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More Bulging Disc Information

Bulging Disc


When should I Consider Bulging Disc Surgery?

After 4-6 weeks of treatment have passed and you feel little to no relief from your symptoms, bulging disc surgery may be considered. Having a bulging disc operation, however, is a last resort and is rarely required.

If your bulging disc is causing numbness or muscle weakness that affects your walking, or you are having problems with bowel or bladder function, surgery for a bulging disc is usually considered a priority.

What Bulging Disc Surgery Options are Available to Me?

Open Back Surgery

Traditionally, bulging discs are treated with an open back procedure, meaning the surgeon makes a large incision into the skin and cuts muscle and surrounding tissue to gain access to the problematic disc. This traditional surgical option is invasive, requires overnight hospitalization, general anesthesia, and requires a lengthy recovery coupled with strong pain medication.

Endoscopic Surgery

Fortunately, you have a second option, endoscopic spine surgery. Thanks to the advancement of surgical technology, bulged disc surgery can be performed using endoscopic procedures, meaning the surgeon makes a small incision to insert special surgical tools. During an endoscopic bulging disc operation, the surgeon uses a tiny camera to visualize and gain access to your damaged disc. This minimally invasive new approach offers shorter recovery, easier rehabilitation, and much higher success rate than open back or neck surgery. A local anesthetic is all that is usually required for this bulging disc operation.

Endoscopic Discectomy:

An endoscopic discectomy is performed to remove a portion of a damaged disc that is causing pain and other symptoms. Because of how the surgery is performed there is no need to remove bone, cause muscle damage, or make large incisions in the skin. With the use of x-ray imaging and video magnification we are able to guide an endoscopic probe into the damaged disc space and use special tools to remove the debris.

Endoscopic Foraminotomy

An endoscopic foraminotomy is performed to relieve pressure caused by other conditions such as bone spurs, disc bulges, disc herniations, scar tissue, or excessive ligament growth. This is a minimally invasive procedure that requires little recovery time allowing our patients to return to their normal daily activities quicker.

Are you a Candidate for Surgery?

If non surgical bulging disc treatment fails to reduce your pain and other symptoms, you may be a surgical candidate. Our simple 3 step candidacy checking tool can get you started on a path to recovery in just minutes.

Begin 3 Step Diagnosis Process

Need assistance, or for answers to any questions you have please contact us now or call (877) 272-4535.