Dr. J. Alex Thomas
Neurosurgery
Wilmington, NC
19 years experience male
Locations
Atlantic Neurosurgical and Spine Specialists
Wilmington, NC
About
Bio
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.
SpecialtiesDoctors may have more than one area of specialty interest. Board certification in a specialty area means the doctor has completed formal training and has practice experience in that specialty, and has passed the certification examination from the corresponding accredited medical specialty board.
Doctors may have more than one area of specialty interest. Board certification in a specialty area means the doctor has completed formal training and has practice experience in that specialty, and has passed the certification examination from the corresponding accredited medical specialty board.
Neurosurgery
Doctor Q&A
24 Answers
5 Agrees
The number of answers this doctor has agreed with.
A 41-year-old member asked:
Dr. J. Alex Thomasanswered
19 years experience
Narrowing: Spinal stenosis is the narrowing of the spinal canal, usually by chronic, degenerative conditions such as degenerative disc disease and arthritis. St... Read More
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4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 19-year-old female asked:
Dr. J. Alex Thomasanswered
19 years experience
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 lim... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 20-year-old male asked:
Dr. J. Alex Thomasanswered
19 years experience
Physical therapy: Your doctor should be able to give you a referral to a physical therapist in your area. The therapist can help you develop a home exercise routine th... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 22-year-old male asked:
Dr. J. Alex Thomasanswered
19 years experience
Yes: For my patients i recommend several months of rest and bracing. At your age there is a good chance it will heal completely. In patients who don't he... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 27-year-old male asked:
Dr. J. Alex Thomasanswered
19 years experience
Typically not: Lymph nodes typically don't cause neck and back pain. That said, swollen lymph nodes could indicate a systemic illness that could indeed cause pain (... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 22-year-old male asked:
Dr. J. Alex Thomasanswered
19 years experience
Yes: A bone stimulator may help the pars fracture heal more rapidly. If you were my patient, though, i'd recommend starting with more old fashioned treatm... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 22-year-old male asked:
Dr. J. Alex Thomasanswered
19 years experience
Yes.: Your chiropractor gave you good advice. Typically the first line of treatment for a pars fracture, especially in someone so young like yourself, is ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 29-year-old female asked:
Dr. J. Alex Thomasanswered
19 years experience
Hold off...: You probably just hit your "funny bone" or the ulnar nerve as it passes through the elbow. The symptoms will probably resolve on their own. If they ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 18-year-old male asked:
Dr. J. Alex Thomasanswered
19 years experience
No: At your age your skull will not change shape.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 35-year-old female asked:
Dr. J. Alex Thomasanswered
19 years experience
Yes: At your age i would recommend only conservative treatment. This could be a tailored exercise routine or aggressive physical therapy. If symptoms per... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 61-year-old female asked:
Dr. J. Alex Thomasanswered
19 years experience
No: I don't think your long hours on the job caused your seizure disorder. That said, in patients with known seizures, prolonged periods of sleep depriva... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 47-year-old female asked:
Dr. J. Alex Thomasanswered
19 years experience
Probably not: The retrolisthesis at c5/6 is a common finding in degenerative disc disease and probably wasn't caused by your injury.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 18-year-old female asked:
Dr. J. Alex Thomasanswered
19 years experience
Lumbar muscle injury: Even if you don't work out, chances are your back pain is secondary to an injury of a muscle in your lower back. I would recommend rest and anti-infl... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 38-year-old female asked:
Dr. J. Alex Thomasanswered
19 years experience
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 othe... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 35-year-old member asked:
Dr. J. Alex Thomasanswered
19 years experience
Typically not: The size of a tumor usually doesn't determine whether the tumor is benign or malignant. I've had patients with very large tumors that are benign and t... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 36-year-old male asked:
Dr. J. Alex Thomasanswered
19 years experience
Usually not: This is a very common finding on mris of the brain. Typically it is not significant. However, if you are experiencing neurological symptoms these f... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 32-year-old female asked:
Dr. J. Alex Thomasanswered
19 years experience
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 s... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 54-year-old female asked:
Dr. J. Alex Thomasanswered
19 years experience
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 g... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 38-year-old female asked:
Dr. J. Alex Thomasanswered
19 years experience
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 trans... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 33-year-old member asked:
Dr. J. Alex Thomasanswered
19 years experience
Typically yes: Yes, ct scans can typically pick up most brain lesions. Some lesions are very small though and can only be seen on an MRI which is more sensitive.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 22-year-old male asked:
Dr. J. Alex Thomasanswered
19 years experience
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.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 29-year-old male asked:
Dr. J. Alex Thomasanswered
19 years experience
Yes but....: While ms could theoretically cause this isolated symptom, as a male of 29 years of age it probably is not ms and is, as you say, just anxiety. If the... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 41-year-old member asked:
Dr. J. Alex Thomasanswered
19 years experience
Yes: It depends on what you're getting the acupuncture for but multiple studies have confirmed the benefits of acupuncture in treating a wide range of heal... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 19-year-old male asked:
Dr. J. Alex Thomasanswered
19 years experience
Many sports: I typically tell patients to not shy away from any activity that keeps them fit and at a normal weight. That said, running and other high-impact act... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
TestimonialsRecommendations and Thank you notes are endorsements given from patients or other doctors.
Recommendations and Thank you notes are endorsements given from patients or other doctors.
3
Recommendations
27
Thank you notes
Feb 1, 2014
I appreciate Dr. Thomas' answer and recommend him to you. Thank you for your help Dr. Thomas!
HealthTap member
Mar 31, 2015
Dr. Thomas is an amazing doctor! #nationaldoctorsday2015 #virtualflower1
HealthTap member
Mar 31, 2015
Dr. Thomas is an amazing doctor! #nationaldoctorsday2015 #virtualflower1
HealthTap member
Thanks for your quick reply! Now i have blood in urine and vomiting so i think i need a trip to ER
HealthTap member
Thank you, your answer was very helpful! Thx a lot for the rply, i realy appreciate it
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Education & Training
Medical/Graduate school
Georgetown University School of Medicine, DC
Graduated 2004MD
Residency
Georgetown University Medical Center
Affiliations
American Academy of Neurological Surgeons
American Association of Neurological Surgeons / Congress of Neurological Surgeons
North American Spine Society
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