 [ Symptoms ] what kind of surgery would you have for a pinched nerve in your leg my doctor told me that if the anti inflammatory cream he has me on does not work i will need surgery i am just curious what the names are of possible surgeries to fix this problem so that i can research them the pain is in my left leg lower outside doctor said the pinched nerve is near the outside of my knee [ Disease ] i do not know enough about your particular case nothing in fact to know if you are a surgical candidate or not i think it is a big jump from failure of anti inflammatory cream to the operating room however a choice of specialists depends on where the nerve impingment starts if it is in your back a neurosurgeon or an orthopedic surgeon would be the specialist of choice