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  • 6630 S. McCarran Blvd., #A4 Reno, NV 89509
  • (775) 828-2873
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Herniated Disc

Causes, Symptoms and Treatments
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What is a Herniated Disc?

Disc herniations occur in the mid back, neck and low back. These herniation can be associated with “sciatica” if the disc herniation occurs in the low back. Disc herniations occurring in the neck will be associated with symptoms in one of the upper extremities.

Disc herniations can cause significant pain and disability. They can often be associated with impingement of a nerve root which leads to intense pain into an extremity. They can also be associated with significant numbness and tingling as well as weakness in an extremity.

Disc herniations can vary in size and shape. Some small disc herniations can actually be asymptomatic. However, larger disc herniations or disc herniations that make direct contact with a nerve can cause severe symptoms and tremendous disability.
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Non-surgical Treatments of Herniated Disc

Disc herniations occur as a result of the gelatinous disc material contained inside the disc herniating or protruding through the outer lining of the disc.

Most disc herniations can be treated nonoperatively. This is done with the use of activity, modifications, Physical Therapy and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medication’s.

Epidural, steroid injections are specialized injections performed by well trained physicians. The goal of the epidural steroid injection is to bathe. The affected, inflamed nerve root, and a potent steroid solution to provide significant reduction in the inflammatory process and thereby decrease the pain and symptoms that the patient is experiencing.

Surgery for a disc herniation is reserved for those formations that are large and causing intractable symptoms that have not responded to conservative measures.
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Herniated Disc Treatments
We provide a full variety of treatments for Herniated Disc that can help you get back to you normal and active lifestyle:

  • Physical Therapy
  • Anti-Inflammatory Medicine
  • Epidural Injections
  • Lumbar Discectomy
  • Cervical Discectomy
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  • Mon-Thu: 8AM - 5PM | Fri: 8AM - 3PM
  • 6630 S. McCarran Blvd., #A4 Reno, NV 89509
  • (775) 828-2873
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Artificial Disc Replacement

At Sierra Regional Spine Institute, we believe that the future is restoration of anatomy and function through motion. The artificial disc replacement is the answer to that problem. Sierra Regional Spine Institute continues to be a leader in Nevada when disc replacement surgery is needed.
It is a surgical procedure in which degenerated intervertebral discs in the spinal column are replaced with artificial disc implants in the lumbar or cervical spine.

The procedure is used to treat chronic, severe low back pain and cervical pain resulting from degenerative disc disease.

Artificial disc replacement has been developed as an alternative to spinal fusion, with the goal of pain reduction or elimination, while still allowing motion throughout the spine. Another possible benefit is the prevention of premature breakdown in adjacent levels of the spine, a potential risk in fusion surgeries.

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Revision Spine Surgery

Revision spine surgery is a surgery procedure performed in certain patients to correct the problems of earlier spine surgery. Revision surgery is only when working with patients who experience chronic pain or any worsening symptoms even after the initial surgery.
Other factors that can indicate the need for revision spine surgery include:
  • Post-surgical Complications
  • Scar Tissue Formations
  • Improper Diagnosis
  • Unsuccessful Initial Surgery

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Decompression

At Sierra Regional Spine Institute we use Decompression in a few ways to treat and make the process of recovery smoother for people with fractures: Microdiscectomy, Microendoscopic Laminectomy, Minimally Invasive Cervical Foraminotomy (MICF), Vertebroplasty and Kyphoplasty.

Microdiscectomy

Microdiscectomy, also called microlumbar discectomy (MLD), is a very common MIS decompression procedure performed in patients with a symptomatic lumbar herniated disc. The operation consists of removing the portion of the intervertebral disc that is herniated and compressing a spinal nerve root.

Minimally Invasive Cervical Foraminotomy

This is a MIS cervical foraminotomy decompression procedure that enlarges the space in which a spinal nerve root exits the cervical spinal canal (intervertebral foramen). This narrowing can be caused by a herniated disc, bone spurs, thickened ligaments or joints, which may result in pinched nerves.

Vertebroplasty

Vertebroplasty for the treatment of vertebral compression fractures (VCFs) was introduced in the United States in the early 1990s. The procedure is usually done on an outpatient basis, although some patients stay in the hospital overnight. The procedure may be performed with a local anesthetic and intravenous sedation or general anesthesia.

Using x-ray guidance, a small needle containing specially formulated acrylic bone cement is injected into the collapsed vertebra. The cement hardens within minutes, strengthening and stabilizing the fractured vertebra. Most experts believe that pain relief is achieved through mechanical support and stability provided by the bone cement.
Kyphoplasty
Kyphoplasty involves an added procedure performed before the cement is injected into the vertebra. First, two small incisions are made and a probe is placed into the vertebral space where the fracture is located.

The bone is drilled and one balloon (called a bone tamp) is inserted on each side. The two balloons are then inflated with contrast medium (which are visualized using image guidance x-rays) until they expand to the desired height and removed. The spaces created by the balloons are then filled with the cement. Kyphoplasty has the added benefit of restoring height to the spine.

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Cervical Fusion

Cervical Fusion is an operation that creates a solid union between two or more vertebrae in the upper spine (neck) area. This procedure may assist in strengthening and stabilizing the spine and may thereby help to alleviate severe and chronic back pain.
The best clinical results are generally achieved in single-level fusion, although fusion at two levels may be performed in properly selected patients.

Bone grafts may be taken from the hip or from another bone in the same patient (autograft) or from a bone bank (allograft). Bone graft extenders and bone morphogenetic proteins (hormones that cause bone to grow inside the body) can also be used to reduce or eliminate the need for bone grafts.

Fusion sometimes involves the use of supplemental hardware (instrumentation) such as plates, screws, and cages. This fusing of the bone graft with the bones of the spine will provide a permanent union between those bones. Once that occurs, the hardware is no longer needed, but most patients prefer to leave the hardware in place rather than go through another surgery to remove it.

Fusion can sometimes be performed via smaller incisions through MIS techniques. The use of advanced fluoroscopy and endoscopy has improved the accuracy of incisions and hardware placement, minimizing tissue trauma while enabling an MIS approach.

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Lumbar Fusion

This is a MIS technique that is performed in patients with refractory mechanical low back and radicular pain associated with spondylolisthesis, degenerative disc disease, and recurrent disc herniation. The procedure is performed from the back (posterior) with the patient on his or her stomach.

Using x-ray guidance, two 2.5-cm incisions are made on either side of the lower back. The muscles are gradually dilated and tubular retractors inserted to allow access to the affected area of the lumbar spine.

The lamina is removed to allow visualization of the nerve roots. The disc material is removed from the spine and replaced with a bone graft and structural support from a cage made of bone, titanium, carbon-fiber, or a polymer, followed by rod and screw placement.

The tubular retractors are removed, allowing the dilated muscles to come back together, and the incisions are closed. This procedure typically takes about 3 to 3 1/2 hours to perform.

Outcome & Benefits

  • Quicker Recovery & Body Fusion
  • Less Blood Loss
  • Shorter hospital stay
  • Shorter Operative Time
  • Less Trauma

Pioneers of both surgical and non-surgical techniques

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Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery

MIS was first performed in the 80s but has recently seen rapid advances. Technological advances have enabled surgeons to expand patient selection and treat an array of spinal disorders, such as degenerative disc disease, herniated disc, fractures, tumors, infections, instability, and deformity.
This can result in quicker recovery, decreased operative blood loss, and speedier patient return to normal function. In some MIS approaches, also called, “keyhole surgeries,” surgeons use a tiny endoscope with a camera on the end, which is inserted through a small incision in the skin. The camera provides surgeons with an inside view, enabling surgical access to the affected area of the spine.

Benefits of Minimally Invasive Surgery

  • Smaller incisions
  • Decreased postoperative narcotics
  • Shorter hospital stay
  • Quicker return to work and activities
  • Less Scar Tissue
  • Faster recovery
  • Less pain

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