A disc extrusion describes when the tough outer layer of a disc tears open, resulting in the disc’s gel-like center leaking into the spinal canal. When this occurs, the nerve root or spinal cord may become compressed, leading to symptoms of pain, numbness, tingling and weakness. If conservative treatments like pain medication, physical therapy and chiropractic care are not effective in relieving your symptoms, surgical intervention is often required.

The recovery process after disc extrusion surgery is largely dependent on the surgery you undergo as well as if you experience any complications after the procedure. That is why it is important to weigh your surgical options, so you choose the best treatment for your spine care needs. As you research the types of surgery available to you, we encourage you to contact USA Spine Care to learn about our shorter recovery process compared to traditional open spine surgery.^

Options for disc extrusion surgery

If you require surgical intervention for your disc extrusion, there are two options available to help you find relief — traditional open spine surgery and minimally invasive spine surgery. Both types of surgery are performed with the goal of relieving the pressure on the compressed nerve. However, they are performed through drastically different means and have diverse recovery times — although the experience for each patient will differ.

Traditional disc extrusion surgery involves the use of a 6- to 8-inch incision that cuts or tears the muscles surrounding the spine. The highly invasive nature of this procedure results in an infection rate of up to 16 percent as well as a 16.4 percent complication rate. After undergoing a traditional open spine surgery, the patient is required to stay in the hospital for two to five days and it typically takes between six months to a year to recover.

USA Spine Care, however, offers a safer and effective alternative to traditional open spine surgery.^ Our minimally invasive spine surgery uses a small incision that is muscle sparing to relieve the pain and discomfort associated with disc extrusion, thereby allowing for a lower risk of infection and complication compared to traditional open spine surgery.^ We offer no lengthy recovery, helping our patients be up and walking within a few hours of surgery.^

Learn more about USA Spine Care’s disc extrusion surgery

With the disc extrusion surgery offered at USA Spine Care, 81 percent of patients report returning to work within three months after surgery and 88 percent of patients report returning to daily activities within three months after surgery.^ To get a better idea of your recovery time based on your specific condition, reach out to USA Spine Care today. We offer a free MRI review* that determines if you are a potential candidate for our outpatient procedures.

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