When a patient begins to experience back pain that will require a specialist’s attention, many consider making an appointment with an orthopedic surgeon to be the natural next step. While orthopedists do specialize in the entire musculoskeletal system and have training in spinal surgery, they aren’t always the right choice for every patient. While orthopedic surgeons are trained to treat bones, joints and ligaments all over your body, neurosurgeons spend their six to seven years of training focusing solely on your brain, spine and nervous system. This concentrated focus often helps a neurosurgeon have a deeper understanding of the delicate nuances of the spine.