If you have a disc fragment pressing on a nerve, every second feels like an eternity. You’ve tried the belts, the pills, and the rest. Now, the word “surgery” has been mentioned. Don’t panic. A Microdiscectomy isn’t the “major back surgery” your grandfather had. It’s a precision strike.
Why it’s Done: The Nerve Under Siege
Imagine a heavy boot stepping on a garden hose. The water (nerve signal) can’t get through, and the hose (the nerve) starts to swell and get damaged. A microdiscectomy simply removes the “boot”—the small piece of herniated disc—so the nerve can breathe again.
The Step-by-Step Guide
- The Incision: We make a tiny “keyhole” incision (usually 1.5 to 2 cm).
- The Microscope: We don’t rely on the naked eye. We use high-definition surgical microscopes to see the nerve in 10x magnification.
- The Removal: We gently move the nerve aside and remove only the fragment that is causing the trouble. We leave the healthy part of your disc intact.
- The Closure: A few internal stitches, and often just a waterproof bandage on the outside.
The Patient Perspective: The “Synapse” Recovery
In traditional surgery, you might be in the hospital for a week. At Synapse Spine, our specialized “Muscle-Sparing” technique means:
- Day 1: You are walking within 4–6 hours of the procedure. The “lightning” in your leg is usually gone the moment you wake up.
- Week 1: You are back to light activity and moving around your home.
- The “Work” Milestone: While the global average to return to work is 4-6 weeks, Synapse patients often return to desk jobs in 10-14 days. Why? Because our multidisciplinary team starts your “Neural Mobilization” (nerve exercises) immediately. We don’t just “fix the bone”; we rehab the person.
FAQ’s
1. How long is the recovery before I can return to work?
For most sedentary or desk-based jobs, patients can often return within 10 to 14 days, especially with our muscle-sparing techniques. However, full tissue healing of the disc and surrounding ligaments takes approximately 6 to 12 weeks.
2. Will the "lightning" leg pain disappear immediately after surgery?
Most patients experience instant relief from the sharp, shooting leg pain (sciatica) as soon as they wake up from anesthesia because the pressure on the nerve is gone.
3. What are the "No-Go" activities during recovery?
To prevent the disc from re-herniating, we advise the “No BLT” rule for the first 6 weeks: No Bending, No Lifting and No Twisting.
4. What is the risk of the disc slipping again (re-herniation)?
The risk of a recurrent disc herniation at the same level is generally between 5% and 10%. At Synapse Spine, we minimize this risk by removing only the unstable fragment.
5. How is a microdiscectomy different from a laminectomy?
While both are decompression surgeries, they target different culprits: Microdiscectomy and Laminectomy.
Book Your Consultation Today
Symptoms often resolve before imaging normalizes. Function, not the picture, is the primary goal.
Our Synapse Spine Clinic is located in Vasai, Bandra, Andheri, Mira Road, Vile Parle, Chembur, Borivali, and Virar.
📞 Contact Numbers with call button for each number:
+91 81698 45056 | +91 93726 71858 | +91 93211 24611 | +91 74998 98303