Imaging and Symptom Review
Dr. Zahos may review your MRI, CT, X-rays or nerve testing (EMG/NCS). He reads them alongside your symptoms and exam.
Back Pain Treatment in Paramus, NJ
Get back pain treatment in Paramus, NJ from a New Jersey Monthly Top Doctor who starts with non-surgical care. Dr. Peter A. Zahos finds out what’s behind the pain and explains your MRI in plain words.
- Top DoctorNew Jersey Monthly
- Conservative-FirstSurgery Only If Needed
- Board-CertifiedNeurological Surgeon
Back Pain Evaluations Led by an Experienced Neurosurgeon
Something on your MRI doesn’t always explain how you feel. Dr. Zahos looks at your symptoms, exam and imaging before talking about treatment.
He is a board-certified neurosurgeon with more than 30 years of experience and was named a New Jersey Monthly Top Doctor. He has led neurosurgery programs at Cleveland Clinic Florida and Jacobi Medical Center.
Clear Answers Before Treatment Begins
Patients often say Dr. Zahos explains their MRI clearly. He tells you what’s likely causing your pain, whether your imaging matches it and what to do next. He recommends surgery only when you need it.
Academic-Level Expertise with Personal Guidance
Dr. Zahos trained at Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Montefiore Medical Center, where he was chief resident, and has taught at New York Medical College since 2016. Learn more about Level One Neurosurgery and how we approach spine and nerve care.
A Patient’s Experience with an Honest Surgical Opinion
Dr. Zahos gives you a straight answer, even when that answer is that you don’t need surgery.
“Dr. Zahos approached my situation with kindness and honesty. He explained that surgery was not necessary at this time and encouraged me to follow up if my condition changed.”
WebMD patient review
What Patients Say About Their Care
Patients often mention Dr. Zahos’s calm manner, his straightforward advice and how he makes complicated spine findings easy to understand.
Back Pain Care Near You in Paramus and Bergen County
Our office at 140 Route 17 North lets patients from Paramus, Ridgewood, Fair Lawn, River Edge, Hackensack and across Bergen County have back pain and spine imaging reviewed by a board-certified neurosurgeon close to home.
When Back Pain Interferes with Daily Movement
When sitting, standing or shifting position hurts, driving Route 17, working and walking all get harder. Your visit looks at how the pain affects your day, not just your imaging report.
A Local Evaluation Before Making a Surgical Decision
You can get a clear neurosurgical opinion without going into New York City. As a spine surgeon in Paramus, Dr. Zahos reviews your symptoms and imaging, tells you whether non-surgical care still makes sense and brings up surgery only when there’s a medical reason to.
How We Evaluate Back Pain Before Recommending Treatment
The right treatment depends on where the pain comes from. Your visit covers your history, a neurological exam, the care you’ve already tried and any scans or tests you bring.
Conservative and Surgical Planning
If you don’t need surgery now, Dr. Zahos may suggest keeping an eye on things or continuing non-surgical care. If a pinched nerve, instability or another structural problem needs an operation, he explains why and what the surgery is meant to fix.
Spine Conditions That May Cause Back Pain
Back pain is a symptom, not a diagnosis. Dr. Zahos works out whether it comes from wear and tear, a nerve, the structure of the spine, a muscle or more than one of these.
Degenerative Disc Disease Treatment
Discs change with age, but that doesn’t always cause pain. Dr. Zahos checks whether disc wear actually matches your symptoms.
Spinal Stenosis Treatment
Stenosis narrows the space for the nerves. In the lower back it can cause pain, heaviness, numbness or weakness that gets worse when you stand or walk. Treatment depends on how narrow it is and how much it limits you.
Herniated Discs and Nerve Compression
A herniated disc can press on a nerve and cause back pain that travels into the buttock or leg. Where the disc is and whether you have weakness or other nerve changes shape the plan.
Spondylolisthesis and Spinal Instability
When one vertebra slips over another, it can cause back pain, pinch a nerve or make the spine less stable. Dr. Zahos looks at how far it has slipped, your symptoms and how well you move.
Technology Used to Clarify the Source of Back Pain
Technology helps connect what the tests show with what you feel.
Diagnostic Imaging Review
An MRI shows the discs, nerves and spinal canal. CT and X-rays show more about bone and alignment. Nerve testing (EMG/NCS) may help when nerve function needs a closer look.
Advanced Surgical Planning When Necessary
When surgery is needed, Dr. Zahos uses minimally invasive techniques, navigation-guided and robotic-assisted instrumentation, lumbar decompression, fusion and complex reconstruction, chosen to fit your diagnosis.
Understanding Insurance and Payment for Your Evaluation
Our team can go over your benefits and what you can expect to pay before your appointment.
Confirming Your Individual Benefits
Benefits vary by plan. Call our Paramus office at (201) 977-1445 and we’ll go over yours.
Questions About Back Pain Treatment in Paramus
Common questions before a back pain evaluation with a neurosurgeon.
Does seeing a neurosurgeon for back pain mean I need surgery?
No. Dr. Zahos starts with non-surgical care and recommends surgery only when your symptoms, exam and imaging show you need it.
When should I see a neurosurgeon for lower-back pain?
Get checked if the pain doesn’t ease with early care, gets in the way of your day or travels into a leg, or if you have numbness, weakness, balance problems or an MRI finding you want explained.
Can Dr. Zahos review an MRI completed by another provider?
Yes. Bring your MRI, CT, X-rays or other records and Dr. Zahos will go over them alongside your symptoms and exam.
How much does a back pain evaluation in Paramus cost?
It depends on the visit and your insurance benefits. Call the office before your visit and we’ll go over it with you.
Can I get a second opinion about back surgery in Paramus?
Yes. Dr. Zahos offers second-opinion evaluations to confirm a diagnosis, review your imaging, go over alternatives and tell you whether the surgery you’ve been offered is necessary.
Get Clarity About Your Brain or Spine Condition
Meet with board-certified neurosurgeon Dr. Peter A. Zahos for a personalized evaluation, imaging review, or trusted second opinion.