Decompression for a disc herniation is performed in order to alleviate symptoms associated with nerve compression caused by the escape of gel-like nucleus material that has leaked through a tear in the outer wall of a spinal disc. These symptoms include localized or radiating pain, tingling, numbness and muscle weakness.

The area of the body affected by these symptoms depends on the location of the herniated disc. Symptoms can typically be managed conservatively using pain medication, physical therapy or other nonsurgical methods. Surgery becomes an option if chronic pain persists despite several weeks or months of conservative treatment. Read on to learn about herniated disc causes and what decompression surgery may be right for your condition.

Herniated disc causes

People who experience neck or back pain should not automatically assume the symptoms are a result of an anatomical abnormality, such as a herniated disc. Most neck or back pain is caused by a muscle strain or, less frequently, a sprained ligament. These relatively minor conditions improve steadily on their own over time, though, so persistent chronic pain might be an indication that symptoms are related to disc degeneration, bone spur formation or vertebral injury. Disc damage won’t always exhibit symptoms, but extruded nucleus material can shift and cause nerve compression because of the following:

• Sudden twisting movements
• Violent sneezes
• Poor lifting habits
• Prolonged exposure to vibration
• Sports-related injuries

Minimally invasive decompression for herniated discs

Traditional open spine decompression surgery for disc conditions is highly invasive, requires hospitalization and can have a recuperation period of a year or more. However, there is another option in the form of minimally invasive spine surgery. The board-certified surgeons+ at USA Spine Care use minimally invasive techniques to achieve nerve decompression while avoiding hospital-associated costs. Contact USA Spine Care to learn more about our minimally invasive decompression procedures for herniated discs.

USA Spine Care is the leader in minimally invasive spine surgery and has helped more than 75,000 patients find relief from chronic neck or back pain. Through a less than 1-inch incision and muscle-sparing techniques, our decompression procedures are able to grab or remove the herniated portion of the disc in order to relieve your symptoms. To find out if you are a candidate for our outpatient procedures, reach out to our dedicated team today and ask for a free MRI review.* We are here to help guide you on your journey to wellness.