DALLAS (CBS 11 / TXA 21) ― Ginger Allen Reporting

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If you have chronic back pain, you know how it can impact your everyday life. But now, there's a new medical procedure available in North Texas that is pain free and can have you on your feet in a matter of hours.

Mitch Kuhn of Plano has had problems with his back ever since a high school pole vaulting injury put him on the sidelines. "I fell from like 15 feet on the track and bulged a disc and so I had a traditional surgery which was a long painful recovery," explained Kuhn.

Kuhn's active lifestyle recently landed him back in the doctor's office. "I was running, a lot lifting, a lot of weights, and I injured the disc again."

Kuhn heard about a new surgical option called the AccuraScope. North American Spine has trained four doctors at the Forest Park Medical Center in Dallas to perform the procedure.

Doctor Ken Reed says the minimally invasive surgery is done under local anesthetic and a sedative for the patient. According to Dr. Reed, "This procedure really should be considered for all patients with back pain, particularly those who are looking to undergo surgery."

During the procedure, a small laser is inserted near the tailbone. Dr. Reed watches on monitors as the laser travels through a natural opening in the spine to the bulging or herniated disc. "The disc, literally before your eyes, will begin to shrink and collapse up as it just goes away," Dr. Reed said as the laser went to work.

Sine no bone is removed, the procedure is pain free and the recovery time is faster. According to Dr. Reed, "They're up and about the next day. They're back at work the following week."

After having the procedure Kuhn said the pain that was travelling down his leg disappeared immediately, and within a few weeks his back pain was gone entirely. "It's the joy of actually being able to walk around now," said the happy patient. "It makes you appreciate the little things."

Dr. Reed says the success rate for the AccuraScope procedure is about 90-percent and the vast majority of cases are covered by insurance. 

To learn more about the AccuraScope procedure click here or call 1-877-474-BACK.