Spinal surgery once meant large incisions, long recovery periods, and painful rehab. Fortunately, surgical advances like the microdiscectomy have proven effective for people suffering from a herniated lumbar disc. A disc in the lower back becomes herniated when the gel-like center of the disc ruptures through a weak area in the tough outer wall, similar to the filling being squeezed out of a jelly doughnut.
At the office of Manhattan Orthopedic Spine PLLC, spinal problems are our specialty. We are devoted to the prevention and diagnosis of disorders such as herniated discs, providing treatment options that can relieve the pain and restore function to the affected area.
As the hernia develops and the damaged tissue extends into the spinal column, it pushes on the nerves. This causes the nerves to send pain signals to the brain. The pain is interpreted to be coming from the legs (sciatica). While most patients who experience sciatica will not require surgery, if all other treatments fail, a microdiscectomy may be needed.
Are you a candidate? You should consider microdiscectomy if:
you have extreme leg pain, numbness, or weakness that inhibits regular activity.
you’ve tried nonsurgical approaches for at least four weeks – and nothing has worked.
your doctor performs a physical exam and believes that your pain or weakness would probably get better after surgery.
We will review your unique circumstances and determine if the procedure is right for you. If you’re a candidate, we will carefully discuss with you the benefits and possible risks of the surgery.
Committed to spinal health
At the office of Manhattan Orthopedic Spine PLLC, we’re dedicated to providing the highest quality of skilled and compassionate orthopedic spinal care. For more information on the many services we provide, give us a call today.