Who Is Suitable for Endoscopic Disc Surgery? Herniation Type, Location and Prior Surgery

The scan is up on the screen, and the surgeon is tracing a small gray bulge with a pen. “That,” she says, “is what’s pressing on the nerve to your left calf.” You have already tried the walking, the stretching, the anti-inflammatory tablets your family doctor suggested. Now there is a new phrase in the room: a keyhole operation done through a tube not much wider than a pencil.

Whether you are an endoscopic disc surgery candidate is not answered by how much pain you are in. It is answered by geometry: what the herniation looks like, where it sits, which level of the spine it occupies, and whether anyone has operated there before. Those four questions decide more than enthusiasm for a smaller scar ever could.

This explainer walks through each of them the way a spine team would, with the evidence laid out plainly and the final call left where it belongs, with the people who have your images in front of them.

What actually happens during endoscopic disc surgery?

Start with the words. A disc is the fibrous cushion between two vertebrae; a herniation is when its soft center pushes through a tear in the tougher outer ring. A discectomy is any operation that removes the herniated fragment so it stops pressing on a nerve root, the branch of nerve leaving the spinal canal. An endoscope is a thin tube carrying a camera and a light, so the surgeon watches on a monitor rather than looking down into an open wound.

The procedure itself is unhurried in its logic. After anesthesia, which may be general or a combination of local and sedation depending on the team’s approach, the surgeon uses X-ray guidance to place a narrow needle toward the target, then slides a working tube over it. Through that tube go the camera and small graspers. Continuous fluid irrigation keeps the view clear. The herniated fragment is identified, freed, and drawn out. The tube is withdrawn and the skin closed with a stitch or two.

Two routes are common. The transforaminal route enters from the side of the back and passes through the foramen, the bony window each nerve root exits through. The interlaminar route enters from behind, between the bony plates of two vertebrae, closer to the path a conventional microdiscectomy takes. Which one the surgeon chooses depends heavily on the herniation’s location, a point that returns later in this article.

Because muscle is spread apart rather than cut, many people are up and walking within hours. MedlinePlus notes that after a discectomy most people go home the same day or the day after. The goal is identical to the open operation: decompress the nerve. Only the road in is different.

Who is an endoscopic disc surgery candidate, and who is usually asked to wait?

The clearest candidate profile looks like this: one herniated lumbar disc, seen on MRI, compressing one nerve root, producing leg pain, numbness or weakness in the distribution that nerve serves, and persisting despite roughly six weeks of nonsurgical treatment. Mayo Clinic frames surgery in exactly those terms, as an option when conservative care has not eased symptoms after about six weeks or when weakness or loss of function is progressing.

The word “matches” carries a lot of weight. If the scan shows a herniation at one level but the symptoms point to a different nerve, or if back pain dominates and leg pain is minor, the case for any discectomy weakens. Removing a fragment relieves pressure on a nerve; it does not treat a painful disc or an unstable spine.

Who is typically asked to wait, or steered toward a different operation?

• People within the first few weeks of symptoms without weakness, because the NHS notes most slipped discs improve within about six weeks on their own.
• People whose main complaint is axial back pain rather than radiating leg pain.
• People with significant spinal instability or spondylolisthesis, a slipped vertebra, which may need stabilization rather than a keyhole decompression.
• People with wide, multilevel spinal stenosis, narrowing of the canal from bone and ligament, which a disc-focused endoscope may not adequately address.
• People with active infection, uncorrected bleeding disorders, or medical conditions that make any anesthesia unsafe until optimized.

None of these is a permanent “no.” They are reasons a team may pause, gather more information, or recommend another route. The judgment rests with them, informed by the exact anatomy on your images.

Does the herniation type change whether the endoscope can reach it?

Radiologists describe herniations along a spectrum, and each step along it matters for a surgeon working through a narrow tube.

A protrusion is a bulge whose base is wider than its tip; the outer ring is stretched but largely intact. An extrusion has broken through the ring, with a neck narrower than the material outside. A sequestration means a fragment has separated entirely and may have drifted up or down the canal. Cleveland Clinic and Mayo Clinic both describe this progression in their patient explainers.

For the endoscopic approach, extrusions with a clear, accessible fragment are often the most straightforward targets: there is a discrete piece to grasp and remove. Contained protrusions can be treated too, but the surgeon must decide whether a small opening in the ring and removal of loose material inside will actually relieve the nerve, since the pressure may be spread rather than focused.

Sequestered fragments raise a different question: where did the piece go? A fragment that has migrated a long way behind the vertebral body, above or below the disc space, can be difficult to reach through a transforaminal tube angled at the disc. Some teams will choose the interlaminar route or a conventional microdiscectomy for a widely migrated fragment, simply because a wider view lowers the chance of leaving material behind.

Calcified or very long-standing herniations, where the material has hardened and may be stuck to the nerve’s outer sleeve, also push a team toward caution. Hardened tissue is harder to remove with fine instruments and carries more risk of tearing the dura, the membrane containing spinal fluid.

The takeaway is not that one herniation type is “good” and another “bad.” It is that the type helps predict how confidently a surgeon can reach and remove the fragment, and that confidence is a large part of candidacy.

Location matters: central, paracentral, foraminal and far-lateral herniations

Picture the disc from above, like a clock face. Where the herniation points determines which nerve it hits and which door the surgeon can use.

A central herniation pushes straight back into the canal. Small ones may cause back pain more than leg pain; large ones can compress several roots at once, a situation covered in the red-flag section later. A paracentral herniation, slightly off to one side, is the most common pattern and typically pinches the nerve root that is passing by on its way to exit one level lower. A foraminal herniation sits inside the bony exit window itself. A far-lateral herniation is outside that window, pressing on the root that has already left the canal.

Conventional microdiscectomy, done from behind, handles central and paracentral herniations well but reaches foraminal and far-lateral fragments awkwardly, sometimes requiring removal of part of a facet joint. This is where the transforaminal endoscopic route earns attention: it approaches from the side, arriving directly at the foramen and far-lateral zone. Johns Hopkins describes minimally invasive spine techniques as designed to reach the problem while disturbing less surrounding tissue, and lateral herniations are a good illustration of that principle.

Paracentral and central herniations are also reachable endoscopically, often through the interlaminar route, especially at the lowest lumbar level where the bony window between the plates is naturally larger.

Height also plays a role. A herniation that has migrated far above or below the disc level is harder to reach through a tube pointed at the disc, regardless of side. Your surgeon will look at the sagittal, or side-on, MRI images as closely as the cross-sections for exactly this reason.

So when someone asks whether they are a candidate, a spine team is quietly asking: which clock position, which height, and therefore which door.

Which spinal level: L4-L5, L5-S1, cervical and thoracic discs

The lowest two lumbar levels, L4-L5 and L5-S1, carry the most load and produce the large majority of symptomatic herniations. Cleveland Clinic notes that lumbar herniations are far more common than cervical ones, and the low lumbar levels dominate. Unsurprisingly, this is where endoscopic technique has the deepest experience.

At L4-L5, the foramen is generally roomy and the pelvis sits below it, so the transforaminal side approach is usually unobstructed. This level is often the textbook example of an endoscopic disc surgery candidate when a single paracentral or foraminal herniation compresses the L5 root, the nerve that lifts the foot and big toe.

At L5-S1, the pelvic rim can block a side approach in people with a high iliac crest, the top edge of the hip bone. Here surgeons more often choose the interlaminar route from behind, taking advantage of the naturally wide gap between the L5 and S1 bony plates. Candidacy is not lower at this level, but the route is chosen differently.

Higher lumbar levels, L1 through L3, are less commonly herniated and sit closer to the end of the spinal cord itself, so many teams weigh the risk of instrument passage more carefully.

In the neck, endoscopic discectomy exists but is used more selectively. The cervical canal is small, the spinal cord fills much of it, and many cervical herniations are treated from the front with an operation that also fuses or replaces the disc. Candidacy is decided by a narrower set of anatomic conditions.

Thoracic herniations, in the mid-back, are rare and technically demanding by any approach because the ribs and the cord leave little margin. Endoscopic technique is applied in specialist settings and case by case.

Level, in short, changes the route more than it changes eligibility in the lower lumbar spine, and narrows eligibility elsewhere.

Can you have endoscopic disc surgery after a previous back operation?

Yes, sometimes, and the question deserves a careful answer rather than a reflexive one.

Two situations look alike on the surface but differ underneath. In a recurrent herniation, new material pushes out through the same tear after an earlier discectomy at that level. In persistent symptoms, pain never fully settled, which may reflect residual fragment, scar tissue around the nerve, a different level, or something outside the spine altogether. MedlinePlus lists re-herniation as a recognized possibility after any discectomy, and sorting out which situation applies usually needs a fresh MRI, often with contrast to separate scar from disc.

Scar tissue is the central issue for revision, meaning repeat, surgery. Where the first operation went in from behind, the nerve root may now be tethered in fibrous tissue, and dissecting it free through the same corridor carries a higher chance of a dural tear or nerve irritation than the original procedure did. This is where the transforaminal endoscopic route can be attractive: it comes from the side, through tissue the previous surgeon never touched, and may allow the fragment to be removed without entering the old scar. Not every recurrence is positioned to allow that, which brings the anatomy questions above straight back.

A previous fusion at the same level changes the picture entirely. Metal, bone graft and altered anatomy limit endoscopic access, and symptoms may stem from hardware or an adjacent level rather than disc. Previous surgery at a different level is usually less of a barrier.

Surgeons also ask why the first operation did not hold. If instability is contributing, a second decompression alone, keyhole or otherwise, may not be the right tool. This is the kind of judgment that cannot be made from a symptom description, only from images and examination, and it belongs to the treating team.

The six-week question: when timing and nonsurgical care come first

Most herniated discs get better without an operation. The NHS states that a slipped disc usually improves within about six weeks, and Mayo Clinic advises that most people do not need surgery, with the operation generally considered when symptoms have not eased after roughly six weeks of conservative treatment or when weakness, trouble walking or loss of bladder or bowel control appears.

Why six weeks? The herniated material is largely water and protein. Over time the body shrinks and partially reabsorbs it, inflammation around the nerve calms, and pain often eases even though the scan may still show a bulge. Operating early on someone who would have improved anyway exposes them to surgical risk for no added benefit.

Nonsurgical care during this window typically includes:

• Staying active within pain limits rather than bed rest, which both NHS and Mayo Clinic advise.
• Physical therapy focused on movement, posture and gradually loading the spine.
• Anti-inflammatory or pain-modulating medicines, chosen and adjusted by the prescribing clinician based on other health conditions.
• Epidural steroid injection, where a corticosteroid is placed near the irritated nerve to reduce inflammation; Mayo Clinic lists this as an option when oral medicines have not helped.

The six-week guide is not a waiting room you must sit in regardless of what happens. Progressive weakness, a foot that begins to drop, or any change in bladder or bowel function can shorten the timeline to days or hours, as the red-flag section explains.

Conversely, someone at week eight with improving pain may reasonably keep waiting. Candidacy for endoscopic disc surgery, like any discectomy, is partly a question of trajectory: is this getting better, stuck, or worse?

Endoscopic vs microdiscectomy vs open discectomy: how the options compare

All three operations aim to remove the herniated fragment and free the nerve. They differ in how the surgeon gets there and what that means for tissue disruption, visualization and which anatomy suits each. The table below summarizes what mainstream sources such as Johns Hopkins and MedlinePlus describe about these approaches; it is a guide to conversation, not a ranking.

Feature	Endoscopic discectomy	Microdiscectomy	Open discectomy
Incision	Roughly a centimeter, one tube	A few centimeters, retractor	Longer midline incision
Visualization	Camera on a monitor, magnified, irrigated view	Operating microscope, direct view	Direct view with loupes or naked eye
Muscle handling	Dilated, not cut	Partly stripped from bone	Stripped more widely
Typical anesthesia	General, or local with sedation	General	General
Anatomy it suits	Single-level; foraminal and far-lateral well reached from the side	Central and paracentral; migrated fragments	Complex, multilevel or when other work is needed
Learning curve for surgeons	Steep; experience matters	Standard training	Standard training
Hospital stay (MedlinePlus, NHS)	Same day or next day is common	Same day to a few days	Often 1 to 4 days

Microdiscectomy remains the reference standard in many centers because it has the longest track record and handles the widest range of herniations. Endoscopic technique trades some of that flexibility for less tissue disturbance. Whether that trade favors you depends on the anatomy discussed above, on your surgeon’s experience with each method, and on your own priorities, which is why the comparison should happen in an exam room rather than a search bar.

How risky is endoscopic spine surgery? Understanding endoscopic spine surgery risks

Every operation near a nerve carries risk, and a smaller incision does not remove it. The complications of endoscopic discectomy are largely the same as for any discectomy, which MedlinePlus lists as bleeding, infection, nerve injury, leakage of spinal fluid from a dural tear, and the possibility that the disc herniates again.

Some risks shift in character rather than disappearing:

• Nerve irritation. Passing a tube through the foramen can brush the exiting root, sometimes causing temporary burning or numbness in the thigh or leg that usually settles over weeks. The transforaminal route is the one most associated with this.
• Dural tear. Less common with the side approach, but when it occurs through a narrow tube it can be harder to repair directly and may need conversion to an open technique.
• Incomplete removal. A narrower view means a fragment can occasionally be left behind, particularly a migrated one, which is one reason surgeons decline endoscopic access for herniations they cannot confidently reach.
• Recurrence. The tear in the outer ring is not sealed by any discectomy, so re-herniation is possible with every technique.
• Infection and bleeding. Generally low with a small wound, but not zero; discitis, infection of the disc space, is a rare but serious event after any disc procedure.

Anesthesia risk depends more on your overall health than on the operation, which is why the pre-assessment matters. Heart or lung disease, diabetes control, smoking and blood-thinning medicines all feed into it. Any medicine changes before surgery are decided by the prescribing clinician, never independently.

Honest framing: endoscopic discectomy is a low-risk operation in appropriately selected patients, in the hands of teams experienced with the technique. The word “selected” is doing the work in that sentence, and it points right back to herniation type, location and prior surgery.

What is the success rate of endoscopic spine surgery, including L4-L5 disc surgery?

People type this question into search engines constantly, and the most useful answer is an honest one about what a percentage can and cannot tell you.

Published studies report outcomes as the proportion of patients with “good” or “excellent” results on questionnaires, or as reductions in leg-pain scores, or as reoperation rates. Those definitions vary from study to study. A trial that follows patients for one year cannot speak to recurrences at five. A series from a single experienced surgeon may not reflect results elsewhere. For those reasons, this article does not quote a single headline figure, and you should be cautious of any source that does without naming the study.

What mainstream evidence does support:

• For a single herniation compressing one nerve root with matching leg symptoms, discectomy by any technique relieves leg pain more reliably than it relieves back pain. Mayo Clinic and MedlinePlus both emphasize that the operation targets nerve compression.
• Randomized comparisons between endoscopic and microscopic discectomy have generally found similar leg-pain relief, with the endoscopic groups often reporting less early wound pain and shorter stays. Where the techniques differ in complication patterns, those differences are the ones described in the previous section.
• Outcomes at L4-L5 and L5-S1 are broadly comparable when the herniation is well matched to the approach; level alone is not a strong predictor.

Predictors that matter more than technique include how closely symptoms match the scan, the presence of leg pain rather than mostly back pain, shorter duration of symptoms before surgery, and the absence of instability or prior surgery at that level. Smoking and untreated depression are associated with poorer spine-surgery outcomes across many studies.

Ask your surgeon how they define a good result, what their own experience has been with your herniation pattern, and what would happen if the fragment could not be reached endoscopically. Those answers are more informative than any single number.

Endoscopic discectomy recovery time: what the following days and weeks usually look like

Recovery from a keyhole discectomy tends to move quickly at the start and then settle into a slower, less dramatic middle stretch. The ranges below come from NHS and MedlinePlus guidance on lumbar decompression and discectomy and describe typical experience, not a promise.

Day of surgery. Many people stand and walk within hours. The wound is small and covered with a simple dressing. Some notice the leg pain has eased almost immediately; others have a numb or tingling leg that takes longer. Going home the same day or the next is common, per MedlinePlus.

First week. Short, frequent walks are encouraged. The NHS advises against prolonged sitting, heavy lifting and twisting early on. Wound checks and a plan for pain relief are arranged with the team; medicines are the prescribing clinician’s call.

Weeks two to six. Physical therapy often begins, building core strength and movement confidence. The NHS notes that most people can return to desk-based work within about four to six weeks after lumbar decompression, and can drive once they are comfortable and no longer taking sedating pain medicines, which for many falls within a few weeks. Endoscopic patients sometimes return sooner because there is less muscle to heal, but the disc’s outer ring is repairing at the same pace regardless of the incision.

Beyond six weeks. Heavier lifting and sport are typically reintroduced gradually, on the team’s advice. Nerve-related numbness can take months to fade and does not always resolve fully if the nerve was compressed for a long time before surgery, a point Mayo Clinic makes about herniation generally.

Two things surprise people. One is how normal it is to have good days and a flat day in the same week. The other is that the small scar does not mean the spine has finished healing inside; the restrictions exist for the disc, not the skin.

What people often get wrong about being an endoscopic disc surgery candidate

“A big herniation means I definitely need surgery.” Size on MRI correlates poorly with symptoms. Large herniations are actually more likely to shrink over time as the body reabsorbs the soft material. What matters is whether a nerve is being compressed, whether that matches your symptoms, and whether you are improving.

“Keyhole surgery is always safer.” It disturbs less tissue, which is genuinely valuable, but the nerve-related risks are similar and some complications are harder to manage through a tube. A poorly matched herniation treated endoscopically may leave fragment behind. Safer is a property of the match between patient, anatomy and surgeon, not of the incision length.

“Anyone can do this operation.” Endoscopic technique has a steep learning curve, and outcomes in the literature are frequently reported from high-volume surgeons. This is not a marketing point; it is a reason to ask about a surgeon’s specific experience, which is one of the questions listed in the next section.

“It fixes back pain.” Discectomy relieves nerve pressure, so its strength is leg pain. Back pain from the disc itself, the facet joints or muscles may persist. Mayo Clinic is explicit that surgery is aimed at radiating symptoms and neurological deficits.

“I’ve had surgery before, so it’s off the table.” Prior surgery raises the bar but does not close the door, particularly when the earlier route was from behind and a side approach can avoid the scar.

“The disc is removed.” Only the herniated fragment and loose material are taken out. The disc remains, which is why re-herniation is possible and why the outer ring needs weeks to strengthen.

“If the pain comes back, the operation failed.” Some recurrences are a new herniation through the same tear rather than a technical failure, and some post-operative pain is temporary nerve irritation that settles. Either way, it is a reason to be reassessed, not to conclude anything alone.

Questions to ask your care team before deciding

Bring these to the consultation. The point is not to test the surgeon but to make sure the decision is built on your specific anatomy rather than a general impression.

• Which type of herniation do I have on the MRI: protrusion, extrusion or sequestered fragment, and has any of it migrated above or below the disc?
• Where exactly does it sit: central, paracentral, foraminal or far-lateral, and which nerve root is affected?
• Do my symptoms match that nerve? If not, what else could explain them?
• Which route would you use, transforaminal or interlaminar, and why does my anatomy favor it?
• How many endoscopic discectomies have you performed, and how many for herniations like mine?
• What would you do if the fragment could not be safely reached through the endoscope during the operation?
• Is there any instability, spondylolisthesis or stenosis on my imaging that a discectomy alone would not address?
• Have I completed a reasonable trial of nonsurgical care, and is there anything left to try that you would recommend first?
• What is the expected effect on my leg pain versus my back pain?
• What does recovery look like for someone with my job and activities, and when would you expect me to drive, sit for long periods and lift?
• Which of my current medicines need to be reviewed before surgery, and who will manage those changes?
• How do you define a good result, and what proportion of people with my herniation pattern in your experience reach it?
• What are the warning signs after surgery that should make me call immediately?

Write the answers down or bring someone who will. A good team will welcome these questions, and the conversation itself will tell you how carefully your case has been considered.

When to call your doctor: red-flag signs before and after surgery

Most herniated discs are painful but not dangerous. A small number of situations are emergencies, and they change the timeline for everyone, whether or not surgery was already being considered.

Seek emergency care immediately if you notice:

• New difficulty passing urine, loss of bladder or bowel control, or loss of feeling in the area you sit on. These can signal cauda equina syndrome, compression of the bundle of nerves at the base of the spinal canal, which the NHS and Cleveland Clinic describe as needing urgent surgical assessment.
• Rapidly worsening weakness in one or both legs, a foot that begins to drag, or numbness spreading down both legs.
• Back pain with fever, chills, or unexplained weight loss, which can point to infection or another cause.
• Severe back pain after a significant fall or accident.

After surgery, contact your team the same day for:

• Fever, increasing redness, swelling or discharge at the wound.
• Clear fluid leaking from the incision, or a headache that is much worse when upright, which can indicate a spinal fluid leak.
• New or worsening leg weakness or numbness rather than gradual improvement.
• Calf pain, swelling or shortness of breath, which can indicate a blood clot.
• Pain that escalates sharply after an initial improvement.

Not every twinge is a crisis. Tingling that comes and goes, soreness at the wound and a bad day after a good one are common. When you are unsure, call; the team would rather hear from you early. Every decision about investigation, medicines or repeat surgery belongs with the clinicians who know your case, and this article is a companion to that conversation, not a substitute for it.

Frequently asked questions

Who is not a candidate for endoscopic spine surgery?

People whose main problem is back pain rather than leg pain, whose spine is unstable or has a slipped vertebra, whose narrowing involves several levels of bone and ligament, or whose herniation has migrated far from the disc are often steered toward other approaches. Active infection, uncontrolled bleeding risk and unfit-for-anesthesia health also pause any operation. The treating team makes that call from imaging and examination.

Who is not a good candidate for disc replacement, and is that the same question?

No, disc replacement is a different operation that removes the whole disc and inserts an artificial one, usually from the front. It is generally avoided in people with instability, significant facet joint arthritis, osteoporosis, infection, prior fusion at that level or multilevel disease. Endoscopic discectomy removes only a herniated fragment, so the candidacy criteria overlap only partly.

How risky is endoscopic spine surgery compared with a standard discectomy?

The main risks are the same: nerve injury, spinal fluid leak, infection, bleeding and re-herniation, as MedlinePlus lists for discectomy generally. Endoscopic technique disturbs less muscle and often shortens the hospital stay, but temporary nerve irritation from the side approach and incomplete fragment removal are specific concerns. Overall risk depends on patient selection and surgeon experience.

What is the success rate of endoscopic spine surgery?

There is no single reliable number, because studies define success differently and follow patients for different lengths of time. Trials comparing endoscopic and microscopic discectomy have generally found similar leg-pain relief. Outcomes depend more on how well symptoms match the scan and whether the herniation is reachable than on the technique itself. Ask your surgeon how they define a good result for your pattern.

What is the success rate of L4-L5 herniated disc surgery?

Results at L4-L5 are broadly similar to other low lumbar levels when a single herniation compressing the L5 nerve root is well matched to the approach. Leg pain is relieved more reliably than back pain by any discectomy, according to Mayo Clinic and MedlinePlus. Level alone is not a strong predictor; symptom match, duration and instability matter more.

How is endoscopic vs microdiscectomy decided for my herniation?

Location and migration drive the choice. Foraminal and far-lateral fragments suit the side-entry endoscopic route; central and paracentral ones can be reached endoscopically from behind or by microdiscectomy; widely migrated or hardened fragments often favor the wider view of a microscope. Your surgeon’s experience with each method and your overall health complete the picture.

What is the typical endoscopic discectomy recovery time?

Many people walk within hours and go home the same or next day, per MedlinePlus. The NHS notes return to desk work is common around four to six weeks after lumbar decompression, with driving once comfortable and off sedating medicines. Heavier activity is reintroduced gradually. Nerve-related numbness can take months to settle. These are typical ranges, not guarantees.

Can endoscopic disc surgery be done after a previous microdiscectomy?

Sometimes. If the herniation has recurred at the same level, a transforaminal endoscopic approach from the side can avoid the scar tissue left by an earlier operation from behind. A previous fusion at that level, hardware, or instability usually rules the endoscopic route out. A fresh contrast MRI is typically needed to separate scar from new disc material before any decision.

Does a large herniation on MRI mean I need surgery sooner?

Not by itself. Large, soft herniations are often the ones most likely to shrink as the body reabsorbs them, and MRI size correlates poorly with pain. Mayo Clinic advises surgery when symptoms persist after about six weeks of conservative care or when weakness or bladder and bowel changes appear. Those neurological signs, not size, are what shorten the timeline.

Will endoscopic disc surgery help my back pain as well as my leg pain?

It is aimed at leg pain. Discectomy relieves pressure on a nerve root, so radiating pain, numbness and weakness are its targets. Back pain from the disc itself, facet joints or muscles may continue, and Mayo Clinic explicitly frames surgery around radiating symptoms. If back pain dominates, your team may recommend a different plan altogether.

References

• NHS: Slipped disc
• NHS: Lumbar decompression surgery: Recovery
• MedlinePlus: Diskectomy
• Cleveland Clinic: Herniated Disk

This article is for general information only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult a qualified doctor about your individual situation.