A second opinion for your back, neck or spine condition can help you feel confident in your care plan.

Schedule a second opinion appointment if you:

• You have exhausted all nonsurgical options for your back, neck or spine condition.
• You have been told you need spine surgery.

After you complete the form, we will call you within two business days. We will ask:

• For your insurance information
• About your diagnosis and recent treatments
• When you got your most recent MRI or CT scan

We may ask you to bring your medical records with you. Ask our patient liaison for help if you don’t have your records or know how to get them. 

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Northwestern Medicine Center for Spine Health

Northwestern Memorial Hospital 
Lavin Family Pavilion
259 East Erie Street
14th Floor, Suite 1450
Chicago, IL 60611

TTY for those who are deaf or hard of hearing: 711

What You Can Expect 

Meet Our Team

Alpesh A. Patel, MD
Co-Director

Srikanth N. Divi, MD

Wellington K. Hsu, MD

Tyler R. Koski, MD
Co-Director

Nader S. Dahdaleh, MD

The Center for Spine Health is the only one of its kind in Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin. It combines the expertise of orthopaedic surgeons, neurosurgeons, physical therapists and more, all in the same place.

Our team will work together to develop a treatment and recovery plan that meets your needs. 

Orthopaedic Spine Specialists

Neurosurgical Spine Specialists

Aruna Ganju, MD

Kevin Swong, MD

Jean-Paul Wolinsky, MD

At the Center for Spine Health at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, we know navigating care can be overwhelming. A second opinion appointment can help you make a more informed, confident decision.

Our team provides second opinions for back, neck and spine conditions, including:

• Failed neck or back surgery syndrome
• Sciatica
• Scoliosis
• Kyphosis
• Lordosis
• Spinal stenosis
• Degenerative disc disease
• Herniated disc
• Radiculopathy (pinched nerve)
• Spondylosis
• Intervertebral disc displacement
• Post-laminectomy syndrome
• Rheumatologic disorders of the spin

Najib El Tecle, MD

Finding the right treatment plan can be confusing. Getting a second opinion from an expert can help.

To schedule a second opinion appointment at Northwestern Medicine Center for Spine Health, fill out the form below. A member of our team will contact you within two business days.

For faster service, please call 312.500.2128. In most cases, we can schedule your second opinion visit within 48 hours.

During Your Appointment
Your appointment will last about 60 minutes.

1. We will take X-rays.
2. A nurse will see you. They will review your medical history and gather basic information about your condition.
3. You'll meet with a physician who specializes in your specific condition. They will ask you about:

• Your condition and how it affects your life
• Treatments you have had so far
• Results of those treatments

After Your Appointment
You’ll leave with a detailed care plan for to your specific condition. You can take as much time as you need to review your plan.

We will not expect you to make more appointments unless you want to continue with this care plan at Northwestern Medicine.