Surgical Treatments

If you choose to have surgery, your physical condition and your mental attitude will determine your body’s ability to heal. It is important to approach your surgery with confidence, a positive attitude, and a thorough understanding of the anticipated outcome.

The decision to have surgery includes weighing the risks and benefits involved. You will make the final decision, so please ask questions about anything you do not understand.

If your chronic pain has not responded to conservative treatment and prevents normal lifestyle activities, your doctor may recommend surgery. The goal of surgery is to correct the problem creating the pressure on, or irritation of nerves, causing symptoms of pain and weakness.

For the Back

For the Neck

For the Back

The most common procedure to correct your disc problem is a “discectomy” or “partial discectomy” in which part of the herniated disc is removed that’s putting pressure on a nerve, causing pain in your back or leg. To reach the damaged disc, your surgeon forms a “window” by removing a small portion of the lamina, the bone behind the disc, in order to see the disc clearly. Bone removal may be minimal partial (laminotomy) or entirely (laminectomy). First, a thick muscle that protects the disc and nerves is moved aside, allowing the surgeon to remove the lamina and see the disc. Next, your surgeon can remove the part of the disc that is causing the pressure on the nerve. Your surgeon may recommend a “classic” discectomy, a micro-discectomy, or a percutaneous discectomy. The basic differences among these disc surgeries are the size of the incision, how your surgeon reaches your disc, and how much of the disc is removed. The “classic” discectomy and micro-discectomy require a hospital stay of a few days. Percutaneous discectomy is usually an out-patient surgery.

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