgical and nonsurgical options.

What to Expect at a Spine Surgery Consultation

A spine visit starts with the problem, not with a decision to operate. Dr. Shannon reviews the symptoms, daily limits, prior treatment, health history, and available imaging. He also performs a physical and nerve exam.

Bring or arrange access to:

  • The actual MRI, CT, and X-ray images, not only the written reports.
  • Older imaging for comparison.
  • Operative reports and records from any prior spine surgery.
  • A list of treatments tried and how well they worked.
  • A current medicine list and key health history.
  • Notes about when symptoms began, where they travel, and what activities have changed.

The visit should give you a clearer view of the likely diagnosis, what else may be needed, and which next steps may make sense. Review the Prepare for Your Visit page before your appointment.

Second Opinions Before Spine Surgery

A second opinion can help when surgery has been recommended. It can explain whether the diagnosis fits the symptoms, what the proposed operation is meant to do, which other options exist, and what tradeoffs to consider.

A second opinion may confirm the first plan, suggest a different approach, or show that surgery is not the best next step. Dr. Shannon may review existing images and treatment plans as part of the visit. The images are reviewed with the history and exam. This is not a stand-alone image reading service.

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What Patients Can Expect at De Novo Brain & Spine

 Care from Larry R. Shannon II, MD, FAANS, a board-certified neurosurgeon who provides spine surgery and spine care.

  • Direct surgeon involvement in the exam, treatment plan, and key decisions, with other qualified team members involved when needed.
  • Careful review before surgery is recommended.
  • A clear discussion of options with and without surgery.
  • Second-opinion visits for patients who want more clarity.
  • A Stockbridge office serving Henry County and nearby South Metro Atlanta communities.

When to Seek Emergency Care

Go to the emergency room for:

  • New inability to urinate or new loss of bladder or bowel control.
  • New numbness around the genitals, buttocks, inner thighs, or the area between the legs.
  • Sudden or quickly worsening weakness, paralysis, severe trouble walking, or major loss of coordination.
  • Severe neck or back pain after a major injury, especially with weakness, numbness, or trouble walking.

Call 911 if symptoms are sudden or severe or you cannot travel safely. De Novo Brain & Spine is an outpatient practice and does not provide emergency care.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between a spine surgeon and a neurosurgeon?
A spine surgeon may train in neurosurgery or orthopedic surgery. Surgeons from both fields may focus on spinal disorders. Dr. Shannon is a board-certified neurosurgeon. His broader training also includes the brain, spinal cord, nerve roots, and peripheral nerves.
Does seeing a spine surgeon mean I need surgery?
No. A spine surgeon decides whether the problem may improve with care without surgery, needs more testing, or may benefit from an operation. Many patients who see a spine surgeon do not need surgery.
Is a back surgeon or neck surgeon the same as a spine surgeon?
“Back surgeon” and “neck surgeon” are common terms for a doctor who performs spine surgery. A spine surgeon may treat the cervical spine in the neck, the thoracic spine in the mid-back, and the lumbar spine in the lower back.
Do I need a referral to see a spine surgeon at De Novo Brain & Spine?
This depends on your insurance plan and the type of visit. Contact the office or check with your plan before scheduling. Ask whether a referral or prior approval is needed.
What should I bring to my spine appointment?
Bring the actual images and reports, prior spine records, operative notes, a medicine list, and a summary of treatments tried. Also note where symptoms travel and whether you have weakness, numbness, balance changes, or limits in daily life.
What spine surgery techniques does Dr. Shannon use?
The plan may include a minimally invasive approach, robotic assistance, decompression, disc replacement, fusion, stabilization, or complex spine surgery when suitable. The method is chosen only after the diagnosis, anatomy, imaging, health risks, and treatment goals are reviewed.

Schedule a Consultation With a Spine Surgeon in Stockbridge

If neck or back symptoms continue, you have been told you may need spine surgery, or you want another opinion, schedule a visit with Dr. Shannon at De Novo Brain & Spine.

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Educational Note

This page gives general health information. It does not replace a personal medical exam, diagnosis, or treatment plan. Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room if you think you may have a medical emergency.