When a Bulging Disc Requires Surgery, Consider Gentle, Outpatient Surgery at LSI
A bulging disc - which also may be called a ruptured disc or a slipped disc - occurs when one of the small, spongy discs between your vertebrae becomes damaged and breaks open. If the bulging disc presses upon the nerves of your spine, it can be very painful. The location of your pain depends on the location of your bulging disc. If the damaged disc is in your lower back, you will feel pain in your hips and legs; if it is in your neck, you will feel pain in your shoulders and arms.
In some cases, bulging disc symptoms will go away on their own in a few months. In other cases, a bulging disc requires surgical treatment to stop the symptoms. While a percentage of people may decide they can live with the pain of a bulging disc, others are so disabled by the pain and weakness that they must have surgery or else be forced to give up their favorite activities.
Once you decide that surgery is the best option for your bulging disc, there are different surgical procedures available. Open back surgery involves being admitted to the hospital, a higher risk of infection, and a long recovery time. On the other hand, you may be a candidate for minimally invasive, laser-assisted back surgery at the Laser Spine Institute, where:
- Ours is an outpatient procedure that requires no general anesthesia, just a local anesthesia and deep IV sedation.
- We make a small incision, insert narrow medical instruments, and gently shrink your bulging disc. This stops the disc from pressing upon your spinal cord.
- Some patients say they experience immediate relief as soon as excess disc material is removed.
- We have helped many patients who were previously told that nothing could ease their symptoms.
- Our patients are free to go back to their room 1-2 hours after the procedure and are encouraged to take a walk that afternoon or evening.
- Our infection rates are 0.1%, compared to the average 4% infection rates at hospitals.
- More than 80% of our patients say they have a better quality of life 3 months after the procedure - a higher success rate than traditional surgeries.
If you would like to know whether our laser surgery can correct your bulging disc, please contact Laser Spine Institute for a free MRI or CT scan review and to discuss your case with our medical experts. We look forward to providing you with excellent service and compassionate care.



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