Back Specialist in Suffolk County
SYMEON MISSIOS, M.D., FAANS
Dr. Missios is a board-certified neurosurgeon at Long Island Brain & Spine, specializing in both cranial and spinal procedures and with subspecialty training in the surgical and radiosurgical management of brain tumors and in minimally invasive endovascular neurosurgery. Click here for Back Specialist in Suffolk County!
Dr. Missios received his Bachelor’s of Science degree in Biological and Biochemical Sciences from Duquesne University, in Pittsburgh, PA where he graduated Magna Cum Laude. He obtained his medical degree from Dartmouth Medical School, in NH, where he was elected as a member of the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society. He graduated medical school with honors and was the recipient of the prestigious Dean’s Medal Award for the highest academic achievement in his class. He completed his internship and residency in neurological surgery at Dartmouth-Hitchcock University Hospital in NH and received his subspecialty training in the field of brain tumors at Cleveland Clinic, in OH, where he completed a fellowship in Neurosurgical Oncology and Stereotactic Radiosurgery. He continued his subspecialty training by completing a second fellowship in the field of Endovascular Neurosurgery and Neurovascular Critical Care at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia.
Dr. Missios’ clinical expertise involves the treatment of benign and malignant tumors that originate in the brain or that have metastasized there. He has extensive experience in the use of advanced intraoperative neuronavigation techniques such as intraoperative tractography, brain mapping and electrocorticography that allow the safe resection of complex brain tumors that occupy critical areas in the brain. He is also an expert in stereotactic radiosurgery, a very precise way of delivering radiation to the tumor while sparing any radiation exposure to the rest of the brain, and is highly effective for the treatment of a variety of intracranial tumors.
Dr. Missios is also a part of the Stroke and Brain Aneurysm Center of Excellence at Good Samaritan Hospital Medical Center, the only Joint Commission Certified Comprehensive Stroke Center in the South Shore of Long Island. He received extensive training in endovascular neurosurgery at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, one of the largest stroke centers in the country, and his expertise involves the surgical and minimally invasive endovascular treatment of stroke, brain aneurysms and other vascular neurosurgical pathologies.
In addition to his clinical expertise in the management of brain tumors, stroke and brain aneurysms, Dr. Missios’ clinical skills span a wide range including spine surgery for degenerative, traumatic or tumor pathologies as well as surgery for peripheral nerve disorders, brain and spine trauma and neuromodulation for intractable back and leg pain.
Dr. Missios has a very strong academic background and has been involved in more than 80 peer-reviewed publications. He serves as a reviewer for multiple neurosurgical journals. He is a member of the Population Health Research Institute of New York at CHS. His academic projects have won several awards including the Kenneth Shulman Award, awarded to the best research project presented at the annual meeting of the Joint Section of Pediatric Neurological Surgery, and 1st place award in the Socioeconomic Category at the 83rd annual meeting of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons.
BOARD CERTIFICATION
Back Specialist in Suffolk County
Main Office:
Long Island Brain & Spine
380 Montauk Hwy
West Islip, NY
The Cancer Institute at Good Samaritan Hospital
111 Beach Drive
West Islip, NY
St. Catherine of Siena Medical Building
48 Route 25A, Suite 302
Smithtown, NY
Click Here To Request An Appointment With Our Back Specialist in Suffolk County
Understanding Spine Health
Your spine is vital to your overall health, and maintaining its well-being is crucial. A healthy spine ensures proper posture, stability, and mobility, while spine problems can result in debilitating pain and loss of function. To alleviate these problems, finding a Back Specialist in Suffolk County is essential. Dr. Symeon Missios is a renowned expert in this field, known for his dedication to improving the lives of his patients.
What Does A Healthy Spine Encompass?
To maintain a robust and pain-free spine, it’s essential to comprehend what constitutes a healthy spine.
- Pain-Free: Allowing you to go about your daily activities without hindrance.
- Optimal Mobility: It exhibits excellent flexibility and ease of movement, enabling you to bend, twist, and perform various activities with agility.
- Suppleness: The spine maintains a suppleness that supports its natural curvature, granting you a sense of ease in your movements.
- Strength: A strong spine serves as a sturdy foundation for your body, helping to bear life’s daily stresses and strains.
- Unrestricted Functionality: A healthy spine empowers you to engage in your desired activities without limitations or impediments.
Understanding what a healthy spine entails is the initial step in ensuring your spinal well-being. By appreciating these attributes and addressing any issues that compromise them, you can embark on a path toward preserving the vitality and functionality of your spine. However, when a back or spine is afflicted by damage, injury, arthritis, or the natural wear and tear of time, it forfeits these desirable qualities. This is where the expertise of a Back Specialist in Suffolk County, like Dr. Symeon Missios, becomes a crucial beacon of hope and restoration.
Ways to Maintain a Healthy Spine
- Stay Active: Regular physical activity supports spine health by improving blood circulation, keeping muscles engaged, and preventing stiffness.
- Mind Your Posture: When bending or reaching, prioritize the correct form. Use your legs to lift, avoid twisting while lifting, and keep heavy objects at waist height.
- Quit Smoking: Smoking accelerates aging and hinders spine health, making it essential to avoid this harmful habit for a robust and pain-free spine.
Contact Us For A Back Specialist in Suffolk County
If you’re looking to prioritize the health of your spine and seek the expertise of a trusted professional, don’t hesitate to reach out to us. Contact our team today to schedule a consultation with a top-tier Back Specialist in Suffolk County. Dr. Symeon Missios, a specialist in spine care, is committed to helping you achieve a pain-free, active, and vibrant life by ensuring the vitality and well-being of your spine. Contact us today to learn more!
Spinal Stenosis Exercises to Avoid
One of the most recommended treatments for back injuries is exercise. Spinal stenosis is no different. Exercises are great for regaining mobility and strength, but some are more harmful than helpful. Here at Symeon Missios, we can treat your spinal stenosis with surgery that will increase the space inside your backbone and allow you to move pain-free again. Dr. Missios a Back Specialist in Suffolk County and is dedicated to helping you. Learn more about which exercises to avoid with spinal stenosis by reading below.
Spinal Stenosis
Spinal stenosis is a condition in which the space inside your backbone is too small. This can pinch the spinal cord and nerves in the neck and back. The symptoms range from person to person, but the most common symptom is wear-and-tear damage in the spine. Surgery can alleviate the spinal cord and nerve pressure by creating more space. Our Back Specialist in Suffolk County can perform the surgery for you. Other treatment options for spinal stenosis include:
- Medicine
- Physical Therapy
- Steroid Shots
Exercises to Avoid Spinal Stenosis
Spinal stenosis limits your mobility. Some exercises and stretches can help open your mobility back up. Some of them end up causing more pain than the spinal stenosis did. You should avoid those exercises if you suffer from spinal stenosis. If you want to alleviate your pain, get surgery from Dr. Missios, our Back Specialist in Suffolk County. Exercises that you should avoid with spinal stenosis are:
- Running
- High-impact activities
- Repetitive motions
- Heavy lifting
- Long walks
Walking may be recommended for some people with spinal stenosis, but a prolonged walk can do more damage and cause more pain. Trust your body and know your limits so you don’t cause more pain.
Contact Us For A Back Specialist in Suffolk County
At Symeon Missios, we strive to give you the best treatment available. Dr. Missios is an extremely precise and hardworking Back Specialist in Suffolk County who can guide you to a better living. Set up an appointment to find out if surgery is the right option for your spinal stenosis. Don’t let yourself be controlled by your pain anymore.
What Exercises to Avoid With Spinal Stenosis?
Spinal Stenosis occurs when there isn’t enough space inside the backbone. It restricts your pain-free movement. So, what should you avoid with spinal Stenosis? Our Back Specialist in Suffolk County, Dr. Symeon Missios, wants you to know so you don’t hurt yourself any further or worsen your condition. If you’re interested in the activities to avoid when you have spinal Stenosis, please continue reading below.
What to Avoid with Spinal Stenosis?
The changes from wear and tear in the spine related to arthritis are the most common cause of spinal Stenosis. While surgery from our Back Specialist in Suffolk County can ease the pressure on the spinal cord and nerves, the arthritis pain unfortunately can’t be fixed by surgery. What exercises should you avoid doing to minimize or avoid the pain caused by spinal Stenosis? The following are some, but not all, of the exercises to avoid:
- High-impact exercises like running, jumping, and climbing
- Any contact sports like football, basketball, and lacrosse
- Long walks, especially on uneven surfaces like the beach
- Long periods of standing up
- Back extension exercises and stretches
- Heavy lifting
- Twisting and bending
If you have pain while performing a movement not on this list, you should avoid it, too. Even if you don’t have pain, you should avoid everything on this list, as it might worsen your condition.
Simple Pain Relievers
If you need a quick way to relieve your pain, the list below might help. It’s not a way to treat spinal Stenosis, but it might help with the pain temporarily. Try the following:
- Bed Rest
- Massages
- Wear a lumbar support belt
Treatments for Spinal Stenosis
There are many treatment options for spinal Stenosis. The proper treatment depends on the severity of the spinal stenosis, and it is done on a case-by-case basis. Our Back Specialist in Suffolk County offers the following treatment options:
- Medications
- Therapeutic exercise
- Epidural steroid injections
- Decompression procedures
- Spinal fusion
- Artificial disk replacement
Contact Symeon Missios Our Back Specialist in Suffolk County
Contact us today if you want to know which treatment method is right. Our Back Specialist in Suffolk County will assess your case and recommend a treatment option. At Dr. Symeon Missios, we strive to personalize your experience and help you decide on your next step.