Dr. J. Alex Thomas

I am a neurosurgeon in Wilmington, NC specializing in advanced minimally-invasive techniques for spinal and cranial surgery. I utilize the latest minimally-invasive techniques in spinal surgery, including lateral access surgery, to treat a wide variety of spinal pathology.

Rated 3.5 based on 45 votes

Virtual Practice

Recommend Share

Add to your Care-Team

Dr. J. Alex Thomas
male

Neurosurgery

Wilmington, NC

Insurance accepted as payment

About

Insights

Network

Welcome!

About me

I specialize in

Neurosurgery

I have been in practice

15 years

I speak

English

Spanish

I'm known for

Doctor
Votes

Member
Votes

Brain tumor

Locally

Spinal surgery

1st

Locally

Pituitary adenoma

1st

Locally

Spinal fusion

2nd

Locally

Minimally invasive surgery

1st

Locally

Calm

Unranked

Knowledgeable

Unranked

Good Humored

Unranked

Nurturing

5th

Locally

Flexible

4th

Locally

Inspiring

Unranked

Dedicated

Unranked

Caring

Unranked

Recommend me

My answers and insights have

Helped 39,533 people

Received 41 doctor agrees

Received 42 thanks

Here are kind words from others

Dr. Ihab Ibrahim

I appreciate Dr. Thomas' answer and recommend him to you. Thank you for your help Dr. Thomas!

Recommend me

I am located at

Atlantic Neurosurgical and Spine Specialists

2208 S. 17th St.

Suite 201

Wilmington , NC 28401

Call 9107633333

Office hours

Mon 8:00am - 4:00pm

Wed 8:00am - 4:00pm

Fri 8:00am - 3:00pm

I was educated and trained at

Medical / Graduate School

Georgetown University School of Medicine, DC

Fellowships

Dr. J. Alex Thomas male

Dr. Sue Ferranti

Internal Medicine

Add to
Care-Team

Dr. Cornelius O'leary jr

Urgent Care

Add to
Care-Team

Dr. Slade Suchecki

Family Medicine

In Dr. Thomas's Referral Network

Add to
Care-Team

Dr. Kevin Vaught

Neurosurgery

Add to
Care-Team

Dr. Fernando Moya

Obstetrics & Gynecology - Maternal Fetal Medicine

Add to
Care-Team

Dr. J. Alex Thomas answered:

I need a straight answer. What is back spinal stenosis? In brief: Narrowing

Spinal stenosis is the narrowing of the spinal canal, usually by chronic, degenerative conditions such as degenerative disc disease and arthritis.

Stenosis in the lumbar spine causes compression of the nerve roots in the spinal canal which leads to pain in the legs with walking that gets better with rest. Stenosis in the neck causes compression of the spinal cord and can be much more serious. ...See more

SPINAL STENOSIS LUMBAR SPINAL STENOSIS LEG CLAUDICATION

Thank

3 doctors agree

See 8 more answers

Dr. J. Alex Thomas answered:

What will be damaged if there was obstruction to choroidal artery? In brief: Internal Capsule

Assuming that you're referring to the anterior choroidal artery, the structure that is most commonly injured after an obstruction is the posterior limb of the internal capsule.

This important structure carries nerve signals from the motor cortex of your brain to the brainstem and rest of your body. Thus, damage to the internal capsule would cause paralysis to the opposite side of the body. ...See more

ARTERY

Thank

Dr. J. Alex Thomas answered:

Can CT and MRI see previous strokes or tia's? In brief: Yes, usually.

Yes, ct and MRI can see previous strokes as long as they are older than 24 hours or so (mri can see strokes acutely.

) tia's, by definition, are transient and usually don't leave any evidence on scans.

COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING MRI STROKE IN THE BRAIN MINI STROKE (TRANSIENT ISCHEMIC ATTACK; TIA) TRANSIENT ISCHEMIC ATTACK

Thank

Dr. J. Alex Thomas answered:

Can multilevel, severe thoracic disc desiccation result in upper left back pain after eating? Thanks. In brief: Probably not

Thoracic degenerative disc disease may result in some back pain but it wouldn't be related to eating.

This could be due to something wrong with your gastrointestinal system and you should see your doctor.

BACK PAIN PAIN IN THE BACK STOMACH PAIN AFTER MEAL

Thank

See 2 more answers

Dr. J. Alex Thomas answered:

What is nerve re growth? In brief: Axonal growth

"nerve regrowth" as you say typically refers to a nerve's ability to regenerate its ability to transmit information.

This usually is regrowth of the axon of the nerve and not the neuron (nerve body). The axon is like the wire that transmits information from the nerve body to the destination (i.e. A muscle or another nerve.). ...See more

NERVE

Thank

Dr. J. Alex Thomas answered:

I have problem with back and im sleeping on right side of body for 3 year is it possible that my skull shape is changed i feel like head steam is weak? In brief: No

At your age your skull will not change shape.

SLEEP

Thank

Dr. J. Alex Thomas answered:

Does a CT scan show if there is healing potential for a pars fracture? In brief: It can

The ct scan can show if the bony edges of the fracture are well approximated (close together.) this will increase the chances of proper healing.

BROKEN BONE COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY CT SCAN SPONDYLOLYSIS

Thank

Dr. J. Alex Thomas answered:

Is a 4mm chiari, small cyst in the diploic in left parietal calvarium, and vascalar flow in the basal condylar veins something to be worried about? In brief: Probably not

4mm of tonsilar herniation is not technically a chiari malformation as the cerebellar tonsils need to protrude more than 5mm to be abnormal.

The other findings sound like normal variants found on an mri. If you are having symptoms you should see your doctor.

Thank

Dr. J. Alex Thomas answered:

Which is most effective at treating severe chronic neuropathic pelvic pain that has no cause: spinal cord stimulator, nerve block injection or tens? In brief: It depends

I would consult a pain management physician for this.

Definitely try a round of steroid injections or a tens unit first before having a spinal cord stimulator permanently implanted.

NERVE NERVE BLOCK PELVIC PAIN TENS FEMALE HEALTH

Thank

Dr. J. Alex Thomas answered:

I have trigeminal neuralgia. I suffered 7-10 moderate hits to the side of my face near my temples and left side of my scull. Is a catscan needed asap? In brief: No

Typically an MRI is done during the initial workup of trigeminal neuralgia (tn).

A cat scan probably wouldn't be sensitive enough to pick up any of the structural problems that can cause tn. Speak with your doctor about obtaining and mri. ...See more

NERVE PAIN NEURALGIA TRIGEMINAL NEURALGIA (FACIAL NERVE PAIN) TRIGEMINAL NEURALGIA

Thank

1 doctor agrees

Need additional help?

Our doctors can help you create a personalized checklist

Ask question