What to Expect During Your Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery Consultation

During a minimally invasive spine surgery consultation, you meet with a spine specialist, share your symptoms and medical history, and determine whether this surgical option is right for you.

Minimally invasive spine surgery addresses common sources of chronic back pain, and offers lower risks and better outcomes than traditional surgery. Still, scheduling a minimally invasive spine surgery consultation can be intimidating.

David A. Wiles, MD, and our team offer minimally invasive spine surgery to residents in Chattanooga, Bristol, Kingsport, and Johnson City, Tennessee. If you’re considering scheduling a consultation, here’s a guide to help you get started.

When to schedule a spine surgery consultation

It’s normal to be nervous when considering spine surgery. Even though minimally invasive methods come with smaller incisions and faster recovery times, it’s still surgery — and it’s critical to ensure it’s the best choice.

Most doctors recommend non-surgical treatment options initially, but sometimes, surgery is the best option. You should consider a minimally invasive spine surgery consultation if:

• You have persistent back or neck pain that hasn’t improved with conservative treatments like physical therapy or medication
• You have neurological symptoms like numbness, tingling, or weakness in arms or legs that correspond to spinal compression
• Imaging (MRI, CT, or X-ray) suggests a condition like a herniated disc, spinal stenosis, degenerative disc disease, or mild instability 
• Your quality of life is affected due to spinal symptoms

If you’re seeing a spine specialist, they may refer you for a minimally invasive evaluation. Otherwise, request a consultation with our office, especially when pain or nerve symptoms worsen or don't improve.

Preparing for your spine surgery consultation

To make your consultation efficient and meaningful, several things you can do to prepare include:

Gather your medical records

Bring copies (or digital access) of previous imaging studies, surgical reports, treatment history, medication lists, and rehabilitation notes, which helps avoid redundant tests and gives Dr. Wiles and our team a better picture of your situation.

Make a symptom log

Before your visit, track when your pain or symptoms occur (for example: morning stiffness, bending, sitting, walking), what worsens and what relieves them. Note any neurological signs like numbness, tingling, or weakness. These details can help us correlate your symptoms to specific spinal segments.

Think about goals

Think about what’s most important — pain relief, returning to work or hobbies, minimizing downtime. Ask about risks, expected recovery, alternatives, and what happens if minimally invasive methods aren’t feasible. Clarifying these priorities helps us tailor the discussion to your unique needs.

Plan logistical details

Wear comfortable clothing that allows partial access to your back or neck during examination. Allow enough time for discussion and review. Consider bringing someone with you because an extra set of ears helps retain technical details and follow-up instructions.

What to expect during your appointment

A minimally invasive spine surgery consultation is an essential step in making an informed, confident decision about your health. Here’s what a typical consultation includes:

Review of your medical history and symptoms

Dr. Wiles and our team ask detailed questions: where is the pain, how it started, what alleviates or aggravates it, your neurological symptoms, prior treatments, lifestyle, and overall health status, which is where your symptom log can be helpful.

Physical and neurological exam

We examine your spine motion, muscle strength, reflexes, sensation, posture, gait, and possibly provocative maneuvers (bending, extension) to determine symptoms and help pinpoint the spinal levels involved.

Imaging review and planning

Next, we review your existing imaging and may order supplemental imaging studies to visualize bone, disc, joint alignment, and neural structures. These guides determine if a minimally invasive approach is technically feasible.

Discussion of options

Based on findings and goals, Dr. Wiles and our team review possible treatment paths with you. Whether it’s continuing non-surgical care, scheduling minimally invasive surgery, or considering traditional open surgery, you hear about pros, cons, and expected outcomes.

We discuss minimally invasive surgery benefits, including smaller incisions, less muscle trauma, shorter recovery, and risks like infection, nerve injury, or the need for further surgery. We also explain what recovery might look like in your case — hospital stay, rehabilitation, activity limitations, and timeline for return to work or activity.

Surgical planning and next steps

If you choose to move forward, the team schedules the procedure, reviews preoperative preparation (labs, health clearances, medication management, fasting instructions), and helps you understand what to bring and how to arrange care after surgery.

Dr. Wiles and our surgical team guide you through every step, from the initial consultation through follow-up care. Your consultation is the beginning of a partnership aimed at relieving your pain, restoring function, and helping you return to what matters most. Call us or book an appointment online to get started.