Disc protrusion surgery can seem like a scary endeavor, especially if you are not sure of what to expect during the procedure. Before you undergo any type of spine surgery, it is important that you are fully aware of what to expect and confident that you made the best choice about the treatments available to you.

Often, disc protrusion surgery is only recommended after all conservative treatments have been exhausted and you are still suffering from chronic pain and symptoms. The purpose of this procedure is to remove a portion of the protruded disc in order to relieve pressure on the compressed nerve that is responsible for your pain and symptoms. How this surgery is completed depends on the type of disc protrusion surgery you chose — either traditional open back surgery or minimally invasive spine surgery.

What to expect during traditional open back disc protrusion surgery

Traditional open back disc protrusion surgery is a highly invasive procedure that begins with a large incision in the neck or back. In order to reach the damaged disc in the spine, the muscles surrounding the spine are cut, torn or sometimes detached. This method can increase the risk of nerve damage and excessive scar tissue, which can lead to failed back surgery syndrome.

Because the nature of traditional disc protrusion surgery is so invasive, patients are often required to stay several nights in the hospital to be monitored before being allowed to return home. Before leaving, you will be given a recovery guide of what to expect after your open spine disc protrusion surgery and different activities you can do to help your body heal.

What to expect during minimally invasive disc protrusion surgery

Minimally invasive disc protrusion surgery at USA Spine Care is performed through a much smaller incision than traditional open back surgery — a less than 1-inch incision, to be exact. Because this incision is so small and the surgical team uses muscle-sparing techniques to reach the spine, our patients can benefit from shorter recovery time and lower risk of complication compared to traditional open back surgery.

Additionally, our procedures are performed in an outpatient surgery center, which allows our patients to return to their home or hotel within hours after surgery. Are you ready to find out if you are a candidate for our minimally invasive disc protrusion surgery and other procedures?

Contact USA Spine Care today for a no-cost MRI review* that can determine if you are a potential candidate one of our procedures.

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