Your cervical spine and lower back have important jobs to do: one supports your head and neck, while the other provides stability for your spine and pelvis. When the discs between the bones of your spine are damaged, the bones can pinch nerves that run up and down on either side of your spine, causing intense pain and spinal instability.
At New York Spine and Sports Surgery located in Garden City, New York, and Fair Lawn, New Jersey, board-certified orthopedic surgeon Dr. Aron D. Rovner performs a minimally invasive spinal surgery known as endoscopic discectomy to treat a broad range of disc problems.
Endoscopic discectomy is an excellent solution for the common lower back and cervical spine issue of herniated discs. Dr. Rovner can use this method to view and treat your spine without major surgery.
You don’t have to go under general anesthesia for this procedure. Dr. Rovner applies a local anesthetic, then inserts a very narrow metal tube into your spine. He then feeds a tiny camera through the tube so he can see the damaged disc(s). He can also insert a laser device to eradicate abnormal tissue and deaden damaged nerves to stop them from firing constant pain signals to your brain.
Since the metal tube is used to access the portion of your spine that needs treatment, there’s no open surgery and no cutting through the muscle. This lessens the chances of additional trauma to your spine and nerves, and allows the procedure to be done through the smallest possible incision.
Your recovery time after an endoscopic discectomy is considerably shorter than required for spine surgery, and the scars are minimal. The procedure can usually be completed in just half an hour, and are allowed to rest and recuperate for a few hours after your procedure before going home. In one study, patients who received a cervical endoscopic discectomy reported more than 70% reduction in their pain.
If you have chronic back or neck pain from a bulged, herniated or torn disc, pinched nerves, or inflammation of the spinal nerve roots, you could be a good candidate for an endoscopic discectomy. Signs of these conditions include:
If you think endoscopic discectomy might be the best treatment for you, contact us for an appointment at 516-794-2990.
