Lumbar Microdiscectomy

You have one or more herniated discs in your back, causing leg pain. Lumbar discs are rubbery shock absorbers between the vertebrae and close to nerves that travel down to the legs.

A small portion of the disc material from under the nerve root is removed.  This procedure is done by making a small incision (usually one to one and a half inches long) in the middle of your lower back. The muscles covering your spine are moved to the side, and the membrane over the nerve roots is removed. A small portion of the bone over the nerve root may be removed for better access to the nerve. This bone removal also helps relieve some pressure. The disc material from under the nerve root is then removed.

An orthopedic surgeon who specializes in spinal surgery will perform this surgery.