As a physician, you know that low back pain is a leading patient complaint. In fact, lumbar spine pain is the second-most common reason for visiting a doctor in the United States. And disc herniation is frequently the cause.
Conservative treatments can provide relief & help recovery.
If a lumbar herniated disc is going to get better, relief will typically begin within about six weeks. Meanwhile, pain or discomfort in the back or leg can be reduced by nonsurgical treatments, and patients who are going to improve without surgery will do so more quickly with conservative methods, including:
- Physical therapy
- Chiropractic manipulation
- NSAIDs
- Muscle relaxants
- Oral steroids
- Epidural injections
Microdiscectomy helps with severe symptoms & patients not helped by other methods.
But if conservative treatments don’t work, surgery to remove disc material that compresses nerve structure (called “microdiscectomy”) can often provide effective relief. Microdiscectomy must also be considered as a first option for patients with severe pain or deficits (foot drop, loss of bladder control). Because lumbar disc herniation is common, microdiscectomy is also a widely used treatment.
Microdiscectomy surgery involves a 2 cm to 2.5 cm incision in the patient’s back, gentle displacement of the muscles and removal of a small amount of bone to allow access to the spinal canal. At Comprehensive Neurosurgery in Central Mississippi, Dr. E. Thomas Cullom uses the surgical microscope to identify the herniation. He then removes the bulging material to decompress the nerve and alleviate symptoms. He also removes excess disc materials to help prevent recurrence.
Trust experience, personalized care & commitment.
While usually successful, microdiscectomy can fail because of permanent nerve damage prior to surgery, reherniations and postsurgical scar tissue. Having performed many microdiscectomies, Dr. Cullom has the skill and judgment to ensure optimal care by customizing surgery for patients’ individual needs. He also stays involved in your patients’ care, even if surgery isn’t needed at this time. That’s because optimal outcomes depend on an appropriate, early medical disposition as well as proper diagnosis, appropriate and personalized care and surgery only when it’s necessary.
Your referrals and inquiries for herniated lumbar discs — or any symptoms related to the lumbar spine — are welcome and encouraged. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call Comprehensive Neurosurgery in Flowood at 601-664-1000. We are conveniently located just outside of Jackson and Forest, Mississippi.