Lumbar Discectomy

If you suffer from leg pain, numbness or weakness, or if you have loss of leg motion because of herniated disc in your spine, you surgeon may recommend a procedure known as lumbar discectomy. This procedure is successful in reducing pain and increasing the mobility of many patients.

What is a Lumbar Discectomy?

A discectomy is a surgery designed to remove lumbar herniated disc material that is pressing on the spinal cord or nerve root. Dr. Subramanian is especially skilled in microdiscectomy—a discectomy that uses a microscope to view the injured area of the spine. This viewpoint allows Dr. Subramanian to see a larger area of the surgical field, and to make a smaller incision, causing less damage to the areas surrounding the surgical site. Additionally, Dr. Subramanian performs a laminectomy to access the herniated disc.

During the procedure, patients are under general or IV anesthesia. The procedure requires overnight recovery in the hospital so Dr. Subramanian can ensure all patients leave the hospital healthy.

Who is a Candidate?

Dr. Subramanian may consider patients for surgery if they experience the following symptoms:

Intense leg pain, numbness or weakness
Inability to do regular, daily activities
Results from a physical that display weakness, loss of motion or abnormal feeling
Chronic leg symptoms 4 weeks or longer after non-surgical treatment
Presence of cauda equina syndrome
Newly onset loss of bowel or bladder control
Newly honest tingling in the buttocks, genitals, or legs

Discectomy Recovery

Patients typically stay in the hospital overnight to recover from a lumbar discectomy. Once numbness subsides, Dr. Subramanian encourages patients to get out of bed and walk as soon as possible. Patients receive pain medication for any discomfort during recovery, and can slowly resume exercise and other activity as their surgical scar heals.

If you think you may have a herniated lumbar disc, contact the offices of Dr. Navin Subramanian immediately at 713-650-6900 or visit https://drsubramanian.com/contact. To read past patient reviews, click here.

Lumbar Discectomy