These procedures allow parts of your disc to be removed from device that fits into a large needle, instead of the traditional open incision that the traditional surgery calls for. The procedure, while performed at a hospital, generally allows our patients to leave the same day.

An endoscopic discectomy or percutaneous arthroscopic discectomy involves having a thin tube inserted through a small incision in the patient's back, allowing the surgeon to use small cameras and tools to remove parts of the disk. A percutaneous suction discectomy is similar to endoscopic discectomy. However, a device on the end of the tube is used to cut the disk and pieces of the cut disc are then suctioned out.

Since the procedure uses a smaller incision, your surgeon's experience and training are very important. An experienced surgeon, therefore, would be able to tell if the correct part of the disc has been removed, and if there is no additional disc material that needs to be removed. These procedures have become very effective, and our surgeons would rather perform this operation than an open surgery. The advantages to the patients are obvious and are outlined in our Endoscopic Versus Open section.

Sciatica, a condition named after the sciatic nerve that extends down each of your legs from your hip to your heel. It sometimes affects people who spend a lot of time sitting. One of the causes of Sciatica is the herniated or slipped or bulging disc. These herniated or bulging discs occur most commonly in the lumbar (lower back) part of the spine. The pain is generally felt running down the back of one or both legs. Tingling, numbness or muscle weakness may also indicate this condition.

Herniated discs aren't the only cause of sciatica. Sciatica may also result from trauma, diabetes, or compression or inflammation of nerves in your lower back sometimes referred to as pinched nerves, among other causes.

Swimming and walking are good exercises to strengthen your back. Strong abdominal muscles also protect your back. Sciatica pain and sciatica discomfort are often cured by removing the cause of the pinched nerve, such cause is often a herniated disc that could be treated by performing a minimally invasive discectomy on the area of the lower back where the inflammation or compression of the nerve is present.