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Texas Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery | Dr. Shaad Bidiwala

Best Dallas Spine Surgeon

  • Conditions
    • Do I Really Need Spine Surgery?
    • Cervical Disc Herniations
    • Lumbar Disc Herniations
    • Lumbar Instability
    • Lumbar Fractures
    • Lumbar Spinal Stenosis
  • Procedures
    • Nonsurgical Treatments
    • ACDF (Anterior Cervical Discectomy & Fusion)
    • Kyphoplasty
    • Lumbar Laminectomy
    • LMD (Lumbar Microdiscectomy)
    • Lumbar Interbody Fusion
      • ALIF (Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion)
      • PLIF (Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion)
      • TLIF (Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion)
      • XLIF (Extreme Lateral Interbody Fusion)
    • Minimally Invasive Instrumentation (Screws & Rods)
    • PLF (Posterolateral Lumbar Fusion)
  • Technologies
    • Technology for Cervical Disc Herniations
    • Technology for Compression Fractures
    • Technology for Lumbar Stenosis
    • Technology for Lumbar Instability
    • Technology for Lumbar Disc Herniations
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Lumbar Disc Herniations

A disc herniation is the displacement of any of the 23 naturally occurring disks in the vertebral column, caused by a lifetime of stress on the neck or back, a sudden traumatic event, or both.

While disk herniations can cause neck or back pain if they are severe, they more often cause arm or leg pain, numbness, or weakness from compression of a nerve. In extreme circumstances, a disc herniation can cause paralysis or bowel and bladder incontinence.

As shown in the Figure, lumbar disk herniations can be referred to a “bulges” if they are small and inconsequential, or “extrusions” if they are large and compressing a nerve.

Bulge Herniation Extrusion 500x296

Figure: From left to right, a lumbar disc bulge, herniation, and extrusion.

 

Studies indicate that the vast majority of symptomatic lumbar disc herniations improve within several weeks, as the disk is reabsorbed naturally by the body.  Conservative nonsurgical therapies such as steroids, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories, narcotic analgesics, epidural steroid injections, and physical therapy can sometimes help patients with their pain as this happens.

Lumbar microdiscectomy should be considered for patients with

  • Neurological deficits such as weakness, difficulty walking, or bowel/bladder incontinence
  • Severe pain that does not respond to medications, or
  • Symptoms that persist in spite of several weeks of conservative therapies

For patients with herniated discs and lumbar instability, the discectomy may be followed by a lumbar fusion procedure such as an ALIF, PLF, PLIF, TLIF, or XLIF along with minimally invasive lumbar instrumentation with screws and rods.

DALLAS OFFICE

Mockingbird Station
6080 N Central Expressway
Suite #150
Dallas, TX 75206
United States

OFFICE LOCATION DETAILS

We sit behind the Beeman Hotel.  Please park in garage on Level 4.  Elevator access available.  We are the first office on the main floor.

DISCLAIMER

The content on this page is for informational purposes only, and is in no way intended to be medical advice. There is no substitute for a face-to-face evaluation by your physician or another qualified practitioner. As always, if you have an emergency, call 9-1-1, or go to the nearest emergency department.

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