For many patients suffering from bulging disc pain, bulging disc surgery is considered the treatment of last resort, only to be used when all other conservative treatment options have been exhausted. The purpose of a bulging disc surgery is to remove pressure on the compressed nerve root that is causing the pain.

This can be achieved by either removing a small portion of the bulging disc through a minimally invasive decompression surgery or by removing the entire bulging disc through a minimally invasive stabilization surgery. While patients can also choose an open back surgery to treat a bulging disc, the minimally invasive spine surgery at USA Spine Care offers a safer and effective alternative to traditional procedures.^ To learn more about the advantages of our procedures, contact us today.

Nerve compression with a bulging disc

The most important thing to understand about a bulging disc is that the symptoms that are most frequently associated with this condition, such as local pain, radiating pain, numbness, tingling and muscle weakness, are more accurately a result of nerve compression in the spinal canal. When a bulging disc presses against a nearby nerve root, these symptoms of pain arise. Bulging disc surgery, as a result, can also be described as decompression surgery because it decompresses the affected nerve root.

Generally speaking, there are two distinct types of surgery that warrant consideration:

• Traditional spinal fusion. During this open spine surgery, the surgeon accesses the affected region of the spinal column through a 6- to 8-inch incision. The disc is removed and replaced with a bone graft, and the vertebrae are permanently fused together with surgical hardware, including a metal cage and rods. This causes that particular section of the spine to be immobile permanently.

After the procedure, the patient is required to have a two- to five-day hospital stay to be monitored for infection or complication due to the increased risk involved with this type of highly invasive surgery.

• Minimally invasive procedures. During the minimally invasive procedures performed at USA Spine Care, the surgeon accesses the spine through a small incision. Soft tissue is pushed aside rather than cut, and the disc is carefully removed and replaced with an artificial disc and bone graft to allow a more natural range of motion after the procedure. This less invasive approach typically provides a shorter recovery period and a lower risk of complication compared to traditional open spine surgery, earning us a patient satisfaction score of 98.

More information about USA Spine Care’s bulging disc surgery

The best way to learn more about the various bulging disc surgery options available to you is to speak with your physician and different surgeons in your area. Never consent to a procedure you are not completely comfortable with and do not hesitate to get second and third opinions. To learn if you are a potential candidate for our bulging disc surgery, reach out to USA Spine Care and ask for a free MRI review* with a member of our team. We’ll be happy to provide you all the information you require to make an informed decision about the best treatment for your condition.