FAQs

1. What is the difference between herniated disc and bulging disc?
Herniated - a disc that protrudes against a nerve root which can cause symptoms.

Bulging - a disc that bulges but does not appear to cause symptoms or significant compression on the nerve root.

2. What is the treatment for herniated disc?
Most discs respond to conservative treatment like physical therapy, anti- inflammatories, as well as the use of steroids. If this fails and the patient is symptomatic, epidural steroid injection at the level of the disc is given. If patient is still symptomatic a Lumbar Microdiscectomy will be performed.

3. What is a Lumbar Microdiscectomy?
Surgery is performed under a microscope where a tiny incision is made over the Disc. The disc can be shaved to alleviate the pressure on the nerve.

4. How long will the surgery take?
Most all spinal surgeries take one to two hours to perform.

5. How long will I be in the hospital?
The majority of our patients go home the next day. Two day stay in hospital is maximum.

6. What is Degenerative Disc Disease?
Degenerative disc disease mainly refers to none other than arthritis of the disc.

7. Will my insurance cover my surgery?
All of our surgeries require prior authorization through the insurance company. It is important for you as the patient to understand the responsibility of the patient versus the insurance company for payment.

8. What is the recovery time for spinal surgery?
Every surgery depends on the individual. Usually most spinal surgeries are four to six weeks recovery time.

9. Will I have to take physical therapy after surgery?
Typically patients have physical therapy for three to six weeks as part of the rehabilitation process to help the patient get back to their normal activities.

10. Will surgery resolve my symptoms?
Although that is what we hope for, no surgery is one hundred percent guarantee.