A discectomy is surgical procedure that removes a portion of a damaged intervertebral disc in order to relieve back pain caused by Degenerative Disc Disease, or a herniated, ruptured or bulging disc (Sciatica). If you experience debilitating back pain, or back and leg pain, due to these conditions, please schedule a consultation with North American Spine and discover how AccuraScope™ D.N.D. surgery can transform your life.

Intervertebral Discs and Chronic Back Pain

The bones of your spine are cushioned by tough fibrous discs filled with a soft, spongy material called the nucleus pulposus. These intervertebral discs act as shock absorbers, stretching and compressing in response to the stresses that your activities place on your back. Unfortunately, the tough outer “shell” of a disc—the annulus fibrosis—can become damaged or weakened by age, extreme activity, inherited disease, poor lifestyle choices, and other factors, allowing the soft nucleus pulposus to leak out of the disc.

When this happens, the nucleus pulposus can irritate or put pressure on the nerves of the spine and these nerves trigger a pain response. A discectomy procedure removes the parts of the nucleus pulposus that are affecting the spinal nerves, thus relieving the pain.

A traditional discectomy is performed by making an incision over the affected area of the spine and clearing muscle and other tissue from the spine, then removing part of the bone structure and other tissue in order to access the disc. Once this has been performed, the surgeon then removes the material that is impinging on the nerves and causing pain. The procedure does not treat the damaged annulus fibrosis. Post-procedure, the traditional discectomy patient will typically be restricted in activity for up to 4 weeks.

The minimally invasive AccuraScope™ D.N.D. surgery pioneered by North American Spine uses endoscopic technology to minimize the post-operative pain and recovery time associated with a discectomy. If you suffer from debilitating back pain caused by an inflamed or ruptured disc, please contact North American Spine for a consultation. Call 877.474.BACK.