The spine is comprised of three body parts. They are the vertebral bones, the spinal cord from which nerves branch off, and discs which lie on each side of the 33 vertebral bones. As these discs age, they become less flexible which increases their risk of tearing and susceptibility to injury. When the outer part of a disc breaks down, its contents bulge out. This leads to pressure being placed on a surrounding nerve root as well as the spinal cord itself. Depending on the amount of displacement of the nerves, the patient experiences pain, and weakness. The intense pain can limit a patient’s overall quality of life. Gradually the patient may lose the use of a limb. Patients living in Montclair can eliminate their persistent back pain from herniated discs with the proper diagnosis and treatment at the nearby Centers for Neurosurgery, Spine, and Orthopedics offices.
Most minor herniated discs heal by themselves within six weeks. Sometimes physical therapy or an epidural steroid injection is needed to speed up the healing process. But when herniated discs fail to resolve or protrude extensively causing weakness or loss of function, then surgical intervention is the only option. Centers for Neurosurgery, Spine, and Orthopedics’s team of board-certified neurosurgeons and physiatrists are experts in determining the cause of any pain or loss of function. Our team will recommend the least invasive treatment with the quickest recovery all provided within the Montclair, NJ area.
Centers for Neurosurgery, Spine, and Orthopedics Expertly Treats Patients With Herniated Discs
In the situation where an epidural injection, physical therapy, or rest is not sufficient, plus an MRI reveals a herniated disc at the level of the spine which correlates with the patient’s symptoms, a microdiscectomy may be required. A microdiscectomy, is one of the more common minimally invasive spine surgery procedures. The main goal of a microdiscectomy is to relieve pressure on the nerve or spinal cord, which is causing the symptoms, by removing the offending portion of the disc. If a significant portion of the disc is destroyed, a spinal disc replacement may be offered.
During either surgery, a neurosurgeon, also known as a spine surgeon, will make a small incision on the patient’s back. Using a microscope and state-of-the-art-equipment, a Centers for Neurosurgery, Spine, and Orthopedics spine surgeon will access the disc that has become herniated. These these two minimally invasive procedures allow for a quicker recovery period and no hospitalization. Patients can often return home the same day.
With several convenient locations throughout northern New Jersey, patients from around the Montclair area can eliminate back pain brought on by herniated discs and other spine conditions. Contact Centers for Neurosurgery, Spine, and Orthopedics to see if you’re a candidate for a microdiscectomy at (973) 633-1122. Consult with our expert team of board-certified neurosurgeons, pain management, physical therapists, and physiatrists, if necessary, all on the same day so as to maximize convenience.
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